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Midway through the seventh-inning stretch, Hayes’s cell alerted. Reese rose and picked up their plates, her glass, and his empty bottle, and carried them back to the kitchen. She disposed of them and then turned to cut up the pizza box so it’d fit in the recycling. When she returned to the couch, Hayes finished texting a reply and looked at her soberly.
Instantly, the tightness returned to her shoulders. “What?”
“Mendes sent an update. When the medical examiner got the body to the morgue, she discovered there wasn’t as much damage on the posterior.” He lifted a shoulder. “The pit was shallow, with no timber in it before the corpse was dumped on top.”
“The flames didn’t reach that side?”
“The flesh is about seventy-five percent intact there. So was the fabric. The victim had a stem in his back pocket. The police dusted it for prints, along with the empty beer cans also discovered there.”
Reese mentally braced herself. “And?”
“The prints belong to Greg Pollack and Stephen Thorne.”
13
Hayes rose early, still groggy. He’d slept fitfully, his ears attuned to the slight sounds coming from the next bedroom. He knew damn well Reese hadn’t gotten a lot of rest the previous night. Questions had churned in his brain, making it impossible to relax completely. Right now, he’d give anything for a good run to clear his head.
He showered and dressed, then shuffled to the kitchen to start the coffeemaker. He’d have to remember to set it tonight. Hayes returned an early morning text from Adam while he waited, then gratefully drank his first cup as he read news on his cell. He was on his second cup when he heard the shower turn on in the other bathroom. Checking the time, he figured he hadn’t been quiet enough.
It was another thirty minutes before Reese joined him, and when she did, she had her cell pressed to her ear. “Just a minute. I have that information for you.” She wore tight black capris with a white sleeveless top, and she’d tamed the curls that had so enchanted him last night to casual waves. Glancing his direction, she mouthedGibbonsand continued to the table to pluck up the note he’d made last night with the tracking device’sinformation. Read it off. She listened, a flicker of annoyance in her expression. “Yes, we’re aware of that. We can send you pictures of where it was located on the vehicle. It’ll come from Dr. Hayes Moreland’s account.” He went to his laptop and hit send on the email he’d composed last night.
“He’s a guest here. And you don’t need to worry about contamination. He works for Raiker Forensics.” She rolled her eyes at him. “I assume you’ve heard of them.”
“Tell him we’ll drop it off.”
Her brows skimmed upward, but she obeyed. “Within the next hour?” He nodded. “If that works for you,” she told the detective. “It’s already properly bagged. And he used gloves to remove it.” She studied Hayes as she listened, then said, “I don’t think that will be a problem. See you soon.” Disconnecting, she lowered the cell. “He would have sent someone for it.”
“Eventually. But until he has possession, he won’t fill out the warrant or contact the manufacturer. This will be faster. And we could swing through a drive-through for breakfast.”
That elicited a smile from her. “Why am I not surprised? After both stops I have another one to make.”
“The grocery store? Because last time I didn’t think to pick up the fixings for breakfast sandwiches. I make a mean bacon, ham, egg, and cheese croissant.”
“I’m shocked that your ventricles haven’t slammed shut in protest.” She went back to the bedroom and returned wearing a lightweight black sweater. “I couldn’t sleep last night. Go figure. And I’m nowhere close to through with the stacks of documents. But I’ve gotten far enough to realize that Julia was worried about the expenses Rivers was submitting for payment. He assured me the trust was solvent. But after looking at several years of financial reports, I disagree.”
He sipped from his cup, feeling a bit more human with the jolt of caffeine. It’d be faster to inject it directly into his veins,but he wasn’t a fan of needles. “I’m sure your brother’s care is expensive. Does he qualify for government assistance? Because if so, those payments should help offset the cost of the medical facility.”
“He does.” She dropped her cell into her purse. “The trust also covers his personal expenditures. And even two years ago, the funds were steadily growing, with a healthy balance. Now, they’ve dropped below the original amount my parents put in it.”
He raised his cup to his lips and drained the last of it. “How much was that?”
When she told him, he choked. Forced himself to swallow. He rinsed out the cup and set it in the dishwasher. “So you want to talk to Rivers again?”
“Not yet. I need to speak to the asset manager. At least the latest one. His name has been on the account for the last six years. Not a great showing for his management skills.”
Hayes had to agree. While investment growth could be a bumpy ride, starting with millions should have guaranteed a lifetime of care, given careful oversight. “What’s the guy’s name?”
“Tyler Greenley. The company is Ingersoll Partners Wealth Management.”
He nodded. They had a solid national reputation. “And you made an appointment?”
Her gaze slid from his. “Not exactly.”
Humor flickered. “It’s typically a yes or no answer.”
“It’d take too long to set up, and I’d rather hear what he has to say without advance preparation.”
“If he’ll see you.”