Agent Foreman stepped forward. “Let us know what you need, Chief.”

Renton looked at Maverick and Greenwood. Jerry looked like he might say something, but she didn’t give him the time. “And put that piece of garbage back in his cell.”

The crisp chime of a mobile device interrupted. Greenwood reached for his phone.

Renton continued, “I want crews out on the site twenty-four-seven until we find—”

Another phone chimed. Maverick’s this time, followed by Foreman’s, followed by Christiansen’s.

Renton threw her hands up. “I left mine on my desk. What’s happening?”

Greenwood showed the chief his screen.

Renton drew a sharp breath, then snapped into action. “Jerry, put Amireau back in the tank, then catch up. Everyone else, let’s go.”

Caitlin followed the flow of law enforcement into the hall, overheard whispered words.

Where?

Who found her?

At Greenwood’s cubicle, she found a large white document box. Fully loaded, the Chapman case materials weighed more than she’d expected from a problem without a solution.

She hefted the mass toward the door and nearly ran into Greenwood, who moved like he was on the hunt. From what she knew of the BPD’s caseload, there could be only two hers that made the entire department shift into high gear. Since the box in Caitlin’s hands meant she was privy to all aspects of the Chapman investigation, this rollout had to be about the other missing student.

“You found Paige Lauffer, right?”

He hesitated. “I can’t—”

“You don’t have to. Call me later.”

Chapter 52

CHAPTER

52

CAITLIN, MARY, AND Lakshmi weren’t the first press on the scene. Two broadcast trucks from Indianapolis marked the perimeter. A sheriff’s cruiser blocked the entrance to the soccer fields where they’d parked days before, and a law enforcement swarm moved under work lights revealing the nearest goal box. Flashlights danced in the darkness beyond.

Mary sent Lakshmi to spy on the other journalists, then rejoined Caitlin. “Looks like BPD, the sheriff, and those SUVs, is that—”

“The FBI? Definitely.”

They turned at the sound of a passing truck, saw the emblem of the Monroe County Coroner.

Lakshmi rejoined them. “That means Paige Lauffer’s dead, right?”

“Gotta be,” Caitlin said. “What’d you learn?”

Lakshmi quoted one of the broadcasters. “ ‘Officers on the scene refuse to speculate about the identity, though eyewitness reports claim the naked female body found resembles missing student Paige Lauffer.’ ”

Mary snapped a photo of the workers under the lights with her phone. “Lakshmi, start writing.”

The girl reached for her bag. “Okay, what do we know?”

Mary reviewed her photo on the camera’s screen. “Same as the competition’s report, enough for a good tease.”

“We know more than that,” Caitlin said. “You ready?”

Lakshmi had her laptop out. “Shoot.”