"Do they work out at the same location?" asked Ava.

"They did. So it's possible that they knew each other that way. I haven't gotten a chance to talk to Samuelson's coworkers and see if they believe the two of them knew each other, but everyone close to Denny says they weren't aware of Samuelson." He looked at his computer. "Special Agent Weldon and Denny used the same cell phone provider, primary bank, and mortgage company. Nothing surprising there. I have all the same, too."

"Outside activities?" asked Zander.

"Two have no church affiliation. Weldon attended the Methodist church down the street from his house. Denny and Samuelson both volunteered with a philanthropy group for kids."

"Did we find any cases that Samuelson and Schefte worked on at the same time?" Zander asked.

"We got a hit on the database search overnight," said Nora. "It was on my agenda for this meeting."

Ava and Zander sat up straighter. Why hadn't she said that first thing?

"The case is seven years old and I'm not sure what to think about it," Nora said. "Louis Samuelson was barely involved. His name is in the file because he provided some of the necessary legwork at the scene. He helped with the perimeter after a murder-suicide case out in rural Clackamas County. Schefte was one of the OSP investigators. A husband killed his wife and then himself in this case."

"That's a pretty weak connection," said Zander. "There must have been a couple dozen cops from several departments that helped with the perimeter. Any FBI involvement? Any other officers from that case that have died?"

"Those are the questions I wanted answered before I presented it here," said Nora. "I asked one of the IT guys to search for the answers a few hours ago and I just got a reply." She scanned her computer screen. "There was some very light FBI involvement. The brother of the husband was being watched for domestic terrorism in Central Oregon."

"That's Vance Weldon's department," Ava pointed out.

"But the husband had virtually no ties to his brother," Nora continued. "It appeared they were estranged. The FBI reviewed this case and moved on, cla.s.sifying it as not relevant to any of their investigations. Vance didn't work out of the Portland office at that time."

"What was the outcome of the case?" asked Henry.

"It was exactly as appeared," said Nora. "Everything indicated the husband killed the wife and then shot himself. He was deep in debt and his home was about to be foreclosed on."

"We need to find out what the brother is doing right now," said Ava. "And find out what bank was foreclosing. This is a lead we can't set aside even if Weldon doesn't appear to have been involved."

"Any other deaths a.s.sociated with the officers that worked that scene?" Zander asked.

"Two have died, but they'd also retired since that incident."

"They say cops often don't live long after retirement," Ava said quietly to Zander. She planned to make certain Mason lived a long and healthy life after his.

"Causes of death?" Zander asked.

"Working on it. It wasn't readily available, but out of the hundred or so names even remotely a.s.sociated with the case-I'm talking evidence technicians and support staff, too-I don't see two deaths as unusual," stated Nora.

"Not two. There are four deaths counting Schefte and Samuelson," Ava pointed out. Nora nodded in agreement.

"Mason's name is a.s.sociated with the case. It looks like he helped out at some point," Nora added.

Chills shot up Ava's back, and she sucked in a breath.

Mason worked a lot of cases with Denny Schefte. It doesn't mean anything.

All eyes in the room turned to her.

She didn't move and kept her gaze locked on Nora. "That doesn't surprise me," she said with a calm she didn't feel.

Nora nodded and sympathy flickered in her eyes. Being in a relationship with a cop meant you dealt with danger and the unknown every day. Ava understood. Both she and Mason did.

But it didn't mean she wasn't affected.

"We need to follow up on the protesters at the memorial and on the cause of death of those two officers," Nora stated. "Louis Samuelson's memorial hasn't been scheduled yet. According to his father, the immediate family didn't like how public Denny Schefte's memorial became and wants to do something privately."

"Can't blame them," said Henry. "That sort of publicity isn't for everyone."

"They don't want OSP to do anything," Nora said. "I realize it's not about us, but it can be helpful for other officers. We'll respect their wishes."

"Any new evidence out of either autopsy?" Zander asked.

Nora pulled out a sheet of paper. "According to the medical examiner, Denny didn't have any flesh under his nails or any defensive wounds on his arms."

"He didn't fight back," muttered Henry. "Or he never saw it coming."

"There was one long dark hair found on his shirt," Nora stated.

"DNA?" asked Ava.

"No follicle to remove it from."

c.r.a.p.

"It's a bit unusual," said Zander. "Obviously there were no women with them, but he could have picked it up from a previous guest in his cabin or even off a chair at the bar."

Nora nodded and gave a small grin. "They found one on Louis Samuelson's body, too," she said triumphantly.

A chorus of confusion sounded in the room.

Nora likes a little drama. Ava didn't know whether to admire her or shake her for making them wait for the information.

"Again, no follicle. But visually it's very similar to the one found on Denny."

"A woman?" Ava said slowly. She tried to imagine herself lifting Louis Samuelson onto the spikes on his living room wall and then driving more through his wrists.

"Holy s.h.i.t," said Henry. "I can't see it."

"Could be a guy with long hair," said Zander. "I a.s.sume both hairs haven't been a.n.a.lyzed by trace yet?"

Nora nodded. "Correct. As soon as the second one was brought to my attention this morning, I requested a comparison."

Ava wondered how long it would take. "We don't have anything like that from the Weldon scene, right?"

Nora shook her head. "Dr. Rutledge did tell me he's taking another close look at what he has from Vance Weldon's autopsy. I don't think the presence of a long hair will turn up. He also told me the early tox screens on Denny and Louis didn't reveal anything interesting. We'll have more in-depth results in a few weeks."

"This can't go on for a few weeks," said Ava.

"Agreed," said Nora. "That's why we're going to find him. Or her."

17.

Mason mindlessly shuffled papers at his desk. Across from him, Ray did the same. The detectives' corral was oddly empty, everyone out in the field except for the two of them.

And except for Nora and Henry upstairs in the task force room.

Mason's brain told his muscles to get up, head for the stairs, and listen in on their meeting. It took all his focus to stay seated and address his cases.

Ray appeared to have a hangover. Mason hadn't seen Ray hungover in two years. The last time had been after a bachelor party for . . . Mason paused. He couldn't remember the guy's name. All Mason could remember was that the guy had left OSP to join his new father-in-law's real estate company. Now he drove a Lexus.

The Realtor didn't feel the public wanted to shoot him in the back.

"Did you take some aspirin? And drink lots of water?" Mason asked.

"Yes, Dad," Ray answered, not looking up.

"I feel fine," Mason stated.

"Good for you."

"You should have stuck to beer."

"Morales was the one who ordered the tequila shots," Ray complained.

"Tequila gives you hangovers. Even I know that."

"I forgot."

Mason didn't answer that one. His desk phone rang.

"Detective Callahan? I'm Heidi Lain. I work with Dr. Kersey and help her treat Jayne McLane."

"I remember you, Heidi." He'd met the woman during one of his trips to the center with Ava. He couldn't remember what she did exactly, but he knew she wasn't a doctor. When Jayne had entered the center, she'd given written permission for all her medical records and medical discussions to be shared with both Mason and Ava.

"It's been recommended that phone calls go to you first instead of Ava, correct?"

"That's right. She gets emails only. She needs to have a filter between herself and anything to do with Jayne. That filter is me."

"During our team meeting this morning, Dr. Kersey shared the conversation she had with you yesterday."

"Does she think we're nuts?" Mason asked bluntly.

Heidi laughed politely. "She didn't say that. I will say the staff here is evenly divided on how much progress Jayne has made. Some of us share a more skeptical view. Dr. Kersey is fabulous, but sometimes sees the world through rose-colored gla.s.ses."

Mason wanted to cheer.

"You see Jayne for the liar that she is," he said.

Heidi paused. "That's one way of phrasing it. I prefer to say I don't take everything Jayne says at face value. I've learned that patients frequently tell you what they believe you want to hear. Oftentimes it's hard to tell the difference between truth and lies. Some of them are very skilled at it."

"Jayne's the best I've ever seen," Mason said. "And I've been a cop for over two decades."

"I agree."

"I appreciate you calling to tell me this," said Mason. "We were worried she'd fooled everyone out there."

"That's not the only reason I've called."

Uh-oh.

"I've been watching Jayne interact with another patient and I have concerns. I've brought my concerns to the staff and the other patient's family and now I'm taking them to you."

"Oh, c.r.a.p." He gripped his phone tighter, and Ray looked up at his change in tone. "What's going on? Is it a man?"

"It is," Heidi answered.

Mason didn't vocalize the string of swear words that shot through his brain. Jayne had mentioned a man in one of her emails, and he knew Ava believed she was fixated on him.

"You need to separate them. Today," Mason said. Men and Jayne didn't mix well. She'd convinced one boyfriend to break into Mason's home, and she'd nearly died in a meth lab explosion because of the same man. According to Ava she latched on to a man, got what she wanted, and then went on her merry way, leaving bodies in her wake. The stories Ava told about Jayne and her past boyfriends made his hair curl.

He wasn't overreacting.

"I agree, but the center has rules in place and neither of them have broken any rules. They're only in each other's presence during some downtime in the common area. We have separate wings for the men and women but a shared public s.p.a.ce."

"I remember," said Mason. He'd toured the center. It'd felt sterile and welcoming at the same time. The common area was the part that had felt like someone's home.

"They talk quietly nonstop," said Heidi. "Nothing else. But she's acting different. She smiles like she has secrets from everyone . . . not the type of smile that she's having a good day. It's a malicious smile-if that makes sense."

"It does." Mason had seen it. "What's the story with this guy?"

"I can't share much due to patient confidentiality laws, but he's quite young."

Vulnerable to a pushy older woman?

"What do you think she wants from him?" Mason asked. "If you were in her shoes, what is the appeal?"

"Attention. Admiration."

"That's pretty standard for Jayne, but I suspect there's more to it than that. She could get that from anyone. What makes this guy unique?"