“Don’t you see, Duncan? That’s what I got wrong when I interrogated Coyle. I said we were looking for Tanya, Caitlin, and Troy’s body parts. He knew we didn’t know that she was still alive. That’s why he perked up. That’s also why Coyle wanted to meet with us this morning. He’s worried about Caitlin, too. He’s convinced he’s going to walk and wants it to happen today, while there’s a chance that she’s still alive.”

“You’ve convinced me,” Lansing said.

Eve turned, stunned. She was certain Duncan would be the first one she convinced and he’d help her win over the others. Perhaps she’d underestimated the sheriff. But she wasn’t the only one who was surprised. So was the captain.

Moffett looked at Lansing in disbelief. “You can’t be serious, sir.”

“I think she’s right. Coyle killed the ranger and the body parts we’re looking for are buried somewhere in Malibu Creek State Park.” Lansing turned to Eve. “That was brilliant detective work, Ronin. You never cease to amaze me.”

“We need to send deputies to every house Mr. Plunger sent Coyle to near Malibu Creek State Park,” Eve said.

“Whoa, hold up, Ronin,” Lansing said, raising his hands in a halting gesture. “I’m with you on the bodies. But your theory about Caitlin is wishful thinking, to put it kindly. I’ll chalk it up to exhaustion and heartbreak. It’s a horrific case and I don’t blame you for dreaming of a happy ending.”

Eve felt her face flushing with anger, enraged by his lack of understanding and his patronizing lecture. How could he believe only part of what she’d told him? Recovering Caitlin was far more important than the bodies.

“But Donna Stokes is missing, and all the forensic evidence proves that Caitlin—”

“Nothing different than what we first assumed,” Lansing interrupted. “But even if I thought that Caitlin might be alive, and I don’t, it’s too dangerous to go up there right now for any reason.”

“We have to take that chance,” Eve said.

“It’s an inferno,” Lansing said. “We’ll send search parties into Malibu Creek Park, and deputies out to the adjacent homes that Coyle visited, to look for the bodies as soon as the fire department says it’s safe.”

Eve shook her head in defiance. “No, sir, that’s unacceptable. We have to act now. Caitlin is out there, trapped and alone. We can’t leave her to die from dehydration or fire.”

“You aren’t hearing me.” Lansing stood up and got right into her face. “She is already dead. You are not to suggest otherwise to anyone or I will take your badge. Do you understand me? It would be unspeakably cruel to give the family false hope.”