“If you need my help, holler.”
“Don’t let Rachel anywhere near Nicole. I don’t think Vicky is involved, but keep an eye on her because she trusts Rachel.”
Henry met her in the hospital lobby. She gave him the original journal, then she and Lucas drove to the police station. Lucas was unusually quiet.
The chief of detectives wasn’t on duty, but the shift commander, Olivia Gomez, met with Regan and Lucas in her small office.
Regan closed the door because she didn’t need anyone overhearing what she needed to say.
After introductions, Olivia said, “I listened to the podcast. A lot of people are talking about it.”
“Did you listen to last night’s episode?”
“Not yet, but Steven sent me a note that there is a potential witness who saw Candace in a truck the week she was missing—a truck that belonged to Sunrise Center.”
“Yes. The person who made that call asked that her voice be disguised. She’s now in the hospital, in a coma, with a suspected poisoning.”
“I haven’t seen that report.”
“It happened late last night. I don’t know the details, but I asked John Merritt to keep an eye out.”
“The former sheriff?”
“My father.”
“I figured.”
Regan handed Olivia the copy she’d made of the journal. “This is a copy of Candace Swain’s journal. Lucas found it in the library, hidden in a hollowed-out book. We knew to look there because Candace had told a friend that she needed to hide her journal because she was afraid it would be destroyed. I wanted to talk to Detective Young, but not alone. I learned this week that he’s involved with Rachel Wagner, the advisor to Sigma Rho and a professor at the university.”
“I’m aware. I don’t generally involve myself in the private lives of my colleagues.”
“This time, you might. I wanted to share with him some information that came to light after one of Lucas’s episodes, but because of his relationship I didn’t. That journal details allegedly criminal activities by Ms. Wagner, including covering up the accidental death of another student, Adele Overton. Candace disappeared three years ago in an attempt to find Adele’s body. When she failed, she returned to campus and was murdered.”
Olivia flipped through the copy. “Where is the original?”
“Safe.”
“You understand that chain of custody is compromised.”
“It’s already been compromised because the journal was hidden in the library for three years. But I’m certain that a handwriting expert would be able to confirm the journal is Candace’s.”
“This is a complex case with no physical evidence.”
“I have a witness who is willing to come forward who can offer some testimony about the events that led to Adele’s death, and who saw Candace after the Spring Fling party.”
“Why didn’t she come forward earlier?”
“She didn’t live in Flagstaff at the time and didn’t know that Candace had been missing. She only heard about her death later. She is fearful for her life because she believes that Taylor James was killed because of what she knew about Candace’s murder.”
“You think that Rachel Wagner killed her?”
“Yes. I can’t prove it.” Yet.
“Steven thoroughly investigated Swain’s murder. There were a lot of issues—contamination of the evidence because of the lake, and the fact that the body was moved, but we didn’t know it until more than a month later because of a backlog in the state lab. Time was not with us on this. The suspect was known to have harassed Ms. Swain and had been seen on campus multiple times. She knew him from Sunrise Center, and he had a record of being belligerent when intoxicated.”
“And a witness allegedly saw him jump on a train, and he has never come back,” Lucas said. Regan was glad he spoke up; she wanted to see him engaged. “I talked to Willa March; he rode the rails frequently, but he always returned to Flagstaff. He hasn’t been seen in three years.”
“Possibly because he’s wanted for questioning in a murder investigation.”
“Did you have any other suspects?” Lucas asked.
“Normally, I would tell you I can’t say, but in light of the information you already have—and the fact that I don’t want this department adversely represented on your podcast—the answer is no. We cleared the two boyfriends. No interview pointed to anyone having a problem with Ms. Swain, other than Mr. Abernathy. Steven has been looking at the case again, in light of the people who have come forward through your podcast.”