Page 96 of His Forgotten Colton Fiancee
His heart dropped to his stomach. How the hell could they have missed this?
“Email it to me and I’ll run it through our facial recognition database.”
Back at his computer, he logged on to the database and began running the program with the new sketch. The Bureau had more than four hundred million images in the database,but he narrowed the parameters.
Mike called him a few minutes later.
“Hey, how are you doing, champ? How’s Quinn?” Her voice was soft, but he wasn’t buying it.
“I’m fine. Guess she is, as well.”
“I’m sorry, West. It’s a bitch trying to keep a relationship thriving with this job. I hope it works out for you.”
Too personal. “What do you have for me?”
“DNA evidence at thesecond crime scene turned up inconclusive. Vic’s DNA, and nothing else flagged.” Mike paused. “But we found something interesting from the first bomb site.”
His heart skipped a beat. West gripped the phone receiver. “What?”
“The cigarette you bagged.”
West frowned. And then he remembered. “Oh. I must have tossed that in with the evidence I gave you. A witness tossed it on the ground.”
“Good thing you bagged and tagged it.”
He listened to what Mike told him.
When she finished, he steeled himself. “Mike, I’m coming clean with the Coltons.”
Silence.
“There’s no evidence they’re hiding their sister, or have destroyed any leads linking her to the Groom Killer. I’m tired of working on the outside.”
A heavy sigh. “Your call, West. Pack it in, and soon as DeanLandon returns to duty at Red Ridge, you’re back in Sioux Falls.”
She hung up.
Sioux Falls. Once he would have jumped at the chance to return to the field office, leave behind the camaraderie of working closely with other officers.
Not any longer. Maybe he’d make other changes, as well.
Next he called Quinn. Her voice was soft, hesitant as she answered, “Hi, West.”
First names.Maybe she had forgiven him a little. “Hi. I really need to talk with you, Quinn.” He swallowed his pride. “Please. There’s something you need to know.”
“I can’t. I have a client stopping by at six thirty to pick up an order for a dinner party.” She sighed. “Maybe tomorrow we can meet at the store.”
Had to keep her on the phone. “What kind of dinner? What are you making?”
“Mexican vegetarian.Enchiladas, burritos... The guy is Hispanic, a salesman on his way back from Cheyenne, entertaining corporate clients.”
“Sounds good. Even if it’s meatless. What does he sell?”
“Aluminum siding, I think.”
West paused, gripped the phone tight. “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too,” she whispered. “Have to run. Bye.”
