His sister had needed him, and once again, he’d been unavailable. What the hell? His timing was always crap. He dialed the police station. “I need to speak to Detective Brody McNamara.”

“Hold, please.” Silence. Then, “Detective McNamara is unavailable.”

“I need to speak to someone.”

“Hold, please.”

Screw this. Mac turned toward the police station. He was still holding when he turned into the lot and parked behind the building, another place in Scarlet Falls filled with bad memories. Nothing good ever happened here. He ended his call and went inside. The place was bustling, and not in a good way.

He went into the reception area and approached the counter. Thick glass separated him from the old cop manning the desk.

“Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Detective McNamara.”

The cop said, “Hold on.”

He disappeared. A few minutes later, he came back with another uniformed cop, but this one didn’t look like any cop who had ever arrested Mac. She was tall and slim, with black hair coiled in a severe knot at the nape of her neck.

“I’m Officer Dane. Can I help you?” she asked.

“I’m Mac Barrett. I’m looking for Detective McNamara and my sister.”

“Can I see some ID?”

Mac pulled out his wallet and passed his driver’s license through the gully under the glass.

“What’s going on?”

She scrutinized his ID.

Mac ran a hand over his two-month beard. He hadn’t shaved or had a real haircut since he left the States, not that he was exactly diligent about those things when he was home. He probably looked as civilized as one of the otters he studied. “I know. I look like a bum. I’ve been in Brazil, out in the rain forest. I’m a wildlife biologist. My passport is out in my Jeep.”

Officer Dane passed his license back. “Come with me, please.”

A lock clicked open on a solid door on the other side of the room. Mac went through into the police station. He knew what bad vibes felt like, and the cops in the station were putting them out like radio waves. For all the activity, there were precious few bodies in the station.

“Officer Dane, where are we going, and what the hell is going on?”

She led him to a conference room. Her frown marred her otherwise perfect face. “Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”

A minute later, a middle-aged man in a fancier uniform came in. He held out a hand. “Mr. Barrett.”

At the Mr. Barrett, Mac almost looked behind him. He shook the man’s hand.

“I’m Police Chief Horner.” He gestured to a chair. “Please have a seat.”

The chief’s somber tone was enough to spin the drive-through burrito in Mac’s stomach.

“Just tell me.”

“Your sister was with Detective McNamara on their way to the county administration building. They disappeared.”