Chapter 68

SIXTY-EIGHT

MARCH 2023

Whatcom County

As soon as Lucas walked through the doorway of Dr. Wright's office, he could sense things were different today. It was hard to articulate but it was like the sun had come out after a spell of bad weather. He noticed that the bookshelves behind her were empty. Cardboard boxes were stacked in the corner of the office.

Stephanie Wright was wearing a teal blouse today and, for the first time, a welcoming smile.

"Thank you for coming in," she said, standing up and beckoning him in. "I appreciate you moving our session."

Lucas closed the door behind him, "Not a problem, I was in the neighborhood." He glanced at the pile of boxes. "Moving to a bigger office?"

"Moving to a bigger state." She smiled.

Lucas paused for a second as he was pulling out his chair to take this in, then nodded and sat down.

"Guy could take that personally, you know."

Wright beamed, and Lucas suddenly realized this must be what she was like when she was talking to someone she actually liked spending time with. The severity in her demeanor was completely gone,

"A position came up in LA. My fiancé lives down there, so it's a no-brainer."

"Congratulations," Lucas said. "It's great news." No lie.

She smiled again and put her hands down on the desk. He noticed her notebook was nowhere to be seen. "Anyway, I wanted to see you before I left, because I wanted to know that you're still making progress."

"I'm getting there, Doc."

"And the case you're working?"

Lucas shrugged. "It's a challenge."

"You're not getting anywhere?"

"Not exactly."

"What does that mean?"

"Aren't we here to talk about me?"

"This is about you. You coming to see me was a condition of you returning to work so rapidly after your tragedy. The work is a part of that."

Lucas spread his hands in surrender. "I can't really talk about it."

"I understand. But if it would help, you can talk about it. I can't divulge any information you give me, whether it's about a live case or anything else."

Lucas watched her face. For the first time, he felt like he had a slight edge on her. He sensed something in her: a curiosity. Perhaps if he indulged that curiosity, she would give him something too.

He leaned forward. Glanced at her pad. "How do you think I'm doing. Really?"

She drew back a little, pursed her lips, the smile fading. Her voice regained the professional tone. "I already told you. I'm pleasantly surprised at the way you've adjusted."

"Surprised enough to sign off on me before you go? Or do I have to start over with someone else."

"I'm thinking about it."

He nodded and sat back. "All right. You're familiar with the basics of the Olivia Greenwood case?"

Wright smiled. "Sergeant, it's not that big of a place. Everybody within a fifty-mile radius knows about the murder you're investigating."

"I think I know what happened. But I can't prove it."

"You know who abducted her?"

"I think I know some of the players. Here's the thing: her husband had a girlfriend, and a shitload of debt. I think he hired somebody to kidnap her and ransom her. Only, he never intended to pay the ransom. They were to hold her long enough for it to look convincing and then kill her. Then he would get the life insurance payout."

"You think that's what happened?"

"No, I think that's what was supposed to happen. Something went wrong. She got away from them somehow, she was killed trying to escape. The plan got screwed up. Of course, the husband killed himself, so he can't help us identify his partner in crime."

"But you know who it is."

"I have an idea," Lucas said. "But…" He opened his hands again. "I can't prove it. So he's going to walk."

"And how does that make you feel?"

"How does it make me feel?" He took a long breath through his nostrils and looked out of the window, pretending to mull it over. "It makes me feel professionally frustrated, I suppose. But it is what it is. You can't close every case."

"You can't close every case," Dr. Wright repeated in a hushed tone, as though he had just elucidated one of the secrets of the universe.

Lucas was in the car when Sheriff Longbow called him a half hour after leaving Dr. Wright's office. He had just finished reading an email from the life insurance company. Or at least, he had finished reading the first paragraph of the email, which had hit him like a dump truck.

…due to the ongoing investigation, we regret that we are unable at this time to finalize settlement of your late wife's policy. If you would like to discuss…

The words seemed to scramble on the screen after that. In his mind's eye, they danced around and then reassembled into a picture of one million dollars going up in smoke.

"Fuck."

When he saw Longbow's number flash up, he thought about ignoring it. But he knew Longbow would just keep calling. He took a moment to compose himself and then answered.

"I guess congratulations are in order."

If only you knew, boss. If only you fucking knew.

Lucas cleared his throat and tried to sound jovial. "I'm getting a raise?"

"Not this decade. Dr. Wright called. She's signing off on your report. Says she's satisfied you're a well-adjusted human being. One day you'll have to tell me how you fooled her."

"I guess they give those psychology diplomas out to anyone these days."

"You coming down to the station?"

"In a while," Lucas said as he pulled to a stop at the curb. He looked out of the passenger window at the house across the street. As he watched, the door opened and Len Thundercloud stepped out, folding his arms and glaring back at him from across the street.

"Lucas?"

He remembered he was still on the line to his boss. Without breaking eye contact with Len Thundercloud, he replied. "Just got to take care of a couple things. I'll see you in an hour."