That was a question she was rarely asked by grieving family members, who often didn’t have the capacity to wonder how an investigation would unfold. “We’ll begin with physical evidence collected during the autopsy as well as crime scene evidence, witness statements and video surveillance of the area. There are security cameras all over town. We’ll take it one step at a time, one puzzle piece at a time, until we have the full picture of what happened.”

“What if you can’t find him?”

“We’ll find him.”

“Did he rape her?”

“We believe so. Her pants and underwear were around her ankles.”

His sharp inhale was his only response to that news.

Freddie came to the door and waved them in.

“Are you ready to go in?”

“No, I’m not,” he said, but he got out of the car and walked inside with Sam.

At the door to the morgue, Sam turned to him. “When we go in, Dr. McNamara, the chief medical examiner, will ask you to identify Audrey. You’ll see only her face. Do you have any questions?”

“No.”

Sam stepped forward to activate the automatic doors to the morgue. As usual, the antiseptic smell of the place triggered her aversion to this hideous task. “Wes, this is Dr. McNamara. Lindsey, this is Audrey’s boyfriend, Wes.”

Lindsey shook his hand. “I’m very sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you,” Wes said stiffly, as if her condolences offended him.

He would get used to receiving them over the next few days, but he wasn’t there yet, Sam thought.

“Right this way.” Lindsey led them into the freezing exam room, where a body on a table was covered by a sheet. “Are you ready?”

He gave the barest of nods.

Lindsey drew the sheet back just enough to reveal Audrey’s face.

Wes let out an inhuman sound as his knees buckled.

Sam and Freddie held him up.

He broke free of their hold and went to her, leaned over to rest his head on her chest and wailed.

Sam glanced at Freddie, noting the tears in his eyes.

They gave Wes all the time he needed with Audrey before leading him out of the morgue to the conference room in the pit.

“Can I get you some water?” Freddie asked.

“Sure. Thanks.” The words were dull and flat, like his expression.

Sam followed Freddie out of the room. “I want him to give permission for us to look at her phone.”

“I’ll get the form and the water.”

“Thanks.”

When she entered the conference room, Sam took a seat across from Wes, who was staring at the wall with tears rolling down his face. “I’m so, so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.”

“I know it seems absolutely impossible to imagine right now, but you’re going to get through this.”

“I don’t think I will.”

“You will,” Sam said, “because you have no choice.”