Page 77 of Forgotten Path

Brianna tilted her head to the side and eyed Felicia. “That’s right.”

“Hmm.”

Bodhi went on, gesturing toward the medical examiner. “This is Dr. Mirabelle Owens.”

“I’m the ME for this district. We spoke on the phone.”

“Your white coat gave you away,” Felicia told her.

The doctor laughed. “Good detecting, detective.”

“And this is Judith Lowell,” Bodhi said, placing a hand on the back of the older woman’s chair.

“Is she okay?” Felicia stage whispered. Judith didn’t look well. Her face was ashen, and her breathing was labored.

“I will be,” Judith said in a creaky voice. “The doctors tell me my broken heart is temporary.”

“You have a … broken heart?”

“She found out some upsetting news about Craig,” Brianna volunteered, pointing at the young man crouched at Judith’s feet.

“Craig is Judy’s grandson,” Bodhi explained. “He’s been monitoring our investigation and feeding information to Fred Glazier.”

He looked like he was winding up to tell her who Glazier was, so she held up a hand to stop him. “Fred Glazier, as in Glazier Builders?”

“That’s right.” He blinked at her. “What are you doing here?” he asked belatedly, as if he’d just realized she was seven hundred-odd miles away from home.

“Here in town or here at this church?”

“Either. Both.”

“I got tired of cooling my heels back in Sugarloaf Key. So when we got images of the chase car, I figured I’d come here and do some legwork.”

“There was a second car,” Bodhi mused.

“Yes, you were right. Although, to be technical about it, it was a truck. A blue pickup truck.”

The young man—Craig—raised his head. “Fred’s work trucks are blue.”

Felicia nodded. “They sure are. And there’s one parked outside a job site on Emerald Road covered with mud in all the same spots as the one on the traffic camera. In particular, the company name on the truck is obscured by mud, as is the license plate.”

“Oh, that’s convenient,” Bodhi observed.

“Isn’t it?”

“I babysat the truck for a while, waiting for Chief Rodman to return my call, but once Fred Glazier left the work site in his personal vehicle, I figured I’d come here and find the chief in person.”

“He should be helping load bags into people’s trunks. He’s decided that’s his job, and nobody else can do it. I’ve always wondered if it’s an excuse to peek inside cars without a warrant. But then I watch a lot of police procedurals,” Steffi volunteered.

Felicia chuckled. “I found him. He’s on his way to the construction site, and the FDLE investigators will meet him there.”

“Fred’s not there. I called him, and his assistant transferred me to his cell phone,” Craig said in a discouraged tone.

“I know. He drove right past me while I was talking to the security guard.”

“Oh, you met Ralph, did you?” Bodhi asked.

“Yes, I’ve had the dubious pleasure.”