Papers shuffled across the line as Tate read. “Young runaway from Texas who’s been missing for a year. My guess is he found her on the street. The pink streaks in the hair are new, leading us to believe the killer actually sprayed them in, and her face was bashed before she was tossed from the bridge.” Tate’s voice lowered to a whisper. “HDD called here and I’m getting heat that they’re infringing on our case. Did you forget your interviews with them today?”

Angus started. “Shit. Yeah, I did.” Damn it. He’d completely forgotten. How could he forget something like that? “I’ll make it right.”

“See that you do. I’m getting looks here and have to stop talking to you,” Tate said. “I’m sending you the sketch of the scene, so you know where the body fell, but don’t call me again. If I need your help, I’ll reach out to you.”

“Wait. Was there a note?” Angus asked.

Tate sighed. “Not this time.”

“Damn it, Tate. There had to have been a note. He left one last time.” Angus’s voice rose, and he quickly quashed all emotion. “Have the coroner check the body carefully.”

“No shit.” Tate clicked off.

Angus winced. Tate was probably his last friend in Metro, and that was stretching it. He looked around. “Sounds like Metro and the HDD are butting heads, which only helps us for now. They didn’t find a note. There has to be a note.” The text came in and he scanned the sketch. “According to Metro, the body was over here.” Running over to the area indicated on the sketch, he studied the leaves, scattering them.

“The techs would’ve searched the entire area,” Nari said gently.

“There’s a note.” Angus would bet his life on it. He overturned a rock. Nothing. Going methodically, he turned over each rock in the area, finding nothing but dirt and bugs. “Where is it, damn it?”

Jethro looked up toward the bridge. “I’ll scout the bridge.” He turned and jogged gracefully up the hill, only breaking stride a couple of times because of his newly healed leg. Roscoe kept pace with him and stopped to shake his fur at the top.

Heat coated Angus’s throat and he coughed out the frustration. The rain pounded harder. “Why don’t you wait in the car, Nari?”

She tugged the hood of her raincoat over her head. “It’s my fault for forgetting my umbrella. I’ll go search over by the creek.” She turned and slipped on the leaves but kept trudging toward what looked more like a long mud puddle than a creek.

Angus tried to forget that two people he cared about were possibly risking their lives to help him. He studied the area, making sure no cars approached. If anybody came upon them from the woods, Roscoe would catch a scent.