Page 50 of Once Hidden
Riley exchanged a glance with Ann Marie before answering.“We found what we were looking for—a freshly dug grave near the fire lookout tower.Empty, but definitely prepped recently.”
“Tony Bartlett was planning to bury McLaughlin there,” Ann Marie added.“When McLaughlin escaped, Tony had to change his plans.”
Riley kept to herself some of her deeper impressions—how the hill and the tower must have held special significance for Tony and his twin brother, how she could almost feel the killer’s frustration at having his ritual disrupted when McLaughlin escaped.
“Did McLaughlin mention if his attacker said anything to him?”Riley asked.
“Nothing at all,” Hodge replied.“Apparently the attacker took his gun.He dropped it during the confrontation.
***
“What’s on the agenda for tomorrow?”Ann Marie asked, stifling a yawn.
Hodge gathered his notes into a neater pile.“I want to go to the scene of McLaughlin’s attempted abduction, see if the local police missed anything.Then maybe another looks around at that fire tower, now that we know it’s significant.”
Riley shook her head slowly.“You should do that, Captain.But Ann Marie and I need to take a different direction.”
Both Hodge and Ann Marie looked at her, waiting.
“I think we need to go to Hartsfield,” Riley told them.“That’s where Jay Bartlett died in his climbing accident five years ago.”
“Why Hartsfield?”Hodge asked.“Why now?”
“Because I think the key to understanding Tony is finding out more about what happened to Jay.Something about Jay’s death broke Tony, and I want to know more about those circumstances.More details than we have in the reports.”
“Raven’s Leap Cliff,” Ann Marie said, recalling the location from their case notes.“That’s where the accident happened.”
Hodge looked skeptical.“We’ve got good leads here in Westminster.And now that Chief Rawley’s team found Amanda Lindeen’s body by the Talomaska River, there’s work to be done back in Talomaska Crossing too.”
“I know,” Riley said firmly.“But I think there’s more to learn about the beginning of this.It isn’t just about where Tony is now—it’s about why he’s doing this.”
The captain studied her for a moment, then sighed.“A while ago, I might have argued with you, Agent Paige.But I’ve learned that you have unusually good instincts.”He glanced down at his records, then added, “I’ve already contacted state headquarters with instructions to find the most recent photograph of Tony Bartlett that can be found and issue a statewide APB for him.I’ll be working the Westminster angle and I’ll coordinate with Rawley on the Lindeen investigation.You two should follow your lead in Hartsfield.”
Riley was grateful for his trust.“Thank you.”
“Just keep me posted,” Hodge added.“And be careful.This guy’s proven he can be unpredictable.”
They wrapped up their discussion shortly after, then Riley and Ann Marie headed to their assigned rooms.Rileys was number 8, halfway down the row.The room was a mirror image of Hodge’s—same faded bedspread, same dated fixtures, but clean as promised.
She set her bag down on the bed and took out her cell phone.One bar of service.Enough to make a call.She dialed home, and after two rings, Bill’s voice came through the line.
“Hey,” he said warmly.“I was wondering when I’d hear from you.”
The sound of his voice eased some of her tension.“Just checked into a motel in Westminster.Glamorous FBI life.”
“How’s the case going?”he asked.
Riley gave him a brief summary of what they’d discovered—the empty grave at Quayle Hill, their plan to visit Hartsfield tomorrow.
“Sounds like you’re making progress,” Bill said.“Any special hits on this case?”
“I felt some connections with the twins when we went up a watch tower.They’d spent time there and it was important to them.But it didn’t tell me anything about where the killer is now.”
“Following his past might give you what you need.”
“That’s what I’m hoping,” Riley agreed.“How are things at home?”
“Fine here.April just got home from her night class.She wants to talk to you, actually.”
