Page 46 of The Lost Bones

“Okay…” She noted that he was still dressed in the same clothes as yesterday. Yellow stains peppered his collar, like he’d accidentally dropped instant noodles on himself while eating.

“Do you have any updates?” he asked guardedly.

“You know I can’t discuss the progress of an ongoing investigation.”

He groaned and pressed his lips in a tight line. “You owe us answers.”

“Us?”

“The families of the victims.” His words cut her deep. “Three women have been hurt in yourname. No fault of their own. I don’t even know why Sophie was killed.”

“I can’t control someone else’s actions!” she said hotly and turned away. “I didn’t ask for any of this. It’s not my fault.”

“It’s not about blame. It’s about compassion.” His eyes bored into hers. “Sharing a few details with a trained officer who can help won’t hurt the case. But I guess I should have known that Mad Mack doesn’t bend the rules.”

Mackenzie craned her neck to release the building tension. “Is that why you came here? To give me more shit when I’m working day and night to find out the truth?”

“No.” He glanced at the files on the kitchen island, then slid his gaze back to her, finally registering her palpable exhaustion and sleep deprivation. “I came because I might have something.”

“What?”

“I saw that kid you were interviewing yesterday. I figured it was something to do with the case. So after he left, I followed him.”

“Of course you did.” She fell onto a chair, resigned. There was no point in reprimanding or reasoning with Austin. In front of her stood a man who had the means to find closure dangling in front of him.

“I thought I’d talk to him.” He began pacing. “Maybe get him to tell me what you guys talked about. But then I saw him get into this town car that was waiting for him in the parking lot.”

“Was it Cromwell’s?”

He shook his head. “Cromwell got into another car.”

“Tag works for a car rental company. They must have sent him a ride.”

He rocked back and forth on his heels. “Yeah… I didn’t know that, but I was curious about him. So I followed him.”

“Where to?”

“Tombstone.”

The word sparked a fetid feeling inside Mackenzie’s stomach.

“Where exactly in Tombstone?” she asked.

“I don’t know the area well. I’ve never had to go there in the year I’ve been in Lakemore. But it was on a hill. A big colonial-style house. He went inside. I waited in my car for about fifteen minutes before I had to leave because of work.”

There was a hill. Mackenzie had seen it yesterday. From a distance, it was just an expanse of green; she never knew that there were houses up there.

“Did you get the house number?”

“No. But I took a picture.” He showed her his phone eagerly.

The exterior was made of rich red brick. Intricately designed panel doors in the center, with a decorative crown above the entry. A medium pitched roof with square-cut weaves. There was a faint glow around the building, which was otherwise surrounded by thick woods where light seemed to die.

Mackenzie remembered Tag’s background information. His address was listed as nowhere near this place. He lived in Olympia. This house clearly shouted money, and someone had sent a car and taken him straight there.

“I’ll look into it,” she promised, her heart jackhammering at this new flicker of hope.

Mackenzie took pride in not having any vices. Which was why today seemed like a big day. The day another thing about her changed. In the break room, she sipped on black coffee and gagged. Austin’s words kept playing in her head.