Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Sawyer and Cam stopped by the station to check a few notes and print off a handful of photos, then headed back to Fallon Ray’s neighborhood. The neighbor’s house was identical to Fallon’s—another triplex unit with a well-manicured yard, flowers blooming brightly on the small front porch.

Sawyer hopped up the steps and rang the bell, foot tapping anxiously as he waited for someone to answer. Several moments passed before the door swung open and an older woman appeared in the space.

Her brows drew together when she saw them. “Can I help you?”

“Good afternoon, ma’am. We’re with the Brookhaven Sheriff’s Department. We’re following up on some questions about your neighbor, Fallon. Do you mind if we ask you a few questions?”

The woman’s brow furrowed with concern, but she nodded. “Of course. I’ve already spoken with the other officers, but I’ll tell you whatever I can.”

Sawyer offered a polite smile. “Ma’am, we wanted to follow up on something you mentioned to the deputies earlier. You said you saw Fallon’s car parked in her driveway the night she disappeared?”

She nodded slowly. “Yes, that’s right. I saw it there when I was closing my curtains for the night.”

“Did you see or hear anything unusual the night she disappeared?” Cam asked gently.

She shook her head. “No, it was very quiet. I remember seeing her car in the driveway when I went to bed, but that’s all.”

“Are you sure it was her car?” Sawyer pressed. “Could it have been another vehicle, similar in color and make?”

The woman hesitated, then sighed. “I suppose it could’ve been, but it was dark. I didn’t think much of it at the time. It looked like her car, so I just assumed.”

“Do you remember if the garage door was open or closed?” Cam asked.

The woman’s brow furrowed as she thought back. “Let me think… It was closed. Yes, I’m sure of it.”

Sawyer’s gaze sharpened. “Thank you, ma’am. That’s helpful.”

Before they turned to leave, Sawyer pulled out a picture of the car from the grocery store parking lot. “One last thing—could you take a look at this for me?”

He handed her the photo, and she stared at the image for a moment. The car was partially obscured, the taillights the most visible feature.

The woman’s eyes narrowed as she focused. After a few seconds, she nodded slowly. “That’s the car. I remember those taillights. They were on when I saw it parked in the driveway.”

“Thank you for your time,” Sawyer said, his voice laced with genuine gratitude. “You’ve been very helpful.”

As they walked back to their car, Cam spoke first, his voice low. “That’s our confirmation. The car in the driveway was the same one from the grocery store.”

“This wasn’t just a random disappearance,” Sawyer added, his mind racing. “Someone planned this.”

They drove back to the station in silence, the weight of the revelation settling over them. They had a lead—a crucial one—but they still needed to connect all the dots. As the station came into view, Sawyer knew they were closer than ever to finding Fallon. But the clock was ticking, and they couldn’t afford to lose a single moment.

* * *

Sawyer sat at his desk, poring over the latest reports and evidence in Lindsey Gill's disappearance case. Cam was on the phone, coordinating with the tech team to analyze the image of the dark sedan captured on the grocery store's surveillance footage.

"All right, thanks," Cam said, hanging up and joining Sawyer at the desk. "The tech team analyzed the picture of the sedan—it’s a 2012 Honda Civic.”

Sawyer nodded thoughtfully, his mind racing with possibilities. "That matches the description of the vehicle Lindsey's neighbor mentioned seeing parked near her house before she disappeared."

"We need to talk to her again," Cam said decisively. "Get more details about when and where she saw it."

They printed out enlarged images of the sedan from different angles, highlighting key features like the distinctive taillights and any identifying marks. Armed with these visuals, they headed to Lindsey's neighborhood, hoping for a breakthrough in the case.

Lindsey's neighbor, Mrs. Patterson, greeted them at the door with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. She recognized Sawyer and Cam from their previous visits.

"Mrs. Patterson, thank you for seeing us again," Sawyer said politely, showing her the printed pictures of the sedan. "We need to ask you about this vehicle. You mentioned seeing a similar car parked across from Lindsey's house a few days before she went missing."

Mrs. Patterson peered at the images, her brow furrowing in concentration. "Yes, that looks like the one I saw. I thought it was strange because I hadn't seen it in the neighborhood before."

"And did you see anyone around the car?" Sawyer asked, jotting down notes in his pad.

"No, I didn't," Mrs. Patterson replied, shaking her head. "I thought about mentioning it to Lindsey, but I didn't want to bother her. She seemed busy that day."

"Did you notice anything else unusual?" Cam inquired, trying to glean any additional information.

Mrs. Patterson paused, deep in thought. "Actually, now that I think about it, I did notice a man sitting in the driver's seat. He was just sitting there, staring straight ahead. I thought he might have been waiting for someone."

Sawyer exchanged a glance with Cam. "Can you describe the man? Did you recognize him?"

Mrs. Patterson shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. I didn't get a good look at his face. He had on sunglasses and a baseball cap pulled low."

"Thank you, Mrs. Patterson," Cam said, handing her a card. "If you remember anything else or if you see that vehicle again, please call us immediately."

Sawyer’s heart raced as he climbed back into the cruiser. The same sedan at two different crime scenes… It couldn’t be a coincidence. Despite the different manners of death, the cases were linked—he just needed to figure out how.