Page 40 of Vanished in the Mist
“All right.” He checked his phone. “The time is seventeen thirty, five thirty in the afternoon. The first interview with Peyton Holloway is concluded.” He motioned to Fletcher to turn off the camera.
“What happens now?” Peyton asked, sniffling and straightening on the couch.
Dawson pulled out a pair of handcuffs. “I need you to stand up and turn around.”
ONCEPEYTON WASin the back of Officer Fletcher’s police car heading down the mountain, Kaden stood with Shanna and Chief Dawson by the chief’s SUV.
“What’s going to happen to Peyton?” Shanna asked.
“She’ll be arraigned before a county judge, who will decide whether or not to set bail. However, even if she makes bail, I’d rather not let her out. Five friends and one wannabe friend go into the woods. Nearly a year later, most of those people are either missing or dead. Peyton is alive and unharmed so far and I want to keep her that way.”
“You’re talking protective custody?” Kaden asked.
“I am. I’ve issued a BOLO to neighboring law-enforcement agencies, be on the lookout, for Sam and Jack’s vehicles. There’s only one road in and out of this town, so I’ve got eyes on that, not to mention security cameras. But so far, there haven’t been any sightings. We’ll perform a cursory search of the boat ramp as soon as I leave. That’s all we can do with the sun going down soon. A more thorough, organized search with local volunteers will take place tomorrow.”
“Chief,” Shanna said. “If you do find Jack Neal, there’s something you should know. Kaden and I got a look earlier today at Tanya’s last high-school yearbook. She’d defaced Jack’s picture, adding devil horns and knives in his head. From what I’ve heard, she was a smart, sweet young girl. I can’t imagine her doing that unless he’d done something really bad to her. I’m not sure if erasing the photos on her phone qualifies, like we told you earlier, especially since it appears that she was able to recover her pictures.”
His jaw tightened. “I’ll keep that in mind if I do get a chance to interview him. Is there anything else?”
“Not from me,” she said.
“I’ve got a question,” Kaden said. “I’m sure you have this covered already, but I have to ask. Do you have someone at the hospital guarding Jessica DeWalt, just in case there really is someone after all these kids?”
Dawson winced. “She didn’t make it. Sorry. I know you both did everything you could to give her a chance. She passed away a couple of hours ago. I received the notification right before you called about Peyton and haven’t had a chance to update you.”
Kaden stared at him a long moment, shocked to hear about the girl’s death. He gave Dawson a terse nod to thank him for the update.
Shanna leaned against his side, her arm around his back as if to let him know she was there for him. It was amazing how well she understood him. She obviously realized what a sucker punch it was to find out that the young woman he’d tried so hard to save hadn’t been saved after all and was trying to offer him comfort. He glanced down at her, the burden in his chest lightening, if only a little, as he met her knowing, sympathetic gaze.
“I appreciate what you’ve both done to light a fire under this investigation,” Dawson said. “I assure you it’s no longer cold. It’s all hands on deck. Shanna, take that vacation your sister promised. It might be hard to enjoy it at this point, but at least you can relax and chill out for a few days before you have to head back to West Virginia.”
“What is it with all you police trying to get me to quit? I’m going to see this through until we bring Tanya home.”
His jaw tightened. “I’ve got three young people dead now—Tanya, Tristan, and Jessica. And you have some crazy ex-boyfriend after you. I strongly recommend you go ahead andhead back home, tonight. Get out of town. No one will think less of you. You’ve done what you could.”
She put her hands on her hips. “I don’t see you telling Kaden to tuck tail and run.”
“That’s because I’m selfish. I need his help.”
“The search for Tanya’s remains,” Kaden said. “You want me to check the lake out past Cooper’s Bluff with my sonar?”
“I’d sure appreciate it, if you’re inclined to do so. I can’t pull the Chattanooga dive team off the crime scene for Tristan Cargill just yet. They have to finish searching for additional bones and any evidence that might be at the scene. It could be days before they free up. Even then, there’s no guarantee I’m next in line for additional dive-team assistance, not when the person I want them to dive for has been missing for nearly a year and we can’t say for sure exactly where her remains might be. It sounds callous, I know, but they have to prioritize resources and have already spent a lot of time here in Mystic Lake. But if your fancy sonar finds something, they’ll know it’s not a wild goose chase and might help us that much sooner.”
“When do you want to head out?”
“As soon as the mist burns off the lake tomorrow morning.”
Kaden glanced at Shanna. “Are you leaving, as he suggested?”
“Hell, no.”
He sighed. “I’ll help you, Dawson. But only if you put Shanna in protective custody while I’m on the boat.”
She gasped and pulled away from him. “No one’s locking me up.”
He faced her and put his hands on her shoulders. “I know the police didn’t find any proof that Troy Warren has been near your sister’s cabin. But I’m not willing to risk your safety if he’s just good at covering his tracks. I’m assuming the worst, that he’s here, somewhere in Mystic Lake. I’m not leaving you alone.”
“Kaden, I can take care of myself. I—”
