Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
A quick triple knock drew Dare’s attention to Cam, who stood in the doorway. He lifted his chin in greeting, and the lieutenant strode toward him, a sheaf of papers in hand.
“The lab results from the autopsy just come back.” He passed the report to Dare, then dropped into the chair across from him. “Name’s Jayla Simms, twenty-six, from Milaca.”
Dare shot him a questioning glance. “Where is that?”
“Just across the border. A little over an hour away.”
Dare’s computer dinged with the arrival of an email, but he ignored it. “What else do we know about her?”
Cam leaned back in the chair. “She was reported missing ten months ago when she didn’t show up for work.”
He nodded and silently perused the report, his mind whirling. How did the woman end up in Brookhaven—and why now?
“I’ve contacted the locals over in Milaca,” Cam continued. “They’re going to apprise the family so they can handle burial arrangements. I’ve requested a copy of the original report, so I’ll see if we get any leads there.”
“Let me know if you find anything.”
Cam pushed from the chair. “Will do.”
He disappeared and Dare opened the email that had come through just a few moments ago from Detective Clint Montgomery from SCPD. His mouth pulled into a frown as he glanced over the information Clint had sent over.
According to their findings, the final ping from Tess’s phone had come from a cell tower nearly thirty minutes away from her home, and the call log confirmed that her final contact was the phone call Ainsley had received.
The medical examiner had approximated Tess’s death had occurred sometime during the previous weekend. Unless dead women could dial the phone, there was no way that call had come from Tess.
The information gnawed at him; he felt certain Joel Parsons had her phone at some point and disposed of it. And if he’d had her phone… That placed him at the scene of the crime. Despite Joel’s insistence that he knew nothing about Tess, the whole thing didn’t sit right with him.
Joel was involved somehow—he just needed to prove it.
Dare picked up his phone and dialed Detective Montgomery’s number. After a few rings, Clint answered, his voice weary. “Montgomery.”
“Clint, it’s Dare. Got a minute?”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“I’ve been digging into Tess’s phone records. The last ping is from a tower roughly thirty minutes from her place, the night before she was found. There’s no way she made that call.”
Clint sighed audibly. “I hear you. But we’ve got nothing to place Parsons at the scene. We found no prints, no DNA—nothing to link him directly.”
“I know,” Dare said, frustration evident in his tone. “But this whole thing feels off. Parsons is a surgeon, meticulous by nature. He’d know how to cover his tracks.”
Clint was silent for a moment. “Look, I get your suspicion. But we need hard evidence. What about the shooting Ainsley was involved in? Any leads?”
“Nothing yet.” Dare hated to admit that they were at a standstill there too. Worst of all, that asshole’s alibi had checked out. Joel had been in surgery at the time of the shooting, so he wasn’t responsible for the attack. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t involved somehow. “There has to be something we’re missing.”
“Or it’s not him,” Clint replied.
Dare bit back a curse. “I know how it sounds, but?—”
“Do you?” Clint pressed. “The woman living with you recently lost her best friend and was shot at. Add to that, her ex is an arrogant prick. Tell me what I’m supposed to think.”
Anger burned through Dare’s blood, and he clenched his molars together in an effort not to snap at the other man. He knew how it sounded, damn it. While he could admit that it was jealousy in part that drove him, there was more to it. He could feel it.
Dare inhaled and forced himself to think rationally. “I understand where you’re coming from. And as much as I despise that asshole, he’s the only one with motive. I think Tess’s murder was a message. She’s the one who helped Ainsley when she left Joel—gave her a place to stay, let her borrow her mother’s car. He wouldn’t take kindly to that.”
Clint seemed to think it over for a moment. “I don’t suppose he would.”
“I know he wasn’t responsible for the drive-by,” Dare continued. “Maybe he didn’t do it himself. But I’d stake my life that he’s ass deep in this whole thing. If we got access to his bank records, we might be able to find the connection.”
“He’ll never just hand those over, and without something solid…”
Yeah, Dare knew exactly where he was going with that. Without cause, they wouldn’t be able to get a warrant. They needed evidence that placed Joel at the scene of the crime.
“I can’t make any promises,” Clint finally said. “But I’ll keep digging and see if I can find anything.”
“I appreciate it.” Dare ended the call then leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.
He needed to find that one loose thread that would unravel Joel’s carefully constructed alibi. He knew he was on the right track. Joel Parsons was meticulous, but even the best made mistakes. He just needed to find the connection that would tie Joel to both crimes.
His phone buzzed, breaking the silence as it rattled across the wooden surface of his desk. He bit back a groan when he saw Marley’s name on the screen. Just what he needed. “Hey, Mar, what’s up?”
“Dare! How’s my favorite brother doing?” Marley’s voice was a bright contrast to the restlessness plaguing him.
“Unless something happened that I don’t know about, I’m pretty sure I’m your only brother,” he replied dryly.
“Details,” Marley teased. “So, how’s my favorite sister-in-law?”
Dare snorted. “You don’t have a sister-in-law.”
“Yet,” Marley said, a singsong quality to her voice.
“Don’t,” he warned. “If you’re trying to play matchmaker, it’s not going to work,” he said, unable to keep the exasperation from his tone.
Marley huffed. “You can’t tell me it hasn’t crossed your mind.”
No, he couldn’t say that. He couldn’t bring himself to lie to his sister. His silence must have given him away, because she pressed on. “You like her, don’t you? Otherwise, you wouldn’t be going out of your way for her.”
She’s…” Beautiful. Smart. He could come up with a thousand other words to describe his tenant, though he would never voice them out loud. “Ainsley is off limits, Mar. You know that.”
“I saw the way you looked at her.”
Dare rubbed the bridge of his nose, already sensing the impending headache brewing behind his eyes. “Mar…”
“I just think you deserve to be happy, too. How about we all meet up for dinner sometime? I really like Ainsley, and I want to make sure she’s settling in okay.”
He hesitated, the image of Ainsley’s sweet smile flashing in his mind. “I’d like that, but not right now. Everything’s too crazy. Once things settle down, we can arrange something.”
“Okay, I get it. But how’s Ainsley holding up through all this? She must be worried sick,” Marley said, sympathy tinging her voice.
“She’s good. Stronger than she looks,” he replied. “We’ll meet up soon, I promise. Just let me get through this mess first.”
Marley’s tone turned serious. “Just make sure to take care of her, okay?”
“With my life,” Dare promised. He’d never meant anything more.