Page 27 of Pretty Broken Dolls

“That’s what I mean. You’re still pissed off.”

“Aren’t you?”

McGaven didn’t say anything, but it was clear to her that he too was definitely angry about what had happened.

McGaven eased the sedan into a parking place at the Hobson Inn & Suites. They both sat for a moment staring at the inn. It comprised two large, dark-brown buildings, each with two stories, nestled in the trees. Even though the sun was shining, the motel crouched in the shade with lights illuminating the path towards it. It was a clean and tidy-looking building with only a half dozen cars parked.

“Ready?” said McGaven.

“As I’ll ever be.”

“Room?”

“Two-one-two.”

“Let’s go,” he said and opened the car door.

“Wait,” Katie said. “I can’t let Cisco stay in the car any longer.”

“Bring him.”

“Cisco,hier,” she commanded.

The dog jumped out, padded up next to her and waited. His ears perked up as he took in the surroundings.

“Hope Agent Campbell likes dogs…” said McGaven, more to himself than Katie, as he followed her and Cisco to the second level, quickly reading the room numbers.

They stood in front of room 212, pausing a moment.

Katie strained to hear any sound coming from the room but there was nothing, not even the television or a phone conversation.

She knocked twice.

Nothing.

She knocked twice again—this time louder. She was beginning to think that he wasn’t there and they were going to have to come back later.

The door opened. Special Agent Dane Campbell stood in the doorway dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt—his perfectly combed blond hair was now messy. He looked more like someone who hung out at the beach than a special agent.

Campbell didn’t seem surprised to see the three of them staring back. “What took you so long?” he said with an even tone and opened the door wider. He never blinked twice as Cisco entered with them.

Katie had thought about all the things she wanted to say to him, but when she walked into his one-bedroom suite she was stunned.

“Whoa,” said McGaven as he looked around.

There were photographs of each of the three crime scenes organized in sections attached to the wall, along with detailed file notes including locations, maps, and every devisable means of escape imaginable. Reports were notated in specific colors, and certain details were highlighted. There were names and photos of people who were of interest in the case. There was different handwriting from all the investigators and police officers who had worked the cases.

“What is this?” she said.

Cisco took his cue from Katie’s hand gesture to take up a comfortable position and jumped up into an upholstered chair.

“Detective, you don’t recognize an investigation?” he said with some sarcasm.

“That’s not what I mean. What. Is. All. This?” She gestured to the three computers, running what looked to her like surveillance equipment—it was clear that this case was part of something much more complex than he had led them to believe. One of the cameras was monitoring the Raven Woods house. “This is too much. We need some answers.”

The special agent watched her with interest.

“Is that us?” asked McGaven who had been reviewing all the photos on the walls. “That’s at the Stanton property.” There were several photos of Katie close up.