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“We started but then Vera began telling us about her life in D.C. It sounds pretty badass.” J, who was nearly ten years her junior at twenty-two, found nearly everywhere but Fort Collins badass.

“I would love to hear all about it myself.” The subtle clench of Vera’s jaw told her everything she needed to know. There was a story but it would be a fight to get it. She smirked, happy to tussle when they were alone. “But tell me what the game plan is first.”

“There’s no way of getting out of going there yourselves.” Mackey sighed as she grabbed a cookie stale enough to warrant a dental visit. “Since they’ve got limited data for J to work with that we’ve found so far, you’re going to have to go play nice. Interviews, scene of the crime,” she lifted her chin at Vera, directing her like she was her boss too. “Break out those shiny federal credentials of yours when you need to but not before it’s advantageous. Sounds like Sheriff Malis likes to keep it in the family.”

The idea of getting her hands dirty made Teddi’s smile a slash of teeth. It’d been too long since she’d gotten to go deep into an investigation. The everyday work of basic cyber crimes, catching cheating spouses, and background gathering on employees was fine and well but it had begun to get dull. Every day was the same wash cycle: head to work, meet clients, report surveillance findings, and file paperwork. Rinse, repeat. She didn’t like the cost of getting into the mess but she couldn’t deny the excitement pumping through her to get in deep.

“Good, I’m ready to get to work. Did you get the bags ready?” The question was directed at J who nodded.

“Full camera equipment including back-up SD cards. The forensic kits are in there along with additional cold gear.” The shine of her buzzed white hair gleamed in the window rays as she waved her inked hands toward the two duffle bags by the front door.

Vera cut in, looking between them. “Sorry, you guys have everything prepped already? How long have you been planning this?”

“Just since J found the files,” Teddi explained. “What?”

“Nothing, I guess I thought you just wanted to feel things out, see what we could find, and go from there.”

Teddi’s smirked. “You mean you thought you were only stuck with me for a few hours and then you would get to decide if a full investigation was needed.” It wasn’t a question. Vera’s face remained a blank mask. “We’re seasoned investigators. You’re not the only qualified person in the room and we care about finding out what happened to Alex and these two men.”

They were equal players and Vera needed to respect that from the start. Just because she was working on a federal level and for two years longer than her, didn’t mean she was the only one who knew their head from their ass. They could cover more ground as a team, even if Vera didn’t want to admit it.

Teddi turned back to J when Vera gave her a subtle nod. An understanding, for now. “Laptop?”

“Yeah,” J cleared her throat, looking between them as if she thought a fight might break out. “It’s in there. You’re all set.”

“Did you pack some cold weather gear?” She asked Vera.

“Yeah, I borrowed stuff from Mimi.”

“How’s she holding up?”

Vera’s shoulders, which were pulled back and stiff, softened on a heavy exhale. “Not good. She’s going to find a funeral director today and make the family calls. There’s no one else to be there for her since our parents are still in Mexico and can’t get back here for a few weeks.” They were getting older and Ximena expressed her concerns over how they might receive the news. When Teddi asked if Vera would make the call to tell them about Alex’s passing, Ximena had shut the conversation down altogether.

Alex’s mom, Camila, the youngest sister of Vera’s mother, returned to Guadalajara permanently after his father’s passing. His relationship with his mother remained close through calls and intermittent visits. Ximena explained once that they were surprised when he chose to enroll in college full-time last year since he hadn’t expressed much of an interest. As far as she could discover, Alex reasonably struggled after his father’s passing but showed signs of slowly improving. They’d all hoped experiencing college would be the positive change he needed to finally find his footing. Unfortunately, school began to pile up fast. Add onto that his part-time job at a convenience store mixed with maintaining a relationship with Lily and no one saw much of him in the weeks leading up to his disappearance. It wasn’t until J procured a copy of his student records that they discovered he was struggling in all of his classes.

“J and Mackey are going to check on her.”

“You both know Mimi?” Vera sounded surprised. Didn’t she and Ximena talk? Why didn’t she know her sister had hired her ex to look into Alex’s case? Didn’t she know anything about her life? Teddi was baffled by the disconnection between them. It was never like this in all the years she’d known them. They were as tight as links in a chain. Or had been.

“Of course we do, we have dinner at her house all the time. She makes me pozole,” J told her as Mackey agreed. Vera hid the surprise well but Teddi caught the flash of hurt before it was covered by a sip of coffee. “How long are we thinking you both will be there?” The question was directed at Mackey.

“However long it takes. Let’s just hope there isn’t another body while you’re there.” She gave a steely look at Vera and Teddi equally. “Do what you can, watch each other’s backs and for the love of god, don’t do anything to get arrested. I’ve got a feeling that would make Sheriff Malis wet his pants to see you both caged.” Teddi’s face scrunched up.

“We’ve really got to talk about your pep talk skills.” Mackey’s eyes relayed all she had to say about the idea.

“What about the girl who found Alex? Have you found anything about her? Is she in the system?” Teddi needed to add her to their work group chat.

J shook her head, looking like a kid who admitted to failing a test. “Nothing. Whoever drafted the reports for the victims hasn’t updated anything and Sheriff Malis hasn’t booked her in the system. Your best bet is to find her before she bounces.”

Vera didn’t like the answer. Nibbling on her lower lip, her eyes lowered, letting them move on.

“J, have you got us booked for some rooms as well?”

“I sent the hotel info to your phone but they didn’t offer online booking. You’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way when you get there.” Strange, considering everything was bookable online nowadays. J spit a chunk of stale cookie into a napkin, giving it a look of betrayal. “I’m telling you, there is something wrong with that town. The dead bodies, a possible sadistic, ritualistic serial killer and you’re gonna pay untraceable cash for a motel in no man’s land? Bad fuckin’ news.”

No one disagreed.

Chapter 10