Pushed Too Far: A Thriller by Ann Voss Peterson, Blake Crouch

brother?”
    “Derrick Shaw.”
    Val shifted the name around in her mind until it fell into place. “Monica Forbes’s fiancé?”
    Becca nodded.
    Damn small towns. Everyone connected. Everyone knowing everyone else’s business. Derrick Shaw runs his mouth off, and panic grows. “What about the teacher who invited Hess to class? Did she clear it with anyone?”
    “The office knew she invited a guest, but not who.”
    It sounded like a setup, all right. And she needed to talk to the one monster who could explain it all.
If
he wanted to.
    “Finish up the paperwork. And don’t talk to the media, not yet. I’ll be giving an official statement in time for the six o’clock news.” Val left the conference room and slipped into dispatch.
    Oneida had ducked into the adjoining office for the moment, donning her clerical hat, the only sign of her a plate of her famous red and green iced sugar cookies under a monitor showing the location of the two squads currently out on the road, one having already picked up Grace from school.
    Val grabbed a reindeer and glanced at another monitor mounted high on the wall. The screen was split into four images, the entry door outside, the squad parking area and entrance for officers, the area outside the holding cell, and the holding cell itself. Hess sat on the concrete bench, leaning back against the wall, as if dozing.
    She was just about to turn away when he opened his eyes and looked directly at the camera. The urge to step back, out of his line of vision, was overwhelming.
    Stupid. He couldn’t see her, the camera image only went one way, and yet she could feel his eyes on her as distinct as a physical touch.
    “I suppose we have to release him then?”
    She started at Becca’s voice. “I’m afraid so,” Val said.
    “I’ll take care of it.”
    “No need.” The thought of Hess anywhere near the rookie while not in cuffs made Val sweat almost as much as seeing him in the same room as Grace. “Go ahead and clock out. And have a cookie.” She handed the reindeer to Becca.
    Becca turned toward the staircase leading to the basement briefing room and lockers. Before she took the first step, she turned back. “I overheard some of what you and Mr. Lund were talking about this morning.” She held up her hands as if to ward off any anger that might be coming her way. “I didn’t mean to. I didn’t eavesdrop or anything, but—”
    “What did you overhear?”
    “That things, um, might not be what you thought. That Hess might not—”
    Val held up a palm, cutting her off. “You can’t tell anyone about that.”
    “I won’t.”
    “I don’t yet know if there’s any truth to it.”
    “Okay. I won’t say anything, but remember, whatever you need, even if I’m not on the clock.”
    Val couldn’t help but give the rookie a smile. “Actually, I do have something.”
    The rookie beamed. “What?”
    “You can canvass hospitals for me. We’re trying to find out if Kelly Lund checked in during the past year, and we’ve only made a small dent in the list so far.”
    “I’ll get started right away.”
    “First tell Oneida to turn on the camera for the interrogation room.”
    Becca took a bite of cookie then scampered out the door with a bounce in her stride that Val wished she could harness to boost her flagging energy.
    She met Oneida on her way to the holding cell. The idea of watching Dixon Hess walk out of custody for the second time in as many days weighed on her, but there was no alternative. She had no reason to hold him. And the last thing they needed was for him to still be in custody when the press arrived.
    She checked her weapon into the gun safe next to the door. Like sheriff’s deputies operating the local jail and corrections officers in state prison, her officers were never around unsecured prisoners while armed. It felt risky, yet she knew it would be much riskier if Hess was to get his hands on her gun.
    Not that he could get out even if he was armed. Not