Deadly Evidence

Had Sarah known she was going to die? What were her last thoughts? Tori hated to think of the terror her sister must have endured. Had Sarah also spoken someone’s name in those moments before her death? And if she had, whose name would she have said?

A loved one’s?

Or the killer’s?

A shudder crawled over her.

“You okay?” She was freed from her musings by the arrival of Ryan’s sturdy form next to her.

“Sure.”

Tori shook off the morbid thoughts and started hiking again. She turned her focus instead to this path next to the river and the unbidden memories floating to the surface. She and Ryan had hiked this trail on multiple occasions when they were seeing each other. Probably like the young couple who had pulled her from the river earlier in the day.

Back then, it had been just the two of them. Hand in hand. Falling deeper in love with each passing day.

And they’d shared more than one amazing kiss right here when no one else was around. Her chest grew tight.

Was he thinking about those kisses, too? She hoped not, but when she glanced over her shoulder and caught his pensive gaze, she knew where his mind had gone—to them as a couple before she left.

Pain cut through her at how different things were now. Instead of a couple in love enjoying a nature walk, they were now joined together only by the need to find a killer before he struck again. Was that why she’d said his name earlier? Because he was the investigator on Sarah’s case? Tori had thought she was going to die, and maybe she’d wanted to somehow let Ryan know that her death hadn’t been an accident. She’d thought of him—her last coherent thought before the greatest struggle of her life, and then, she’d huffed out his name when she came to.

If she hadn’t said his name, they would probably be here together now anyway, since she would have gone to him to report the attack on her as soon as she left the hospital. That she’d said his name shouldn’t matter so much, but it bothered her and she wanted to know why. She would have to think about that later, though. Much more pressing matters needed her attention.

She hiked forward, closing in on the falls.

The flash of color on the other side of a rocky outcropping drew her attention. “There. I see a kayak.”

“Fortunately it’s not across the river,” he said. “Are you sure it’s yours?”

“It looks like mine, and if it’s not, then that could mean someone else went over the falls.” She didn’t think that was the case.

Spotting the kayak exhilarated her. Now they were getting somewhere. Not that she feared he doubted her words—not anymore, at least—but the kayak with a bullet hole or two in it would go a long way to boost her theory, one she hoped Detective Bradley was also formulating.

They made their way around boulders and roots, and then to the edge of the riverbank where the broken kayak had wedged between rocks. Tori gasped at the sight. She wrapped her arms around herself.

That could have been her body. Broken and lifeless.

Ryan’s frown deepened. He appeared shaken as he pressed his hand over his mouth then rubbed his chin.

Then, seeming to pull himself together, he reached in the pocket of his jacket and tugged out a small camera. “Don’t worry. We’ll get Jerry, our tech, out here now that we know it’s part of a crime scene, but I want to take my own pictures just in case.”

Ryan walked around the kayak and took photographs from various angles.

She peered at the front portion. “See, just there. A bullet hole.”

“Here’s another.” He pointed, then crouched and took close-ups of the holes.

Tori looked around for the oar, but she doubted she’d find it. “I’m surprised a bullet went through the material, but I guess it all depends on the caliber of bullet and the quality of the kayak materials.”

“Right.”

“We’ll have to go up above the falls to look for rifle shells,” she said. “It’s a big area to search.”

“Finding a shell doesn’t mean it belonged to this particular shooter,” he said. “We need bullets, too.”

“Your lab can get ballistics, can’t they?” Tori had to be careful what she said. Ryan was probably kind of touchy about the limited resources of his job compared to hers, and she didn’t want to sound superior. But, well, the FBI had superior training, facilities and labs. The best, in fact.

He pursed his lips and eyed her as he got on his radio and asked for evidence collection and retrieval of the kayak. “We’ll need to wait here to make sure no one disturbs it intentionally or otherwise, although if they had intended to do that, I think the kayak would already be gone.”

Tori started toward the falls. “I’ll hike up topside and look for rifle shells. There were more than two shots fired, even though there are only two bullet holes in my kayak.”

Ryan grabbed her arm and gently squeezed as he pulled her toward him. “Are you serious? What makes you think whoever shot at you won’t try again? You’re not going up there.”

“In that case, what am I even doing out here with you?”

“Good question.” He worked his jaw as if angry with her. Angry with himself.

His concern for her chipped away at the wall around her heart. She reminded herself that his reaction didn’t mean that he cared for her on a personal level. Of course he would be this concerned for anyone. Right?

“I don’t think the shooter is still here,” she said. “When I got on the river, I had an eerie feeling. You know the one. I felt like someone was following me. Like someone was watching me. But I don’t sense that now.”

He scraped a hand through his hair, messing with the slicked-back look. “Come on, you can’t trust a feeling like that. Not saying you should ignore it when you sense that someone is watching you, but you can’t be certain you’re safe just because it doesn’t feel like anyone’s watching you.” He searched the ground near the kayak. For footprints? Too many hikers had been by the kayak today for forensics to find anything. After a minute, he lifted his gaze to look at the woods. A group of senior citizens hiked up the trail toward them, lost in their conversation. They smiled and bade them a good day as they passed.

The shooter wouldn’t try again here today with people out on the trail, would he? The couple who’d found her hadn’t been at the top of the falls where she’d been forced over. She’d been alone up there when he’d shot at her. Tori rubbed her arms and stared at the woods. She absolutely wouldn’t let fear take hold of her or stop her. “We have to find who did this, Ryan.”

Her comment drew a severe look from him, one that she knew well. Tori averted her gaze.

“Don’t you have a job back in South Carolina to get back to? How long are you staying again?” The friction between them edged his tone. “Bereavement leave doesn’t give you but a week or two, does it?”

“I...I don’t know,” she said.

“What?”

She hung her head. Closed her eyes. “You’re right. Officially, I only have two weeks, but I’m considering taking an indefinite leave.”

“Why would you do that?”

A feral emotion flashed in his gaze. She understood the deeper meaning behind his questions. She’d given him up. She’d left him for an FBI career—now he wanted an answer as to why she would give it all up for this investigation when she wouldn’t give it up for him. She offered a one-shoulder shrug. “Mom and Dad are devastated. They’ve lost a daughter, Ryan.” She looked in his eyes and took in the blue-green hues. “I need to be here for them and...”

Something shifted behind his gaze—and for the life of her, she couldn’t tell if it was good or bad. Again, she had the strong sense that he still cared about her. That he’d never stopped. Her next words would drive an even bigger wedge between them. She’d hurt him terribly when she’d chosen her career with the FBI over a relationship with Ryan. She’d wanted more than working law enforcement in a northern California county. She could have taken a job and worked with him, but she’d taken the FBI’s offer.

Tori drew in a breath. She might as well say it. “I need to make sure her killer is caught.”

He lifted his chin to search for words in the bluest of skies. “And you don’t trust me to do that.”

“That’s not what I said.”

“But it’s what you meant. You can’t go home because you don’t think we’ll find the killer without your help.”

“Ryan, please tell me that you understand. You would do the same if it was one of your siblings, someone you loved dearly, no matter who was investigating.”

When he looked at her again, she saw resignation. “You’re not here in your capacity as an FBI agent, so I’m going to ask you not to interfere. Trust me to do my job, Ms. Peterson.”

The air rushed from her lungs. Oh, come on. She took a step toward him, trying to think of what to say to get him to see, though she wasn’t sure why she wanted him to understand. “Ryan, please. I...I trust you to do your job. I promise I won’t interfere with your investigation.”

He nodded and huffed, then surprisingly gave her a wry grin. “I hear what you’re saying. And what you’re not saying. I know you, Tori. You have your own investigation going.”

Sarah... “While you’re looking for the person who killed four people, I’m looking for the person who killed one person. Sarah. You can’t get in her head like I can. You can’t walk in her shoes or think the way she would have thought. That’s all I’m doing.” She and Sarah were sisters. No one could know her better, even with the fact that Tori had lived far from Sarah for four years.

His forehead furrowed. Eventually he would come to the same conclusion about whom the murderer had intended to kill—the one target—if he hadn’t already.

In the distance, they saw two county SUVs pull up behind Ryan’s unmarked vehicle.

“Looks like the wait is over.” He sounded relieved. “I can’t stop you from investigating on your own. But don’t make me charge you with obstruction. If you find evidence, please call me.”

Even a private investigator looking into a major crime like murder could get charged with obstruction if he or she wasn’t careful. “I will, I promise.” She eyed him. “I trust you with this case, honestly.” More than he would ever know or believe. “And you’re a good detective. You’re a good man, Ryan.”

He stared at her as if he didn’t know how to take the compliment, but she saw the doubts swimming in his eyes. Being a county detective hadn’t been good enough for her. Before emotions rushed through her, she looked at the river. She shouldn’t think about the past, but she almost regretted the choices she’d made that caused her to lose him.

Almost.

Because truly regretting her choices would mean she’d made the wrong ones. And she couldn’t accept that.

* * *

While Ryan spoke to his team of deputies and his techs who would process and then transport the kayak, Tori waited near the river. Was the shooter out there somewhere, watching?

Two techs began processing the kayak—taking pictures and documenting everything. Tori was glad Ryan hadn’t just hauled it in his SUV as if it had no importance. The slightest detail could be vital in a case like this.

He left his team to work and approached her. “You ready to go?”

“I thought we were going to look up top for rifle shells. We could help those deputies search for evidence. We aren’t doing anything.”

“Let the county sheriff’s department handle it. I’m taking you home.”

Though she didn’t need the lead investigator acting as a chauffeur, how else would she get home? Dad had already gotten her car from the river. Back in his SUV, Ryan steered them toward town.

“Is there any remote chance that the fact someone targeted you has to do with something unrelated to Sarah—maybe one of your past cases?”

“I suppose anything is possible, but it’s not probable.”

They remained quiet for the remaining miles back to town. As he drove down Main Street in Rainey, her mind constantly flashed to memories of them together. It seemed so strange to be with him again, only for an entirely different reason than because they simply wanted to be together.

A gut-wrenching reason. Her breath hitched and she squeezed the hand rest.

“I keep asking if you’re all right.” He steered into the driveway of Sarah’s small bungalow and parked. “You keep telling me that you are. But you’re not okay. I’m worried about you, Tori.”

“You’ve said that.” Tori hung her head. She didn’t want to get into this conversation with him. Why did he have to keep asking? Why did he have to care? Of course she wasn’t okay.

“Is it me?” he asked.

That question brought her head up to look at him. “What do you mean?”

“Is being here with me too much for you? Too awkward? I know we’re both trying to stay focused on the case, but maybe it’s too much. Maybe it’s just too hard to work together.”

And you want to avoid me, Ryan? She kept the question to herself. “Even if it’s too hard, we have to push past that. We can’t change it.”

“We can. You can go back to work in South Carolina. Be safe. Let me find who killed these people. Your sister. I don’t need your help.”

Tori had no response to that. She got out of the vehicle, slammed the door and stomped up to the home that reminded her so much of Sarah. She remembered when her sister had picked it out. Sarah had emailed so many pictures to Tori. She’d been so excited to find such a cute place to live in on her own.

Oh, Sarah...

What had happened to her was wrong on so many levels. Why couldn’t Ryan understand that Tori could not leave this alone? She wanted to look Sarah’s killer in the face. And deep in her heart, she wanted to be the one to bring him down.

At the door, she fumbled for the keys in her purse with shaking hands and then finally unlocked the door. Ryan remained in his vehicle, making a call, waiting for her to get safely inside. She wished he would hurry up and leave.

Inside, she slammed the door and pressed her back against it, her heart pounding for no other reason than she was upset with Ryan. Upset with herself. Upset that this nightmare was real. Tears leaked out the corners of her eyes.

She swiped them away. No time for grieving.

Tori needed an escape from the events of the last weeks, days and hours. Unfortunately, Sarah’s home was full of reminders instead. She shoved herself away from the door and dropped her bag on the table in the foyer. Dad had retrieved it from the car and Mom had brought it up to the hospital. Mom. She’d better text—

Clank, clank...

Tori froze. She listened.

The hair on her arms rose. Someone was in the house just down the hallway.

She pulled her weapon from her bag. Even on leave, she was required to always carry her FBI-issued weapon with her.

Weapon at the ready, she crept down the hallway toward where the sound had come from and cleared the first room. That left only one more room. Heart pounding, she whipped the weapon around as she stepped through the open door. “Freeze!”

A masked man stood much too close—her mistake—and he knocked the SIG from her grasp. She fought him, but with her injured shoulder, she struggled. Still, Tori was determined to best him. Somehow, she needed to get to her gun on the floor. Tori punched him in the solar plexus for good measure, then slammed his throat.

He coughed and gasped, but pulled out his own weapon—a nine-millimeter Glock.

Oh, no...

Tori dove into the hallway as gunfire exploded.

* * *

At the crack of gunfire, Ryan’s heart jackhammered.

He tossed his cell aside and radioed dispatch that shots had been fired and to send backup. But with Tori in danger, he couldn’t wait for them. He jumped from the SUV and pulled his Glock from his holster all in one smooth motion.

Please let me be wrong, please let me be wrong.

But it was hard to mistake the sound.

He sprinted up the driveway toward the front door. The distinct sound of glass shattering resounded from the back of the house.

Weapon held at low ready, he quickly crept along the side of the bungalow, cautious near the bushes in case someone hid behind them. At the back corner, he peeked around, prepared to face off with a possible perp.

But he saw no one in the neat backyard that included a blue-and-white-striped hammock. His heart kinked as he pictured Sarah relaxing in that hammock. But there was no time to think about what had been lost. Ryan kept his weapon ready to aim and fire and continued all the way into the backyard to make sure it was clear.

At the back of the house, he found the shattered glass and the window that had been broken.

“Tori!”

While he didn’t want to destroy any evidence, his primary focus was on finding her. He approached the window carefully and glanced inside. He saw nothing. “Tori?”

There was no response. His heart rate ratcheted up.

Lord, please let her be okay.

He ran around to the front of the house and, shoving the door open, forced his way inside. “Tori! Are you okay?”

“Here. I’m in here.”

Following the voice, he rushed into the hallway and found her on the floor. His pulse thundered in his ears as he crouched next to her. “Tori, honey...”

Sweat beaded her face and blood soaked her arm. His heart pounded. “You’re hurt! Someone shot you?”

“No, it’s just my wound broke open.”

He wanted to reach for her but was afraid to make her pain worse. “What happened?”

“First, help me get up.”

He assisted her to her feet.

She bent over her thighs as if to catch her breath, then leaned against the wall, her hand pressed to her chest. “Someone was in the house. A masked man. I walked in on him. We fought, but my shoulder isn’t so good, so he got the best of me.”

Blood soaked her shoulder and arm now. While she talked, he grabbed towels from the bathroom, then pressed one against her shoulder. “We need to stop the bleeding.”

“I made a mistake and he was too close to me when I confronted him. He was able to knock my gun away. We fought and I almost had him, but then he pulled a gun of his own. That’s when I dove into the hall. He broke the window and climbed through it to the backyard.”

Tori pressed the towel against her shoulder, relieving Ryan of the task.

“He didn’t pursue you into the hallway?” Thank You, God. He couldn’t bear to think of how this could have ended—and on his watch, no less.

“No. I’m not sure why he didn’t just flee out the front door, but maybe he was afraid he would run into you. I’m also not sure why he didn’t try to...” She trembled.

Kill her? Was that what Tori would have said had she completed her sentence?

“I’m not sure why he didn’t finish the job,” she said.

His insides quaked. Ryan never ever wanted to see his Tori, tough FBI agent Tori Peterson, this shaken again.

His Tori?

“Oh, honey.” He took her into his arms, careful of her shoulder.

She cried into her hands against his chest, the bloodied towel pressed between them against her shoulder. Tori had always been the strongest person he knew—but she’d been through so much. These latest attacks meant she’d barely had time to grieve over the loss of her sister. But he supposed that this was how she’d chosen to grieve—by fighting back and trying to find Sarah’s killer. Tori’s job was all about law and justice, and for her sister to be murdered chafed in every way.

Sirens rang out in the distance and grew louder.

Finally...

“I called reinforcements when I heard gunfire.” His chin rested on the top of her head, stirring memories of him holding her in his arms—but those times from their past couldn’t be more different than the current situation.

She sniffled and stepped away. Swiped at her eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

Strong Tori was back again, and strong Tori refused to show any weakness. She left him standing there and stomped into the bedroom. The guest bedroom...he knew that because he was the detective on the case, and he’d already been through the house in search of clues. Ryan trailed her.

“This is my FBI-issued gun.” She pointed at the weapon lying on the floor on the other side of the room. “He knocked that out of my hands. He was wearing gloves, but maybe there could still be DNA. Certainly not prints, though.”

“Jerry will look it over first to make sure.”

“Okay. I want it back as soon as possible.” She moved to the window. “You already know that he broke the window getting out. While your people sweep this place for prints and evidence, I’ll canvass the neighborhood.”

Right. He fisted his hands on his hips. “You really can’t let it go, can you?”

She scrunched her face but her gaze swept the room. “What are you talking about?”

“You are not the law around here anymore. You gave that up, remember? Your FBI credentials don’t change the fact that this murder case isn’t in your jurisdiction.” Nor would she be allowed to work it professionally because Sarah was her sister.

“Fine. I’m going for a walk then. I need to get my head together.”

Ryan grabbed her arm. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“Get your hands off me.”

He released her slowly but stayed close. “Tori, just calm down. You’re bleeding, remember?” He lifted the towel and held it out to her.

She scrunched her face and took the towel, pressing it against her shoulder again. She wasn’t thinking clearly, either, or else she would suggest looking at the rest of the house. Maybe the intruder had been in Sarah’s home searching for something. Was anything missing? But Ryan wouldn’t bring that up just yet. Tori needed to see the doctor again, and she’d only insist on looking through the house if he brought that to her attention. Discovering if something was missing could wait. Her well-being came first.

Deputies finally entered the home. Tori appeared pale and remained shaken, so Ryan stayed near as he explained what had happened. Her official statement could be given later. Ryan escorted her out of the house. “I need to take you back to the hospital so you can get that looked at.”

“I’m supposed to replace the bandage anyway.” She shrugged. “I’m fine to take care of it myself.”

He’d expected her resistance and knew the best method to counter it was to redirect the conversation. “I’m considering this more than a simple break-in.”

“You mean...”

He nodded. “Yes. I told you I don’t believe in coincidence. My working theory—which I’m hoping the evidence will confirm—is now that Sarah was the primary target, not Mason or any of the others. For now, I’m going to investigate as if the rest of them were in the wrong place at the wrong time or killed to throw off the investigation. Satisfied?”

She offered a tenuous smile. “Yes.”

Outside, he ushered her back to his SUV. “I’ll take you to the ER first.”

“Ryan, I was serious when I said I would be fine. My shoulder just needs a new bandage. There’s nothing more the doctor can do, really. It needs time to heal.”

“So let it heal and stop fighting criminals. Do we have a deal?” He tossed her a wry grin, and was rewarded with a half smile.

“If you stop insisting on taking me to the hospital.”

“Fine. Then is it all right if I take you to your parents’ for the night?”

She nodded.

“Once we’re finished processing the bungalow and release the crime scene, you can go back to staying there, but I wouldn’t advise it. Whoever broke in can try again. Next time you might not be so fortunate.” He hated saying those words. Hated that Sarah had somehow made an enemy, and Tori had put herself in the line of fire to find the person responsible.

Tori said nothing more, which troubled him. Normally she would have objected or put forth her opinion, but even the strongest FBI agent could become traumatized when they had lost a loved one and been personally targeted. A female officer would pack a small bag of clothes for Tori’s stay with her parents and deliver it. He drove the SUV from the quiet neighborhood where Sarah had lived to the Petersons’ home only a mile away. After parking in the driveway, he ushered Tori to the house.