Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

Cam stood next to sheriff Dare Jensen at the edge of Lake Remington, his gaze fixed on the calm, deceptively serene water. The early morning sun cast long shadows over the ground, and a light breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees. Despite the peaceful tranquility of the scene, tension pressed in around them.

Cam glanced at his watch. "Shouldn't they be here by now?"

Dare nodded, brows pulled slightly together. "They're running a bit late, but they'll be here."

The discovery of the body yesterday had sent shockwaves through the small community. Dare had questioned Gabby and Jared, who were still shell-shocked by the discovery. Jared had admitted to striking something beneath the water, which most likely resulted in dislodging the human remains. The deputies had retrieved the body late yesterday afternoon, and it was now with the medical examiner.

Cam paced the shoreline, his mind racing. Was it Lindsey? The deputies on afternoons had said the person was smaller, so they assumed it was a woman. "Do we have any leads on who it might be?"

Dare shook his head. "Not yet. Looks like whoever it was has been down there for quite awhile."

Not Lindsey, then. Cam exhaled deeply, the sound a combination of relief and anxiety.

The sound of an approaching vehicle drew their attention, and a truck pulled up, a boat trailer behind. The dive team had arrived.

Cam and Dare walked over to greet them, exchanging brief introductions. The team quickly began to unload their equipment, preparing for the dive.

The lead diver adjusted his mask. "We'll start at the spot where the kids found the body and work our way out from there. If there's anything else down there, we'll find it."

Dare nodded. "Be careful. We don't know what we're dealing with yet."

Dare and Cam watched as the divers slipped into the water, disappearing seamlessly beneath the surface, leaving only a trail of bubbles. The minutes ticked by slowly, each one stretching longer than the last.

Suddenly, one of the divers surfaced, signaling to the team on shore. Dare and Cam hurried over as the diver removed his mask. "Looks like there's a car down here. We need to bring it up."

"Damn." Cam exchanged a quick look with Dare, who made a call to a local towing company to have them extract the vehicle.

The atmosphere was tense as the minutes ticked by, a mixture of anticipation and dread hanging in the air. The oppressive silence was broken by the distant hum of a vehicle approaching.

Finally, the towing company arrived, their truck loaded with heavy-duty equipment. Cam and Dare moved to greet them as the crew began unloading the winch and other gear. The team worked efficiently, setting up their equipment and preparing for the extraction process.

The winch was carefully maneuvered into position, and the divers, now back on land, provided guidance. They attached the heavy-duty straps to the car, their movements practiced and precise.

As the winch roared to life, the cable tightened, and the car began to move. The silt around it swirled, creating a cloud of murky water. Cam watched intently, his heart pounding as the vehicle slowly emerged from the depths.

As it broke the surface, the silt continued to drift away, revealing a small white sedan, its once-pristine paint now marred by decades of exposure to the elements. The windshield was shattered, and the windows were opaque with decades of accumulated debris.

The crew continued to guide the car onto the shore. The winch groaned under the strain, and the vehicle creaked as it was lifted. The tension was high, and everyone watched in silent anticipation.

When the car was finally set down on the shore, Cam could practically hear the collective sigh of relief that rippled through the onlookers. The towing crew moved back, allowing Cam and Dare to approach.

"Let's get a closer look," Dare said, moving toward the vehicle. Cam followed, his gaze fixed on the sedan. The car was covered in mud, but it was clear that it had been submerged for a long time.

"We need to run the plate," Dare said, turning to Deputy Evan Landry. "See if we can track down any information about this car."

Landry nodded, then quickly retrieved the plate number and headed to his cruiser to run the information. The others set to work, documenting the find and taking photographs.

"Sheriff," Landry called out, "the car is registered to Dennis Collins."

Dare's lips pressed into a firm line as he turned toward Cam. "I'll have the car brought in for evidence. In the meantime, why don't you see what you can pull on Dennis Collins?"

With a nod, Cam strode toward his car and headed back to the station. It didn't take him long to find what he was looking for. Nearly three decades ago, Dennis Collins had filed a police report stating that his wife, Misty, had gone missing.

Cam found the case file on Misty Collins and began to read through it. A young wife and mother to her stepson, David, Misty Collins had vanished without a trace one day while Dennis was at work. Behind, she had left a typed letter, stating she couldn't go on anymore.

According to the file, no one had seen or heard from her since. Had she left of her own accord? Or had something far more sinister happened to Misty?

Dare walked in, his face grim. "Anything yet?"

"Get this." Cam sat back in his chair. "Dennis Collins reported his wife missing twenty-nine years ago. When the deputies investigated, they found a note she'd left behind."

"What about the husband?"

"He was at work at the time, and apparently there were no leads. I checked into Dennis Collins's whereabouts, but that's a dead end. He passed away a few months ago."

"Well, that's convenient," Dare muttered caustically.

Cam lifted one shoulder. "His alibi was solid. He was at work all day, and his son, David, was a junior in high school at the time. They questioned neighbors, friends… No one saw a thing."

Dare nodded slowly, his expression pensive. "Why don't you hand this off to Turner, have him do some digging?"

Cam sank back in his chair, disgruntled. "You don't want me working this?"

"I didn't say that." Dare shook his head. "But the Gill and Simms cases take priority right now, and you've already got your hands full. We're assuming the woman in the car is Misty, but we can't make any official statements until we get identification. Misty went missing decades ago; a week or two won't change anything. We need to find Lindsey while she's still alive."

Cam nodded, then closed the file and passed it across the desk. "You're right. Sorry."

Dare waved off the apology. "I get it. If Turner finds something, I'll have him follow up with you."

"Thanks." Cam dipped his head in appreciation, tossing one last look at the file as he stood. There was more to the story, he could feel it. But for now, it was going to have to wait.