“I’m not!” he insisted, feeling anxious now, feeling trapped and frantic. He was down to a matter of days, maybe even hours. They needed to listen, they needed to consider. His daughter was at stake. “Look, according to you, a state computer expert has been working with Sandra to examine the family hard drive. Obviously, he didn’t find anything, or you wouldn’t be here pestering me. Ergo, I don’t have anything to hide.”

“What happened to your secret life as an avatar?”

“It’s the state computer guy,” he tried again. “You need to look at the state computer guy. Maybe his relationship with Sandra was more than professional. Maybe he wanted her, and he’s the one who grew jealous when she wouldn’t leave Ree.”

“Don’t you mean when she wouldn’t leave you?”

“I didn’t harm my wife! I wouldn’t take Ree’s mother from her. But this state guy, what would he care? Or Sandra’s father, Maxwell Black. Did you know he just won an ex parte motion to have visitation with Ree? Basically, Max has come all the way up here not to assist with the search efforts for his own daughter, but to begin a custody battle for his granddaughter. He couldn’t do that if Sandra was around. He wouldn’t have grounds. But with Sandy missing, with me as the primary suspect … Don’t you think that’s pretty damn convenient for him? As in maybe too convenient to be purely coincidence?”

D.D. just stared at him. “This is your defense? The one-armed man did it? I thought you had your sights on the local pervert.”

“I’m not sure Sandra knew him.”

“I see. So her own father and the computer expert she enlisted to investigate your online activities make much more sense.”

“And don’t forget Ethan Hastings.” He knew he was digging a hole, but couldn’t seem to help himself. “Thirteen-year-old boys have done worse.”

“Oh really? So which is it, Jason? Aidan Brewster, Ethan Hastings, Wayne Reynolds, Maxwell Black? Or maybe the Tooth Fairy’s guilty.”

“Wayne Reynolds?” he repeated.

D.D. flushed, realizing too late that she’d given away the state computer technician. She clipped out, “You’re lying to us, Jason. You’re lying about your identity, you’re lying about your computer activities, you’re lying about your whole damn life. Then you turn around and claim to love your wife and only want her back. Well, if you really love the woman so badly, start leveling with us. Tell us what’s going on here, Jason. Tell us what the hell happened with your wife.”

Jason gave the only answer he could. “Honestly, Sergeant, I have no idea.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

It began with a single meeting at the basketball game. Ethan had an uncle who was a certified forensic computer examiner; Ethan brought him to the game to meet with me.