The distress outside permeated the brick building. The silence of the station was somber and reflected the devastation each person was facing over the news. They had a body. Jane Doe. And from first appearances, her death appeared to be a homicide. Her gruesome wounds told the painful story of her last minutes on earth. If the reactions of Charlie’s peers were any indication of how the town would react, he knew this murder had the power to change Walton forever.

“We will handle this case professionally and expediently.” Sheriff Huggins paused and turned to address the grim atmosphere in his station. “Deputy Lynch and Deputy Frost will be working on this case directly, but I expect each of you to work diligently in light of the long road ahead of us.”

Charlie straightened as he stole a glance around the room. If anyone disapproved of his being assigned to the case, the faces of those in the room didn’t show it. Even Deputy Wilson gave a chin tilt—was it approval?

“For those unaware, Deputy Lynch is a former Marine MP. He brings a wealth of information and, more importantly, distance. An asset I’m sure y’all will find necessary.” Sheriff Huggins’s gray eyes took on a steely gaze as he looked each person in the eyes. His features hardened. The lines set deeper. His tone became more assertive. “What happened to that little girl”—he cleared his throat—“it’s personal. That truth is going to send a shock wave through our community.”

It had been thirty years since Walton had a murder. How would the town react to the death of one of their children? What kind of person was the young woman found in the mud? The town’s sweetheart or a rabble-rouser? Did it matter? No one deserved to die the way she had.

Sheriff Huggins finished giving instructions to the deputies and requested that those able to work overtime sign up with Deputy Hodges. The only sound in the room was the deputies returning to their work. Chair legs scraping against the oak floors, the shuffling of papers—normal sounds no longer reflecting normalcy.

“Sir?” Deputy Benningfield, an older lady with short salt-and-pepper hair who Charlie recognized as the one who had helped him with his paperwork, tapped Sheriff Huggins on the shoulder. Her expression was transparent. “We just got a call about a missing girl.”

“Who?”

“Trevor and Amanda Donovan.” The deputy tucked her chin. “Their daughter, Sydney.”

A few hours later, Charlie massaged his temples as he looked over his notes one final time to make sure he hadn’t missed a single detail from his and Sheriff Huggins’s conversation with the Donovans. Right now, the sheriff was escorting the distraught parents to the Savannah County Morgue to identify the body of Jane Doe.