Page 44 of Colorado K-9 Rescue

“He was smart enough to know that he couldn’t do that same thing here, not while Toby was serving time.

At some point he went to a probation officer training up there and realized that so many of the Indigenous women had gone missing he didn’t think anyone would miss another one.

Plus, there’re so many cases, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and FBI can’t keep up.

It was the perfect hunting ground for him. ”

The story made her sick. “If only I’d stood my ground more when I thought Toby was innocent. Those young women wouldn’t have had to endure that torture and they might be alive.”

“You can’t blame yourself.”

“I know,” Mckenna said. “But I know what they went through, and I want to make sure their families get the help they need.”

“I have all the cold cases from the local sheriff and BIA. With Keith’s confessions, they can now give the families closure.

I know that won’t bring their loved ones back, but at least they can get some justice,” Evan said.

“Once this went across state lines and involved a reservation, it became federal. Keith will be prosecuted in federal court. He’ll serve time in a federal prison, and you know what? ”

“What?”

“Federal prisons don’t like to release their inmates early. I’ll make sure he doesn’t get out until he’s an old man or not at all. He’s never going to hurt anyone again.”

“Thank you,” Mckenna said, pulling Evan down and kissing him again.

When they parted, Evan smiled and said, “I can’t wait to get you home. Alone. All to myself.”

Mckenna’s heart rate monitor increased, and she laughed. “I guess I can’t hide that I can’t wait either. At least not while I’m hooked up to this thing.”

Evan smiled. “I’m on administrative duty since I shot Keith. They have to investigate. Instead of sitting at my desk and doing paperwork, I am taking a couple personal days. I have some ideas of things we can do.”

“I look forward to discovering what those things are, Agent Knox.”

Evan kissed her and then came up for air. Mocha groaned and slid off the bed, walked over to the corner and sat, sulking. The Lab glanced over his shoulder at Mckenna and Evan, and they laughed.

“Come here, buddy,” Evan said. Mocha ambled back over. “You’re a part of my life now too. My couch is your couch.”

Mckenna giggled at that and said, “Or, we can always stay at my place too. That way your couch stays pristine.”

“I don’t care where we go or where we stay, as long as I’m with you. There’s one more thing, though, before I break you out of here.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?” Mckenna asked.

“I hope you don’t mind, but there was someone who wanted to visit you. And Mocha. She wants to see him too.”

Evan signaled for someone to come in. Lily walked through the door with a bouquet of flowers.

“Oh my gosh,” Mckenna said. “It’s good to see you.”

Mocha perked up when he saw Lily and after she gave Mckenna the flowers, he leaned up against her leg. “It’s good to see you too,” Lily said. Then she added, “You really found him? It’s him?”

“Yes,” Mckenna and Evan said in unison.

“He admitted to everything, Lily. Plus, we have plenty of evidence even if he didn’t confess to the kidnappings,” Evan added.

“The fingerprints on Mckenna’s bracelet and journal matched Keith.

He kept the bracelet as a souvenir. It seems he liked to keep trinkets to remind him of his victims. He took a necklace from Autumn.

The evidence team found that in his house along with other items probably belonging to the girls in Wyoming.

After I interviewed him, the prosecutor offered a plea deal.

I think he’ll take it. If he does, you won’t have to testify or anything. ”

Lily nodded. “I would, though. Testify, that is. If it meant doing it for Autumn.”

“You’re a good friend,” Mckenna told her. “Keith will never hurt anyone again. We’ll all make sure of that.”

Lily turned to Evan and said, “Why? Did he ever say why?”

“You mean why Keith started kidnapping girls?” Evan asked.

Lily nodded. Mckenna wondered how much Evan could say, but she also knew that Lily had rights as a victim to learn things about the investigation. Evan would know what he could and couldn’t tell her.

“Sort of,” Evan answered. “I asked him about why he took Mckenna. He’d come back to surprise Penny.

She’d visited him a couple times and he thought they were in a serious relationship.

When he got to Penny’s, the party was going on and he caught Penny with another man.

He was furious and wanted to prove that he could get any girl.

He had Liquid E that he was going to offer Penny, but he drugged Mckenna instead.

He said he liked the thrill. He loved having control.

It kicked off some sick fantasies for him.

He’s going to go through a mental competency evaluation before anything moves forward in the court system. ”

“How did he frame Toby?” Mckenna asked.

“He said he saw Toby’s truck and once he had you, he knew from taking his criminal justice courses that if he threw your jacket and some other personal items in Toby’s truck, there was a good chance it would be found. Especially if he called in an anonymous tip.”

“Can I ask you a question,” Lily said, turning to Mckenna.

“Sure,” Mckenna said.

“The fear. Are you still afraid?”

Mckenna nodded. “Yes. Although my fear is different now. It’s something I can face better, learn to manage, but it’s a part of me. It makes up who I am. Have you gone to the support group I suggested?”

“Yes, last night was the first one,” Lily said.

“What did you think?”

“I liked it.”

“What did you like?” Mckenna asked.

“To realize that even though all our experiences are slightly different, there are other victims out there like us. That they’ve been able to move forward and that they feel the same fear and have the same emotions and it’s okay.”

“I liked it for the same reason,” Mckenna said. “I go every week, so I’ll see you next time. Maybe we can grab coffee afterward.”

“I’d like that,” Lily said. “I’m going to head home now, but I wanted to thank you. For finding him. For Autumn. For me.”

“You helped too, Lily,” Mckenna said. “Being brave and remembering things to tell us was important and helped a lot.”

The young lady smiled and then headed out.

“You want me to walk you to your car?” Evan asked Lily.

Mckenna loved his offer. She understood that something so simple as going to your car in a parking garage might feel like a huge achievement and was scary at the same time once you’d had an experience like they had. She loved that Evan knew that too.

“Yes, please,” Lily said.

“I’ll be back,” Evan said, leaning over and giving Mckenna a quick kiss.

“I knew it,” Lily said, with a big smile.

“What?” Evan asked.

“That it’s not complicated like you said, Mckenna. You two are a thing.”