Page 30 of Distress Signal

“Believe me now?” I said triumphantly.

Lane scrubbed a hand over his face, letting out a world-weary sigh, his eyes never straying from the woman on the table.

“I’ll want to do a DNA test to be absolutely certain,” he said, almost absently. “But if this isn’t your sister…who the fuck is she?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “And I’m sorry for what happened to her. But my sister is still out there somewhere, and we need to find her.”

Lane nodded. “Let’s head upstairs. I’ve got some more questions for you.”

“I have no doubt,” I muttered, and Finn snorted.

“Before you go,” Stockman said, stalling us. He held a long cotton swab in his hand. “Can I get that DNA sample?”

“Oh, right.” I approached him, opening my mouth. He swept it along my cheeks before sealing it in its plastic tube and turning away to scribble on the label.

That completed, Finn steered me from the cold room, his hand a comforting presence at the small of my back. Lane hung back momentarily to speak with Stockman before following us upstairs.

This time when Lane and I took our seats at the table in the interview room, Finn was at my side. He seemed reluctant to leave me, and I was more than a little grateful for his presence.

Cutting right to the chase, Lane said, “If your sister isn’t dead, what doyouthink happened to her?”

My mind whirled with possibilities. She’d never willingly leave me like this, never disappear without a trace—without a word.

Not unless she didn’t have a choice.

“She was here for a shoot. I told you that earlier.”

“A shoot?” Finn asked.

“We’re photographers. Own a business. We have a reputation across the country thanks to our social media following, and we’re always willing to take on out-of-state projects. About threemonths ago, we booked an engagement shoot with a couple here in Idaho, local to Boise.”

“When was the shoot supposed to take place? Getting an idea of Lainey’s movements when she arrived in town is going to be helpful in discovering what happened to her.”

“Tuesday evening and midday on Wednesday,” I said quickly. “The couple wanted to do some shots at sunset as well as daytime ones. Then Lainey was supposed to fly home yesterday.”

My head fell into my hands, a headache appearing and taking up residence behind my right eye. Goddesses, this had been the day from hell.

“Let’s reconvene in the morning,” Lane said, saving me from having to ask for a break. “Does ten o’clock work for you?”

“Yeah, that’s fine.” I stood, as did Finn and Lane.

“For what it’s worth,” Lane began as we moved toward the door. “I’m sorry for the…drama. I never would’ve brought you down there if I thought for any reason?—”

I waved him off. “I understand.”

Now I’d have nightmares about my sisterandthat poor dead woman, but he didn’t need to know that.

So many questions still swam in my brain, but I needed headache meds, a meal, a shower, and at least eight hours of sleep before I could make any sense of them.

“I promise, my department will do everything in its power to find your sister.”

“Thank you.”

With another nod, Lane turned and headed through the bullpen toward a closed door at the back, the white placard on it reading SHERIFF LAWLESS in black letters.

Finn remained nearby. “How long are you in town for?”

“Until Sunday,” I said.