Page 87 of Wild Sentinel

“You can stay,” Scarlett said. “It’s no problem.”

"Great," JD said with a grin. "I don't know about anybody else, but I'm ready for that drink."

"Amen," Brooke said.

Jack made a beeline for the wet bar, took drink orders, and poured cocktails.

"This is a beautiful home," Brooke said to Scarlett.

"Thank you. So how did you get hooked up with these guys?"

Brooke looked at me.

"That's classified information,” I said.

Scarlett just rolled her eyes.

"If somebody comes around asking why your car was shot to pieces in the desert, you don't know anything."

Her eyes rounded. "How much trouble did you guys get in?”

I shrugged. "No more than usual."

Brooke borrowed my phone and called her mother. Holly was much relieved to hear her daughter’s voice. Brooke caught her up to speed on everything and said she’d see her tomorrow.

We enjoyed a drink or two on the deck, watching the lights of the city twinkle below. High above it all, you couldn't help but feel like you made it big. And Scarlett had.

In the morning, I called Special Agent Hawthorne and told him where I suspected Michelle Morgan's body was buried. He sent someone from the local field office out to Stillwater with ground-penetrating radar and detection dogs. By the end of the day, they had discovered Michelle’s remains. At least it would give her mother closure. I was glad I didn't have to break the news.

Hawthorne told me the DNA results had come back in the Molly Dean case. It turned out Nick Shaw was already in the database from a prior sexual assault charge when he was 19 years old. That case was dropped, but it made for an easy match.

The FBI had taken over all aspects of the case from the West Beverly Police Department after the scandal. A fingerprint on the gun that I pulled from the storm drain also matched Nick. The slugs matched Vivian.

Nick had shot and killed her. There was no doubt in my mind.

Hawthorne said they were about to pick him up. "If you want to tag along, I can try to get approval.”

“I would love that.”

“I’ll see what I can do. We wouldn’t have this perp if it weren’t for you two.”

He ended the call, and I dialed Joel. "I hate to tell you this, buddy, but Vivian helped Nick cover up a murder. Then he turned on her."

A grim sigh escaped his mouth. "Well, at least you got to the truth."

"Indeed."

"Listen, I’ve got meetings set up for you. Don't plan on going anywhere. I need you in Los Angeles for at least a couple of days.”

"Okay,” I said. It would give me a little extra time with Brooke. We certainly had a lot of fun last night.

Hawthorne called me back and said we were on. “You’ll have to sign waivers and all that crap.”

“Fine by me.”

Nick lived in the hills not too far from Scarlett.

We met Hawthorne and his team at Nick’s and hung back while they surrounded the property. At the gate, Hawthorne buzzed the intercom. Nick answered a moment later.