The Hidden

Cassandra Wells’s picture was now all over the media, with the message that the police were seeking witnesses who might have seen her or anything suspicious the night before. Some broadcasters were suggesting that the Parkers’ murders had been perpetrated by the same killer, though the police themselves were keeping quiet on that score.

Diego himself had gone on camera to say that he didn’t wish to create a panic, but that all three victims could trace their lineage back to Nathan Kendall, though, since Zachary had fathered so many children, the relationship might be coincidence.

One station had interviewed the owner of Moose Pot Pie, who appeared to be genuinely devastated. Vince Guttenberg had been in Denver the night before, at a nephew’s birthday party, and he had stayed over at his sister’s house. He had returned to discover that his best employee had been murdered. He wasn’t a suspect, and he wasn’t even any help as a witness. He couldn’t think of anyone who had shown Cassandra any animosity or even any undue interest.

They were still at the police station in a conference room with Lieutenant Ernest Gray, when a call from Adam came through on Diego’s phone. Adam asked him where he was and who he was with, then suggested he put the call on speaker.

“We have a tentative ID on the victim from the mountain,” Adam said without preamble. “HQ received a call from the Asheville, North Carolina, PD. A Daniel Kendall has been missing since he headed out on vacation, solo, a couple months earlier. He planned on taking a month, but when he didn’t return, his girlfriend grew concerned and filed a missing persons report. It was difficult to do any kind of a real search, because he hadn’t told her where he was going, other than ‘out West.’ That was followed by a call from a man named Leo Piper in Lyons, Colorado. He owns a hotel there and recognized the picture as a former guest who’d planned on hiking the Rockies and doing some genealogical research.”

“Thanks, Adam. Kendall, huh? I’m assuming Daniel was a descendant of Nathan Kendall, too?” Diego asked.

“Yes, exactly,” Adam responded. “Jane and I are about to go over to the museum and check on Scarlet and Meg. Then we’ll head out to Lyons to see what Mr. Leo Piper can tell us.”

“Damn,” Gray said.

“Pardon?” Adam asked.

“I’m a descendant, too,” Gray said.

“Perhaps you should excuse yourself from this investigation,” Adam suggested.

Gray laughed. “And hightail it out of town ’til the coast is clear?” he asked. “No, no. Couldn’t live with myself if I did that. I’m in for the long haul. I want to bring this bastard in. I don’t care about the collar. I’m fine if one of you nabs him, I just want to be there when someone stops his ass.”

Diego smiled. He liked Gray’s new attitude.

Adam said his goodbyes and rang off. Gray excused himself to see if there had been any results from all the media attention and the posters he’d had his men plaster all across town.

Someone had to have seen someone or something somewhere at some time.

“I think we need to hang out at a bar tonight,” Diego told Matt and Brett. “The Twisted Antler. That’s where Cassandra was supposedly heading last night. Gray already checked with the owner and the manager—neither remembers seeing her, and if she bought anything, she paid cash. But the manager said they have a lot of regulars, plus the staff, of course. Oh, and the band. We can divide and conquer, talk to as many people as we can.”

Matt stood. “Let’s get back to the ranch, and touch base with Meg and Scarlet. I’ll give Adam a call and let him know.”

He didn’t have to call Adam, because just then Jane called Diego.

“Are you on your way back?” she asked.

“Yes, but why? Is something wrong?” he asked anxiously.

“No, but if you weren’t headed here, I was going to tell you that you should be. We’ll wait for you at the museum, then head down to Lyons once you get here.”

“You’re sure there’s nothing wrong?” he asked.

“No, nothing. We have a visitor, that’s all. Someone you’re going to want to meet.”

Before he could ask for details, she hung up.