Page 123 of Forever Dead

Arnold raised a hand. “Question.”

Dana sighed. “That usually means trouble.”

“So, are we talking about criminals in hoodies sitting in underground bunkers?”

Dana stared at him for a beat, then at Connor. “You know, we really need to raise the aptitude tests for becoming a deputy.”

“I’d nail them,” Arnold said with a grin.

Connor pointed toward Patricia’s messages.

“Arnold, I want Ginnie Williams's account checked. Find out exactly when she says she was with Curtis and what backs it up. Then follow up with Cheryl on the psychiatric facility's staffing records.”

“Got it,” Arnold said.

“There's Patricia's private work, too,” Connor continued. “Did she advertise nursing services anywhere?”

Dana turned the laptop back toward herself.

“I've found a public listing for private nursing work. It gives her qualifications and the same email address that received the first message.”

“So somebody could've found her that way,” Connor said.

“Anybody could have. It doesn't prove the sender did.”

“Preserve the listing. Arnold, check whether she advertised anywhere else and whether her nursing agency knows about private clients.”

Arnold wrote it down.

Dana said, “I'll pursue the email records, compare the message language against anything else we find and get the Tully booking details.”

“Good.”

Arnold glanced up from his pad.

“State Police returned our request, too. They've assigned an investigator. We're waiting on an arrival time.”

“Send them the new material once it's properly logged,” Connor said.

He sent Selena a short message.

Dana found emails offering Patricia fifteen thousand dollars to visit Tully. We're tracing the sender and checking her private nursing work. I'll call when there's more.

Connor’s phone rang.

The number on the screen was not saved, but he recognized it anyway. His stomach tightened.

“I need a minute,” he said.

Arnold looked up, but Connor was already leaving. He walked into his office, closed the door and answered.

“Morimer...”

“Five o’clock,” Morimer said.

Connor checked the wall clock. Eleven forty-seven.

“What?”