Page 77 of Holding On

Chapter Eighteen

Maya Hamilton

My head is pounding. The drive to the police station is almost unbearable. Travis wants me to stay at The Inn and wall up in my bedroom, but I’m not going to come this far and not see things through.

Chloe drove Claire, Devon, and Laurel back home. As they pull away, Jackson gives up trying to call Nic and Finn, and he ends up sending them a text. He’s lucky to get Carlson.

Carlson meets us at the station. I’ve never seen a police station tucked under a museum, and I know I’m punchy with exhaustion because this is all I can think about right now. Travis makes sure my hoodie is up and drawn in tight around my face.

“It’s like seventy-five degrees still. Isn’t this too much?” I say.

He’s too distracted to answer. Carlson whisks us in through the back door and directly into a conference room with closed doors, no windows, and a long table. After first ushering me to a chair, Travis and Jackson set the bottles on the table and explain when and how we found them.

Carlson says nothing and then strokes his chin. “I’m impressed. This is great work. But I’m not sure it means much. Anyone could have left those bottles.”

“There’s four more mapped here,” says Jackson, unfolding a piece of paper with notes. “They may be helpful with dating.”

Carlson shakes his head. “Even so.” He glances at Travis. “I know this is hard. And I know you want him brought in, and God knows your parents deserve it. I get it. But this isn’t enough.”

Travis sighs and then sets the last bottle on the table. “This has my mother’s hair stuck to it. That should be enough.”

Carlson stares at the bag, the lines of the amber bottle blurred behind the plastic. “You’re sure.” This is a statement. He still can’t believe it.

“I’m positive. It was wedged in the rocks where her body was found. I think he was there when she died, then he panicked and dropped the bottle. It’s broken. There’s blonde hair stuck to the bottle.”

Travis says all this robotically, like he’s giving a report or reading off names.

Carlson clears his throat. “Your mom’s DNA is on record. If it’s a match, we’ll know by tomorrow afternoon.”

Jackson raises an eyebrow.

“Let’s just say I know a guy in Portland with the FBI. He’ll expedite this. Barr’s a fucking flight risk.” He clears his throat and lowers his voice. “In other news, the officer, Rodger Bloom, who either conveniently lost the report or let Barr take it, quit the force three months after the trial. Moved as far away from here as possible.”

“To where?” My voice sounds small, and both words hurt my head to say.

Carlson cocked his head. “Utah. Interesting piece of information, though. His brother, Paul, is a cop here.”

Jackson’s eyes widened. “Do you think he’s your mole?”

“I don’t know. I hope not.” Carlson drops his gaze for a moment. “Paul’s a close friend of mine.”

Travis shifts his weight, and I can tell his ribs hurt. But he has a question. “Can that guy in Utah be brought back to testify? How does that work?”

Again, almost without thinking, I say, “It can be done. Carlson would have to use the Uniform Act to Secure Attendance of a Witness.”

“She’s right. But before that, I think I’d want to have a chat with the police in Salt Lake and subpoena Rodger Bloom’s financial records dating back to the year the Russos . . . The year of the Russo accident.”

“Because if he took money—”

“If he accepted a bribe, or even if Barr intimidated him to give him the report, it’s still a crime to tamper with evidence. We might be able to offer the guy a plea bargain if he testifies against Barr.”

Carlson looks at me. “I’m going to have two officers handle the remaining bottles in the field tomorrow morning at daybreak. Jackson, can you meet them there? Travis, Maya can brief you on the legalities of moving witnesses if you want. When we make the arrest, I’m tapping the newest guys on the force.”

“You’re pretty sure you’ve still got a mole on the department, then.” Jackson’s thumbs twiddle.

Carlson looks at all of us. “Oh, I know I’ve got a mole. There’s only three people that have been in that department for as long as Barr’s been on the bench. One is Bloom’s brother. The other two are about ready to retire.”

“And?”