Bree called for a deputy to handcuff Shane and arrest him on assault and kidnapping charges. She relayed the three names he’d given Matt to another deputy to have the other men arrested as well.
She met Matt in the hall. “That was one of the best interrogations I’ve ever seen.”
“I need a shower after that.” Matt fell into step beside her.
She headed for her office. “Distasteful or not, you put out just the right vibe. We got more than enough for a search warrant for Dylan’s house.”
“I’m not sure if Shane’s confession will be admissible against him, though. I was afraid if I stopped to Mirandize him, he’d shut up.”
In her doorway, Bree stopped, spun, and faced Matt. Anger flushed heat through her veins. Her chief deputy had been beaten and abducted. Had he been targeted because he’d been doing his job or because of his association with Bree? Was Bree partly responsible? Maybe if she’d conducted the investigation differently . . . She shook off the guilt. It would not help her find Todd. “You did the right thing. Shane isn’t important. He isn’t even a small fish. He’s vegetation. We need to find Todd, and you just got us everything we need to go after him. I’ll fill out the affidavit electronically, then call the judge.” She hurried to her desk.
They had to follow procedure. They had to obey the letter of the law. But Dylan would not. If he had kidnapped Todd, what would he do to him?
Was Todd still alive?
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Sunset was approaching as Bree parked behind a patrol vehicle on the side of the road near Brian Dylan’s property. She tamped down her fury at Shane Bartholomew’s interview. She would make it her personal goal to send Dylan to prison for as long as possible.
In the passenger seat, Matt was silent, but the hand resting on his thigh was clenched into a white-knuckled fist.
She glanced at him. “Be right back.”
He nodded. In the back seat, Brody pressed his nose to the one-inch gap in the window.
Bree got out of the SUV and approached the patrol car.
Her deputy lowered the window and greeted her. “Ma’am.”
She leaned in. “No activity?”
“None.” He frowned. “I suspect they cleared out before I got here.”
If Shane had been honest, Todd was abducted the night before. Dylan had had plenty of time to bug out.
And dispose of Todd.
She returned to her own vehicle. Brody whined, his plaintive tone voicing frustration and impatience. She reached over the seat and gave him a pat. “I know. We feel the same.”
The sky glowed blood red over the trees. Additional patrol vehicles lined up behind her. A forensics tech was en route. The judge would review her affidavit ASAP. Bree didn’t doubt he would approve the warrant. She’d more than established probable cause, and he was already aware that circumstances were exigent and her deputy’s life was on the line. The judge had signed the warrant to search Shane Bartholomew’s truck earlier. Bree wanted a team in place, ready to move in, the second the warrant came through.
Matt had been quiet since the interview with Shane. They both knew the chances were good that, unless Dylan wanted a hostage, Todd was dead.
Hostages complicated escapes. If Bree were in Dylan’s situation, she wouldn’t risk it. She’d cut ties and disappear.
Her phone buzzed. The number that appeared on Bree’s screen belonged to the state police. She answered. “Sheriff Taggert.”
“This is Phillip Ash. I’m an investigator with BCI. I’m reviewing the Oscar and Brown case file. I’d like to ask you some questions about the murders.”
Bree turned her attention to the phone. “Go ahead.”
Ash cleared his throat. “No. I don’t want to do this over the phone. I’d like you to come down to the BCI office in Albany.”
Bree paused. The Albany BCI office was a solid hour’s drive from Grey’s Hollow. Normally, she would have obliged, but not today. “When do you want to schedule this meeting?”
“Immediately,” Ash said. “Tonight.”
“Tonight isn’t possible. I’m in the middle of an important operation.”
“If you won’t cooperate, I’ll have to subpoena you,” Ash said in a lofty tone.
Bree shared a what the hell? look with Matt. She’d dealt with BCI in the past with no issues. They’d always been professional and supportive.
“When did I say I wouldn’t cooperate?” Bree asked. “I handed you the case, remember? Just because I can’t rush to Albany on a moment’s notice? You know I’m a working sheriff, right? I’m on the job at this very moment, about to serve a warrant. You haven’t even had time to review the entire murder book.”