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Chapters (48)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. Dedication
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Prologue
  6. Chapter One
  7. Chapter Two
  8. Chapter Three
  9. Chapter Four
  10. Chapter Five
  11. Chapter Six
  12. Chapter Seven
  13. Chapter Eight
  14. Chapter Nine
  15. Chapter Ten
  16. Chapter Eleven
  17. Chapter Twelve
  18. Chapter Thirteen
  19. Chapter Fourteen
  20. Chapter Fifteen
  21. Chapter Sixteen
  22. Chapter Seventeen
  23. Chapter Eighteen
  24. Chapter Nineteen
  25. Chapter Twenty
  26. Chapter Twenty-one
  27. Chapter Twenty-two
  28. Chapter Twenty-three
  29. Chapter Twenty-four
  30. Chapter Twenty-five
  31. Chapter Twenty-six
  32. Chapter Twenty-seven
  33. Chapter Twenty-eight
  34. Chapter Twenty-nine
  35. Chapter Thirty
  36. Chapter Thirty-one
  37. Chapter Thirty-two
  38. Chapter Thirty-three
  39. Chapter Thirty-four
  40. Chapter Thirty-five
  41. Chapter Thirty-six
  42. Chapter Thirty-seven
  43. Chapter Thirty-eight
  44. Chapter Thirty-nine
  45. Also by Allison Brennan
  46. Praise for these other novels by New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan
  47. About the Author
  48. Newsletter Sign-up

He didn’t see Carl’s gun until it was too late.

Chapter Thirty-one

FRIDAY MORNING

Because Rachel was working in the field on a complicated case with half the Violent Crimes Squad, Lucy cleared her SAPD meeting with ASAC Abigail Durant. Fortunately, she didn’t have to explain in detail, because Rachel had already filled Abigail in.

She got up to leave, but Abigail said, “Please sit, Lucy. There’s two other issues we need to discuss.”

She sat back down, dreading what was coming.

“First, I spoke with the sheriff in Kerr County. Detective Douglas is in the hospital in critical condition. He was shot outside his house last night. But he gave a statement to first responders that his partner, Detective Chavez, shot him. Right now he’s in a medical coma after surgery, so we can’t question him. He thinks he winged Chavez in the gunfight, and evidence at the scene supports that. Chavez is missing. The sheriff himself took charge of the crime scene and found all the Albright files there. Immediately prior to the shooting, Detective Douglas asked to meet with the sheriff.”

“He must have seen something or remembered something that had him suspicious of his partner,” Lucy said. She felt marginally guilty for icing him out of the investigation, but she honestly didn’t know which of the cops was involved.

“Rachel told me—verbally, she didn’t put it in her report—that Nate was able to interview Ricky Albright and he identified Detective Chavez.”

“Yes.”

“And Nate is in Mexico on ‘vacation.’”

Lucy didn’t say anything.

“Where is Ricky Albright now?”

“They are on their way to San Antonio. ETA two this afternoon.”

“I’ll contact CPS and have them take the boy into custody.”

“Ma’am, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“He’ll be safe, receive medical attention and a psychiatric evaluation. He’s been missing for three years. We don’t know what condition he’s in.”

“He knew his family was murdered and he’s terrified of anyone in authority because he knew that at least one cop was responsible. He didn’t want to come home.”

“He’s a minor child who needs to be protected.”

“I agree, which is why putting him immediately into the system is the worst thing we can do.”

“It’s the law, Agent Kincaid.”

Lucy hadn’t met Ricky yet, but Nate had been clear that he was extremely distrustful. “The law couldn’t foresee these specific circumstances. We always have to do what’s in the best interests of the child, right? He’s felt safe for three years because no one knew where he was.”

“And the man who took him?”

“The man didn’t knowingly take him out of the country. Ricky hid in his truck and didn’t expose himself until after they crossed the border.”