Burning Proof by Janice Cantore Page A

the turmoil of the past week   —having a fugitive threaten him with a gun, hearing about Abby’s shooting, andrecovering the hidden files from Asa’s safe   —this bit of news rocked Luke more than anything. The jealousy that boiled up shook him hard. He came face-to-face with the fact that he’d been hoping that Ethan and Abby would end their engagement and the realization made him ashamed.
    “You can’t be trusted! You don’t keep your word!”
    His train of thought trailed off as the memory of one of his dead wife’s accusations rang in his ear. He’d promised her he’d talk to her first about reenlisting but then went ahead and made plans to do so. He knew she didn’t want him to stay in the Army. At the time he figured he’d reenlist and she’d just have to deal with it. Shame caused heat to flush his face. He’d said he loved her when he married her, that he wanted to share his life with her, but when it came down to it, all he wanted to do was live for himself.
    Luke closed the Bible and got up to pace his office and pray. He asked for forgiveness though he knew he’d already been forgiven. He hoped he was a different man now, that he’d changed and he’d never treat a woman that way again. His service to the Army and his unit had usurped any loyalty he felt for his wife and family. Was it possible his job, his quest to find the lost and close cold cases, could do the same thing?
    He shuddered with the fear that it could. Abby deserved someone who would keep his word, someone who could be trusted. For her, that was Ethan, and Luke should pray that everything worked out between them. And then, for everyone in his life, he needed to be a trustworthy man. They deserved that. Luke prayed he would be that man, that he would be strong enough to keep his word no matter what, and trustworthy enough to never again make an empty vow.

    Later Tuesday, when everyone was up and about their day, Luke got a call from Faye Fallon.
    “Thank you, Mr. Murphy, for talking to me.”
    “No problem. Call me Luke. Cold cases are near and dear to my heart. If I can help, I want to.”
    “I’m so glad. I’ve actually heard of you. I saw a YouTube video that really impressed me, but I wasn’t certain you’d want to come all the way out to the Antelope Valley to work a case. My foundation can pay, and we can discuss rates.”
    The woman’s voice was musical, calming, and a little sexy. It made him want to say yes immediately. But instead he said, “I’d like to learn more about it before I commit.”
    “Of course. If you give me your e-mail, I’ll send you a case summary. I’ll be in Long Beach tomorrow. My cousin lives there and it’s her birthday. I’m taking her to dinner. That will give you some time to read the summary and then maybe we can meet and talk it over.”
    “That sounds perfect.” He gave her his e-mail address, and they made arrangements to meet for coffee before her dinner.
    “One more thing,” Fallon said before they disconnected. “I do have a contact at the sheriff’s department. He’s said he’ll help. He has the authority to give you access to the files. I don’t have any quarrel with the sheriff’s investigation, but they have so much work, it’s hard for them to spend a lot of resources on a ten-year-old case.”
    “I understand. I have the greatest respect for law enforcement and would never step on any toes.”
    The case summary was waiting in his in-box when he logged on. Luke opened it and printed it out.
    Molly Cavanaugh was their victim in the ten-year-old case. A note at the beginning mentioned California Penal Code 801.1(a) and the statute of limitations pertaining to the situation. She was sixteen when she was kidnapped and raped, and the ten-year anniversary was about four months ago. The dry summary said a lot without hyperbole.
    Victim states she was waiting for the bus outside the Antelope Valley Mall at marked, official bus stop. The bus was running late and she