The Hidden

It was still early when Diego’s phone vibrated under his pillow, where he’d put it before finally going to sleep. He glanced at the bedside clock and saw that it was only seven thirty.

“McCullough,” he answered quickly, keeping his voice low.

“It’s Jane. I’m sorry to be calling so early, but I received a call from your friend Lieutenant Gray last night. He asked if the police could have my rendering as soon as I had something. He wants to get it into the papers. I figured you and the rest of the Krewe would want first look.”

“Yes, thank you. Where are you? Still at the morgue?”

“Just heading up to the ranch. Adam said I’ll be staying in the main house.”

“Yes, but come to the museum first. It’s to the left of the parking lot, but there’s a sign that says Conway Ranch Museum, so you won’t have any trouble finding it.”

“Thanks,” she told him. “Be there soon.”

He hung up and bolted out of bed, heading straight to the shower. Scarlet didn’t stir. Only when he was dressed did he wake her.

She blinked and stared at him with groggy eyes.

“Jane is on her way with her rendering of the man killed up on the mountain. Feel free to go back to sleep if you want. One of us will stay with you. We won’t leave you here alone, even if you do have a gun now.”

“No, no, I’m up.”

She jumped up and ducked beneath his arm, then grabbed her robe and ran for the shower. Diego headed out to the kitchen to brew coffee.

It was already done. Brett was up.

“Jane is on her way,” Diego told him.

“Good. I’m anxious to see what she’s come up with. If we can ID the guy, maybe we can find out if his death is related to the Parkers’.”

“I think I’ll give Lieutenant Gray a call while we’re waiting,” Diego said.

“I talked to him last night when he returned the museum’s gun collection. They’ve questioned the guests who left the ranch right after the murders. A banker from Pittsburgh, and his wife and daughter. A family from New York who had never been west of Chicago. Nothing suspicious about any of them, and none of them saw anything suspicious, either.”

Diego nodded and made a call.

“Lieutenant Gray.”

“It’s Diego McCullough. Just wanted to check in with you and let you know our artist will have something for you soon. Anything new on your end? Besides none of the other ranch guests having anything useful to add.”

Gray sounded frustrated. “Nothing. I’ve questioned half of Estes Park. No one saw the Parkers leave with anyone. No one has found their car. The forensic team has given me diddly-squat. You?”

“We’re hoping the picture will help in linking the cases, or even help us prove there’s no connection,” Diego said.

“That’s it? That’s all the FBI has got?”

“At the moment. Thanks for returning the museum’s gun collection.”

“Still no sign of the murder weapon, but the rest are all clean. Under the circumstances, I’m sure you understand why we’re looking at anyone associated with the ranch.”

“Same here.”

“The murder weapon...who knows when it was stolen. If it was stolen.”

“So your top suspects are the Kendalls—and my wife,” Diego said.

“I thought she was your ex-wife, but...whatever. If she’s guilty, then—”

“You know she was in town.”

“Maybe she slipped back up the mountain.”

“I think she parked in a municipal lot. You can probably document that,” Diego said.

“Get me that picture as soon as you can,” Gray said.

Diego hung up.

Brett had been watching him the whole time. “Since we know it’s not Scarlet—Ben or Trisha? Or someone else here?”

“Ben did find the bodies, and everyone else seems to have an alibi for the time of the murders,” Diego said. “Anyway, I’m going to head outside to meet Jane when she arrives.”