Page 32 of Inside Silence

The description of the State Patrol’s blue uniform was a dead giveaway. I immediately got on the radio and told Auden to get his ass into my office ASAP.

“Seriously, Auden? New in town? We have tons of campers and vacationers filing through the county every week, what about all them? You singled out Nathan?”

“They don’t all have a rap sheet, Savvy,” he persists.

This is so ridiculous; I bark out a harsh laugh.

“That’s not a rap sheet, that’s a juvie record for relatively minor stuff that should’ve been sealed years ago, and you know it.”

He avoids looking at me, and I see a crack in his stubborn armor.

“You know I’m right,” I hammer home.

A brief silence falls over my office as I watch his demeanor change. The squared shoulders relax and the stubborn set to his chin softens. Then he flashes me a dimple.

“I’m just looking out for you.”

“What?”

I’m not sure what he’s getting at.

“I saw you talking to him in the Brew House parking lot the other night, Savvy. The man did a number on you when he left, or have you forgotten? You walked around like a shadow of yourself until I introduced you to Matt.” He takes a step closer and spreads his hands apologetically. “I’m your friend, I’m just worried this guy is gonna hurt you again.”

“So you thought you’d go to his house, and put the heat on him for something he’s not even remotely on the radar for, and in front of his daughter?”

All efforts to contain my anger have officially flown out the window as my voice rises to a shrill level. Even for Auden, who has a bit of a protective streak—even more so since Matt’s death—this is beyond the pale.

“You say he’s not on the radar, but did you know the Vegas PD currently has an open case very similar to this one? A badly mutilated body found floating in Lake Mead early this year. And did you know Gaines lived in Vegas before he moved here?”

I laugh mockingly.

“Oh my God, Auden. Do you know how often bodies are pulled from Lake Mead? Just a few years ago when the waters were low, they found six skeletons and who knows how many are still lurking under the surface. Aside from being a suspected mob dumping ground, you’re talking about a recreational area with some of the country’s highest deadly incidents. You want to attribute all of that to Nathan as well? Because he has a juvie record?”

He throws up his hands.

“Fine. It was a stretch. But it can’t hurt to have him on notice.”

“Except it does hurt,” I correct him sharply. “His daughter, who was scared enough by your confrontation with her dad she felt the need to call me. She’s scared and traumatized. And don’t even get me started on Nate, who already has plenty of reason to distrust law enforcement—believe me on that—and all you’ve done is justify his misgivings.

“It’s a slippery slope when you use professional leverage for personal interests. Especially when you’re law enforcement. I just had to let a man go who routinely crossed those lines. Don’t go down that road, Auden.”

His head is hanging by the time I finish my speech. I’m sure he’d convinced himself he was doing the right thing when he decided to knock on Nate’s door, but I hope he sees the error of his ways now.

“Shit,” he mutters.

“Yeah,” I confirm.

“Should I go apologize?”

I roll my eyes. Normally, I’d say absolutely, but in this case I think I should probably do a little damage control myself.

“I’ll handle it. Go home, Auden. I need you to get your head clear before I see you back here tomorrow.”

“Sure you still want my help?”

“I have a killer to catch and I am desperately shorthanded. Beggars can’t be choosers.”

He winces. “Ouch.” Then he throws me a wry smile. “Guess I’ll see you in the morning.”