Page 76 of Winter

Tyler rubbed his head. “This morning. We had plans for the evening, you see. It’s not like her,” he fretted, getting up and going to the window. Luna went with him in time to see a police cruiser pull up. Knox got out, followed by some men she didn’t know. She banged on the window, but Knox ignored her, just walking with the men over to the station. She frowned and was about to leave when Inca came back into the room. She shook her head at them.

“Sorry, no luck. Look, we’ll leave it for a half hour.”

Luna interrupted her, darting to the door. “Be right back.”

Knox was emerging from the station, his face stern and set. She ran over to him, and he excused himself to the men with him, one of whom she now recognized as his old boss in the city, Trey Ford. She nodded to him, then turned back to Knox.

“What’s going on? Are you looking for Olly?”

He indicated for her to wait, spoke to the rest of the group in low tones. Returning, he took her arm. “Come on.”

He led her back to the teahouse where Inca and Tyler were watching them, confusion in their faces. He asked them to sit down while he explained.

“Trey went back over cold cases in the city. He found a woman who was murdered with the same weapon but didn’t fit the victim profile. She was an African-American mother of five.”

Luna looked confused. “And?”

“Her name was Justine Sardee.”

Inca blanched. “Oh God …”

Knox nodded. “She was killed on March first. That date mean anything to you?”

Luna looked bleak, and her voice was barely above a whisper. “Olly’s birthday.”

Knox took her hand. “It’s all too coincidental. He’s been going into the city at night too. We need to talk to him as soon as possible.”

Inca shook her head. “This is ridiculous. Olly would never hurt anyone.”

Knox’s eyes were kind. “Inca, didn’t you come to me and tell me the exact opposite thing yesterday? The facts are that the murders all took place at times Olly was either unaccounted for or in the city. Then there’s the murder weapon itself.” He looked at Tyler. “You know what I’m going to say.”

Tyler nodded, his whole body slumped in defeat. “My knife.”

The woman both looked back at Knox in confusion.

“Tyler was issued a bayonet knife when he served in the military,” he explained. “It was part of the inventory stolen last year, only Olly never listed it in the police file. It was the only thing that wasn’t accounted for. Then there are the ballistics on Scarlett’s murder. I’m sorry, I couldn’t tell you before. They’re the same issue bullets as we use. We just need Olly’s gun to prove it.”

Inca couldn’t hold out the small cry of distress. “What the hell are you talking about? Are you accusing Olly of murdering Scarlett now?”

Luna looked as if she would throw up. Tyler reached for Inca’s hand. She pulled it away and stared at Knox. He was pale, obviously uncomfortable.

They all looked at Luna now. She shook her head

“No. No. He’s being set up.” She stood up now, angry. Inca, tears flooding down her face grabbed her hand.

“Luna, I don’t want to believe it either, but—”

Luna walked out of the room. Tyler started to get up, but Inca stopped him. “Tyler, leave her. Knox, Nancy is missing. She’s been missing all day.”

Knox look startled and stood. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me that first? Tyler, come with me.”

Inca watched helplessly as the two men stalked out.

Luna pulledthe back door shut behind her, pressing the speed dial on her cell phone. She waited until the voicemail kicked in.

“Hey, it’s me. Look, I don’t know where you are but … they’re going to arrest you. I want you to know, I know you didn’t do anything wrong. I know it.”

Her voice cracked, and she hung up the phone. Her body gave out then, and she sank to the ground, sobbing.