She quickly went through the higher-level details of the Fuller case, giving him a brief summation in about twenty seconds. When she was done, Parker chuckled. Man, I cant believe you forgot about that case.

Why? What am I missing?

Well, youre the one that sort of broke it, if I remember correctly. Can you remember who we chased after for several days before we realized it was the brother that did it?

The brothers wife. There were clues and leads everywhere that told us it was her. But in the end it was the brother. It took us…

I take it the pause means youre making some sort of connection? Parker asked.

But with this case, the parents are both dead.

Does that really matter? Youve been digging into the daughters life, looking for ways to understand her. But what if you checked out the parents instead?

Thats just it. We have, for the most part. No local family, no arrest records, no…

She stopped here. She saw where he was trying to lead her. And while she had vaguely gone there herself, the immediacy of finding Mercy Fuller had torn her away from it. Now, though, able to talk it out with an old partner, it started to make more sense.

What if the parents were somehow involved in the whole thing? she asked almost to herself.

I wouldnt go there right away either, Parker said. Based on what youve told me, it would be far from the natural inclination, but you know as well as I do that the people you have no reason to suspect are sometimes the most interesting ones.

Thanks for this, Parker.

No need to thank me. You would have figured it out for yourself before too long. Besides…you have a family and a life outside of all of this. I retired and returned home to pretty much nothing. All this time to myself…I tend to dive back into case notes and old memories of the job far too often.

You can always come pay me a visit in Richmond.

I might just do that one day.

Kate wrapped the call and walked back into the conference room. She sat back down among a conversation about the possible routes the abductor could have taken through the woods and where those routes would come out. Barnes and Foster bickered about it a bit before leaving the floor open.

Sheriff Barnes, has anyone looked into Wendy or Alvin Fuller? she asked. Maybe about their histories and who they may have known that could be responsible?

It was Foster who answered. He replied quickly, both eager to help and seemingly offended that she thought theyd miss something so clear. It was apparent in his tone and the gaze he cast her way when he spoke.