“I’ll meet you back here at three-thirty for the briefing?” Matt said. His phone kept vibrating, reminding him that he had to return Ryder’s call.

Andy nodded. “I’m going to the hospital to follow up on the security tapes and talk to Manners’ supervisor, then go to her employment agency and her apartment. I’ll send you a report when I’m done.”

“Appreciate it,” Matt said.

Matt slipped into the driver’s seat of his rental sedan before calling Ryder back. “Sorry, I’m still in Spokane, just leaving the police station now.”

Ryder got to the point. “Assistant Director Greer is trying to reach you. Says he got an irate call from the Spokane Police Chief, Jeffrey Packard. Says that you’re using his resources without requesting assistance.”

“I’ll call Tony.”

“I talked to Jessica Torino, the Spokane SSA, like you asked. She’s not being helpful. It might help for you to stop in.”

“Not being helpful how?”

“I did exactly what you said—explained the MRT unit to her, what our commission is, gave her the background on the case, and asked about search and rescue. She asked why her office is being excluded from the investigation. I told her they weren’t, but she seems to think they’re on supersecret probation or something.”

“A joke? You made a joke, Ryder.” Though Torino’s attitude irritated Matt, he couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Maybe Ryder had a sense of humor after all.

“It didn’t make sense to me, but I may have not understood what she was saying.” There was a touch of humor in his tone.

“I’ll head over there and read her into the program. And what about search and rescue?”

“I learned from another source that the Spokane County Sheriff’s department is the one with the search and rescue team for underwater recovery. I didn’t know if you wanted me to reach out to them directly or not.”

Why was Matt not surprised that after less than twenty-four hours Ryder had already developed local sources? The kid was amazing. “Yes, do it. Tell them we’re looking for evidence and where. I can meet them out at the lake in—” He looked at his watch. He’d be cutting it close to get back to Spokane for the briefing. “Ninety minutes?”

“Sir, I don’t know that they’ll be able to get their dive team together that fast. Can I suggest that I ask for access to their equipment and Agent Harris can handle the heavy lifting here? It would minimize bringing into the investigation yet another jurisdiction.”

Matt sighed. “You’re right—find out what you can and set it up at their earliest convenience, but as soon as possible. We can use Liberty Lake PD for assistance, or the Sheriff’s—whatever works here. The Spokane crime lab as well. If there’s evidence in the lake, we need it.”

“You think he dumped the weapon in the lake?”

“I don’t know—but we have reason to believe he uses a new weapon each time. A common, double-sided, four-inch blade. We’ve recovered two identical knives available to purchase in a multitude of sporting goods stores. Maybe this one is different. Maybe not. But if the weapon is there, I want it.”