The murmurs of joy made her smile, and she stepped out of the way with Parker so they could snatch coffee cups and beignets. She knew what they all liked so the drink tops held names.
Nora lifted her caramel macchiato in salute. “Thanks, boss.” She went back to her chair at the front table where she’d left her laptop and reports.
Augusta and Jackson echoed their thanks and slid back into their chairs as well. Jane ordered Parker to the corner where he settled on the floor with his head on his paws.
She gathered her thoughts and went to the whiteboard. “Good work yesterday. Most of the debris from the tornado was gone from the streets when I came in.”
Jackson nodded. “Everyone in town turned out to help.”
“Anyone hospitalized?”
“No, just minor cuts and scrapes. I think about five businesses are totaled and a few more have things like roof damage and broken windows. Several houses were damaged, including Olivia’s.”
“I saw it and took pictures. Olivia took it in stride.” Jane turned to the whiteboard. “I have a lot to report on my investigation into Gail Briscoe’s death. It may or may not be related to Lauren’s death, but the information is interesting.”
With the marker she jotted down the things she’d uncovered, including Gail’s attempted blackmailing of Lauren. “You know most of this, but I also talked to the state health board. I received the details of their investigation this morning, and I’ve uploaded those documents into our system.”
Jackson leaned forward and studied the listed points. “We still haven’t discovered who Lauren’s lover was. He might be the key to all this.”
“That’s what I think too. Maybe there’s some connection we’re missing.” Jane glanced at Augusta. “Any thoughts?”
Augusta set down her coffee. “I’ve been thinking about this obsessively. Someone wants Will to seem guilty. What could be the reason for that? Why would Lauren’s secret lover want to make a kid look like a murderer? It’s nutty.”
Jackson snapped his fingers. “Distraction or disruption. It’s accomplished both. The chief had to step away from the investigation, plus it’s distracting her from any other case in the department.”
Jane stared at him. “You’re right, Jackson. What would the perp want to distract me from investigating into if I’m focused on clearing Will?”
“Gail’s death,” Augusta said. “It’s the only other major case on our docket right now. So we’re missing something. If we figure it out, we figure out who’s behind this.”
The detective rose and went to stand by the whiteboard. “Gail was under investigation. Her lab was in dire financial straits—serious enough for her to attempt blackmailing a friend. Do we know anything about her business?”
Jane hadn’t looked into how long she’d owned it or anything about the actual lab. “Not really. I stopped by and questioned an employee, but he didn’t shed any light. I didn’t ask him how the business was structured or how long it had been in operation.”
Nora looked up from her laptop. “I found it. Been in business fifteen years, but she got a new loan two months ago, and there was paperwork filed to change to a partnership entity. The partner is Falls Trust. It seems to be a shell corporation.”
Jane wanted to slap her forehead. Such an elementary piece to overlook. “I should have looked there first. Two months ago. Could Lauren have given her the money after all? Maybe she was the partner.”
“If so, she would have taken over the business on Gail’s death,” Augusta said.
“But now she’s dead too, so it doesn’t seem likely.” Jane studied the board. “I wonder if the partner knew the lab was about to receive an injunction? With Gail dead, the investigation stopped because she was the guilty party.”
“You think the partner might have killed her?”
“Or had her killed. What’s the address on that shell corporation?”
“The Bahamas,” Nora said.
Fishier and fishier. A flash of hope shot up her spine. Maybe this would lead somewhere.
“Augusta, see if you can find out who is behind Falls Trust.”
“I can try, but those are often hard to open up.”
“If the lab was going under, the partner wouldn’t have much left. Unless he or she thought they could revive it before it went under.”
“Or maybe they didn’t want to be dragged into the limelight when Gail was arrested,” Nora said.
Jane flashed back to the things she’d discussed with Reid. “I know this is a crazy idea, but I wonder if it could have been Lauren’s lover? He’s someone who has maintained major secrecy about his identity. Reid and I ran through the type of people who might be irreparably hurt by scandal.”
“Interesting idea,” Augusta said. “But no proof.”
“No.” Jane glanced at Nora. “Any update on Lauren’s murder? No footprints or any other evidence along the riverbank?”
“Too many searchers tramping along the water so that’s a dead end.”
Jane had expected as much. “Anything else at all?” She hated revealing the desperation in her voice, but she couldn’t quite contain it.
Jane glanced around at the rest of the team. “Will is up for bail on Wednesday. We have two days to come up with a good reason for him to be released. Or to completely exonerate him and get the charges dropped.”
“I vote for the second option.” Augusta got up and hugged Jane.
A lump formed in Jane’s throat as she accepted the embrace and clutched her tightly. “Thank you, Augusta. Thank you all for your help and belief. It’s been a rough few days.” She called Parker to her and turned to exit.
“How is Will?” Nora asked as they left the room together.
“We saw him yesterday. He’s hanging in there but depressed and hurting. I want him home.”
“So do we.” Jackson touched her arm on the way out. “We’re all praying for him and pulling for a quick release.”
Her team’s support was heartwarming and much needed after so many obstacles to overcome.
* * *
Reid pressed on the intercom at the gate to Charles’s place. “Good morning, Charles. You wanted to see me?” Birds chirped in the woods around the compound, and the air smelled fresh after the storm.
“Come on in.” While the tinny voice was still speaking, the gate began to open.
Reid drove through and opened the other manual gates along the way to the house. He’d been shocked at the text asking him to come. At best he and Charles were guarded with one another. And he’d asked him to come without Jane, which felt sneaky.
There hadn’t been time to talk to her anyway. She’d been out of the house this morning by daybreak for an early consultation with her team. Reid had been praying constantly that something new would be discovered today.
Charles met him at the door, his shaggy white hair combed straight back and dressed in his shorts and tee. “That was fast. Coffee?”
“I wouldn’t say no.”
Reid followed him into the aroma of bacon and coffee in the kitchen. He accepted the mug the older man offered and took a fortifying sip. He’d tried to figure out what Charles could possibly want but had come up empty.