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“ I rv’s missing.” Patrick came back into the station and announced.
Zeke couldn’t believe what he’d heard. “What do you mean he’s missing?”
“I went by his house. He’s not home. Florence didn’t show up for work either.”
“They’re on the run. They have to be involved.” Zeke headed for the door like he knew what to do next.
“Hang on a second, brother,” Patrick told him. “I’ve already got an APB out on both of them. They won’t get far.”
Zeke returned to his seat. He and Cooper had gotten back to the station right before Patrick returned.
“What do we know about Florence and Irv other than he’s served time. Any family around?”
Megan shook her head. “Not that we’ve been able to find. They don’t have children. Both sets of parents are dead. Florence has a sister, but they aren’t close. She hasn’t spoken to Florence in years.”
“What about Irv? No siblings?”
Megan told him no. “Only child.”
Zeke ran a hand through his hair. “What about friends?”
“I can answer that one,” Patrick told him. “Those two kept to themselves mostly. I don’t remember seeing them anywhere outside their work.”
Zeke drummed his fingers absently.
“This is interesting.” Jack sat up in his chair. Using the word “interesting” was Jack’s way of saying he’d found something.
Zeke zeroed in on his boss’s face.
“The lab is still examining the strap you two found, but I did a little reading about them. They’re not only used for securing vehicles but can be used in different types of jobs—”
“Such as odd jobs,” Zeke finished for him.
Jack smiled. “That’s right. Do we have any idea where Irv worked last?”
Patrick frowned and rubbed his chin. “It might be hard to figure out. Irv was his own boss. Deb,” he called for his wife.
Deb came into the conference room sipping coffee. “You bellowed?”
Patrick grinned. “Sorry, my love. I need to pick your brain. You said you saw Irv last week working on something. You remember where?”
She nodded. “Sure do. Over at the doctor’s office. He said Dr. Flannigan needed some steps repaired around the back of his office.”
“Robert—Dr. Flannigan’s one of our local physicians,” Patrick told them. “He’s got to be in his seventies by now. He still practices three days a week and sees patients at the hospital. His mind is as sharp as a tack. Robert can get just about anyone to open up to him.”
“Doc has a bunch of rental houses,” his wife reminded him. “Maybe Irv has been working on one of them. If so, it might be the perfect place for him and Florence to hide out.”
“Good thinking, hon.” Patrick rose and gave his wife a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll go speak with him.”
“I’d like to come along.” Zeke shot Jack a look and got the go-ahead.
Jack nodded. “Take Cooper.”
“I wouldn’t think of leaving without him.” But Zeke was halfway out the door by the time Cooper caught up with him.
“The doctor works at the hospital too?” Zeke asked as he claimed shotgun.
Cooper grumbled but got in the back.
“Yeah, small town living. Dr. Flannigan has been working in the same office since he opened his practice. He’s a nice old guy.”
Patrick drove a short distance from the station to Main Street, where there were a string of storefronts. Many were tourist traps, selling items with the town and Wind River Mountains on them. There was an old movie theater and a general store.
Patrick parked in front of one shop with “Dr. Flannigan, General Practitioner” written on the door.
The three got out and went inside. The waiting room was empty. Patrick went to the receptionist and asked to see the doctor.
“He’s not here yet. He’s running late. He should be here in another half hour. Do you want to wait or can I have him call you, Sheriff?”
“Maybe you can help instead.” Patrick asked her about Irv.
“Oh, sure. He did a nice job on the steps out back. You know, I think Doc mentioned having Irv do some work on his ranch outside of town. I think he wanted some changes since his wife passed away.” She smiled. “You want me to have Doc call you with the details?” The phone rang. She reached to answer it, her hand hovering as she waited for Patrick to confirm.
“No need to bother him.” Patrick said and stepped back, much to Zeke’s surprise.
“Have a great day, Sheriff.” She waved, then picked up the phone. “Dr. Flannigan’s office.”
Zeke and Cooper exchanged a curious look before stepping outside.
“What’s going on, Sheriff? We need the doctor’s approval to search his house.”
“Unless we believe someone is in danger inside.”
Zeke widened his eyes. “Why didn’t you want the doctor to cooperate?” Had Patrick seen something they hadn’t?
Patrick scanned their surroundings. “I saw a photo in the office behind the receptionist’s desk. Doc is a mountain climber.”
The news took a second to filter through and register. His emotions were clouding his skills. He should have seen the photo. “The doctor would know the culture. Be able to blend into it. You said yourself he can put anyone at ease.”
“Exactly. Like our victims,” Cooper concluded. “We need to search his place now.”
“I’ll have Deb get us a warrant so that every base is covered. I don’t want anything getting thrown out by a defense attorney because we didn’t follow procedure.” The sheriff called it in while Zeke and Cooper waited.
“I can’t believe our killer is a seventy-year-old man.” Cooper clearly had doubts.
Zeke understood his hesitation. “It’s hard to get beyond the age thing, but he’s clearly in top physical shape. As a doctor, he’d know how to take care of himself.”
“And how to incapacitate his victims.”
The suggestion settled uneasily around Zeke as Patrick ended the call. “Let’s roll. Deb’s going to a judge we trust.” He unlocked the cruiser and got inside while Zeke and Cooper scrambled to pile in.
“You think getting a warrant won’t be easy?” Zeke watched Patrick ease from the parking spot and head out the opposite way they’d come.
“Doc’s well respected in town. Most people love him.” Patrick made a series of turns before leaving the town of Pinedale behind. “Deb will get it. I just worry if Doc’s going to know about it before we get there.”
“I’m calling our people out to assist.”
Patrick looked his way. “They’re already on the way, along with Deputy Drake. Unfortunately, he had to leave the climbing sight for now. But there are roadblocks set up as well as signs prohibiting climbing until further notice. Hopefully, it will be enough.”
Zeke stared out the windshield as the rugged, wide-open Wyoming countryside spread out before them.
It was a reach tying Robert Flannigan to the disappearances. The mountain-climbing aspect was compelling. Still, Zeke’s gut wouldn’t let him go all-in. They were missing something critical that tied the past with this moment.
“I’ve got Deb and Megan looking through CCTV footage from around town. Maybe she can pick up something that will confirm if we’re on the right track or not.”
“Both Doc and Irv have lived here for years. They’d know what areas to avoid,” Cooper reminded them.
“You think Irv is working with Flannigan?” Zeke thought about the suggestion. “Irv has a record. Flannigan might know that. If he used Irv to help then I think he would have to have a way to ensure Irv didn’t run to the police.”
“Maybe Irv did something that Doc witnessed and used it as blackmail.” Patrick pulled off the road.
“Why are you stopping?” Zeke asked.
Patrick pointed up ahead. “That’s Doc’s place. I’m waiting for confirmation on the warrant and our backup.”
Zeke focused on the large house that was set off the road and backdropped by mountains. “How long has he lived here?”
“Since he moved to Pinedale after graduating from medical school.” Patrick tossed him a look. “He and his wife attended church. Doc treated those who couldn’t afford to pay for free. He’s loved in town.” Patrick shook his head. “I don’t want to believe it’s him. I sure hope I’m wrong.” He glanced at the rearview mirror. “There they are.” No sooner had he spoken the words than his phone beeped in a message. “We have the warrant.”
The lead vehicle with Patrick’s deputy pulled up next to them. Drake rolled down his passenger window.
His people stopped behind the deputy.
“We’re a go on the warrant.”
The deputy nodded and waited for Patrick to pull out in the lead.
That tingling of adrenaline coursed through Zeke’s blood. He felt it every time they were on a hunt for a killer. This time, it intensified ten times. This time was personal. Sierra’s pretty face appeared in his mind’s eye. I’m coming, babe. Hang on.
All three vehicles stopped in front of the house. Zeke got out as soon as the vehicle was in Park.
Jack and Hannah came over to him.
“You think it’s this doctor?” Hannah clearly shared Zeke’s doubts.
“I don’t know. Part of me hopes so. The other doesn’t quite believe it.”
“The warrant is for the house and any structures outside. There’s a garage and a barn. Let’s check them all. Take your time. We can’t afford to miss anything.”
And if they were wrong?
Hannah looped her arm through his. “Stay focused. Sierra needs us focused.”
He struggled to let go of his doubts. “I will.”
“Sheriff’s office,” Patrick called out. “We have a warrant. We’re coming in.”
Nothing but silence followed.
Patrick tried the door. It opened in his hand. He glanced back at the team. “We need to clear the place first. Wait here.” Patrick nodded to Deputy Drake. The two entered the residence.
It didn’t take long before Patrick and his deputy returned. “He’s not here.”
Disappointing, to say the least. Zeke and Hannah stepped through the door into the log home that was breathtaking.
“Impressive,” Hannah whispered. “Where do you need us, Sheriff?”
“I’ve got downstairs. Hannah, why don’t you start upstairs with Jack? Cooper, you and Zeke look through the barn and garage.”
Zeke nodded to his partner. “You got it, Sheriff.” He and Cooper stepped outside and headed for the garage since that was closest.
Cooper tried the side door. “Unlocked.” Cooper looked over his shoulder before reaching for the light switch. He blew out a low whistle. “Man, this is nice.”
Zeke followed. A vintage corvette was parked inside next to a Lexus SUV. “Do we have any idea what the doctor drives?” He asked as he searched both vehicles thoroughly.
“Nope. I’ll find out.” Cooper shot off a text. “He’s obviously not home.”
A prickle of unease shot through Zeke. “Find out what Irv drives.”
Cooper looked at him curiously before sending a message. “I can’t see a handyman driving a Lexus.”
Zeke couldn’t either. He started looking around the immaculate garage and saw something that turned his blood to ice. “I have a strap.” The colors looked exactly like the one they’d found on the road. Had he been wrong? Was the kindly doctor everyone trusted a cold-blooded killer?