Chapter 14

Gretchen waited near the produce stand, guarding the scene while Josie informed the Lees what they had found. They seemed shaken but had no objections to the police processing the scene and searching the premises. Despite that, Josie drove back to the stationhouse to prepare a warrant. It was still necessary in case the couple had a change of heart. Josie had seen that sort of thing happen before. Once she had the warrant, she contacted the ERT and called in a few more units to help with the search. By the time things were underway at Tranquil Trails, Josie estimated they had about two hours of daylight left.

While Hummel and his crew processed the crime scene, everyone else fanned out for a thorough search of the premises. Josie had checked the property records before returning. The place was far larger than they initially thought, extending south along Prout Road almost to the scene of the car accident. Their land included large tracts on the other side of Prout Road as well. It was a lot of ground to cover, but Josie didn't want to risk missing anything—especially if there was a child at risk.

She and Gretchen started at the house. Both Lees were in the kitchen. Jon paced back and forth in front of the long, rectangular oak table that spanned nearly the length of the entire room. His movements were frenetic. The wooden floorboards creaked beneath his boots. His mouth moved, as if he was mumbling, but no words came out. Rebecca sat calmly at one end of the table, sipping tea. The only sign of strain was a tightness at the corners of her eyes. She said, "How long will this take?"

Josie's gaze caught on the warrant spread out in front of Rebecca. "Probably several hours."

"Do you think you'll be finished by tomorrow?" Rebecca pressed. "I'm concerned that our clients will get upset if they see all this."

Gretchen tracked Jon's movements. "We'll be finished by tomorrow. There are a few more things we're hoping you can help with."

Rebecca wrapped her hands around her teacup and took a small sip. "Anything."

Jon paused to stare at his wife. Josie waited for him to speak, to object, as he seemed to grow more agitated the longer they were there, but he said nothing. It was almost like he was waiting for Rebecca to do it. However, she didn't even glance his way. With a huff, he stomped out of the room. Rebecca didn't acknowledge this either.

"We'll need to take a more thorough look around the house," Gretchen said.

"Of course," Rebecca agreed.

Josie inched away from the table and toward the doorway that connected the kitchen to the living room. Jon sat in a rocking chair in front of a dormant fireplace, pushing the chair to its limits until the floor groaned.

Gretchen continued, "Mrs. Lee, we're going to need a list of all commercial trucks that come and go from here regularly, their reason for being here, and their owners."

"Commercial trucks?" Rebecca echoed.

Hummel had taken one look at the larger tracks leading to the produce stand and declared that the treads definitely belonged to a commercial vehicle. Casts of the tracks would have to confirm it but Josie would bet a month's pay that Hummel was right. "We found tire tracks near the produce stand," she explained. "We believe that they're from a commercial truck. Our team will compare them to the trucks that you and your husband own, but we'll still need a list of any commercial vehicles that regularly come and go from here and that may have been here today."

Rebecca's brow furrowed. "There were no trucks here today—other than our own."

"We'll still need that list," Gretchen pressed.

"I'm happy to provide it," Rebecca answered. "Though I'm not sure what help it will be."

Josie asked, "Is there a man who drives a white box truck who delivers or picks up supplies here? Or who regularly visits the produce stand?"

She relayed the description they'd gotten from Todd Stapleton, including the diamond-shaped scar. Gretchen found the drawing Todd made in her notebook and showed it to Rebecca.

Rebecca's hands clenched the teacup until her knuckles went white. "I've never seen anyone like that here. Are you saying this man was there today? That he was driving a white box truck? The produce stand isn't even stocked right now. Why would anyone be there?"

From her peripheral vision, Josie noted that Jon had stopped rocking. "We have reason to believe that Mira had been meeting a man in a white box truck at the produce stand. We don't know for sure, but given their past meetings, it's possible they met there today."

Heavy feet trudged back into the kitchen. Jon stood in the doorway, looking stricken as he stared at his wife. Some silent communication raged between them. Rebecca's eyes narrowed until she was glowering at her husband. "Jon," she said. His name was a question that only he understood.

Clearing his throat, he said, "Can I see the drawing of the scar?"

Gretchen walked over and showed it to him.

Rebecca watched him carefully. "Jon?"

Looking up from Gretchen's notebook, he held his arms out, palms up, as if to show her they were empty. "I don't know for sure."

"Don't know what for sure?" Josie asked.

Rebecca pushed her teacup away so violently that it flipped onto its side, spilling what was left of its contents across the search warrant. Her tone was razor-sharp. "You promised, Jon."

Gretchen arched a brow. "It would be really helpful if you could tell us what's going on. We've already had two stabbing victims today, one of whom did not make it, and we're concerned there could be a child at risk."

Rebecca's rancor faded a bit, her face softening. "It can't be Seth then. He doesn't have children. I don't even think he knows anyone with children."

Jon didn't look quite as relieved, but he nodded.

Josie said, "Who is Seth?"

"My brother," Jon answered.