official file said, but Pete had described it as “extensive” when she’d pushed him for information. With that in mind, Sadie wondered what she had to lose in this interview. “Can I ask you a question, Officer Nielson?”
“Certainly.”
“Is Sergeant Woodruff no longer working the case? We’ve read all of those articles and your name never came up.”
“Sergeant Woodruff was the investigator on the disappearance case, and he was over things until about two weeks ago, when the file was given to me. I’ve been employed with the department for sixteen years, but about four years ago, I was injured in a search and rescue and was taken off of active duty. I now work here in the station, closing out cases, doing phone work for other investigators, and anything else that doesn’t require legs.” He smiled to soften the impact of the words, but Sadie felt her sympathy rising again. “I was given this case to close, but it hasn’t been a priority—I expected to finish it off by the end of the summer. Until these came in.” He tapped the top of the folder. “I’ve spent the morning reviewing the file, but I’m certainly not yet familiar with the intricacies of the case. I’d like to review it some more and, perhaps, ask you some follow-up questions. Would that be all right with the two of you?”
“Sure,” Caro said with a nod.
“Of course,” Sadie confirmed.
He put the file back in his lap and pulled back from the table. “Great. I’ll be in touch then, if both of you would kindly leave your contact information, including where you’re staying while you’re here in town, with the officer at the front desk, I would appreciate it.”
He reached the door and pulled it open before either of them could do it for him. The same female officer that had escorted them inside was waiting for them outside the door and led them to the front of the station. They retrieved their purses and left their contact information, as Officer Nielson had instructed, and headed through the front doors.
“Well, that was ... ”
Caro didn’t finish the sentence, and Sadie wasn’t sure she knew how to finish it, either, so she simply agreed. “Yeah.”
They got into Caro’s car, which was already hot from the morning sun. Caro started the car and turned the AC all the way up. “They’re closing the case already. That must mean that they really aren’t working on any leads, right? They didn’t find anything in their investigation that warranted keeping the case active.”
“That’s what it sounds like,” Sadie said, turning to smile at Caro across the seats. “And giving them this brought it back to life. Well done.”
Caro smiled and shifted into reverse, catching Sadie’s eye as she looked over the seat to pull out of her parking space. “I’d have never done it without you telling me to. Maybe it will help Tess feel better to know the police are picking things up from here.”
Sadie felt mean-spirited toward Tess right now and so she didn’t make any comment in regard to wanting Tess to feel better about things. They pulled out of the parking lot without continuing the conversation.
“Now what?” Caro said after pulling out onto 200 East.
“I guess we continue the weekend as we’d originally planned,” Sadie said, trying to ignore the letdown of being off the case. “There’s those outlet stores, and the tour of the temple visitors’ center, and ...” She wasn’t feeling much enthusiasm for those things any more.
“Just walk away?”
“It’s in the hands of the police. Our part is done.”
Caro slowed down at the stop sign. “What do we do about Tess?”
Sadie’s first instinct was to point out that this had never been about Tess, but she stopped herself. Caro was in a difficult position, and Sadie had no desire to make it harder. “I suppose Tess can do whatever she wants. As can you and as can I. I am secure in the fact that the police are taking care of this situation, and I’m
“Certainly.”
“Is Sergeant Woodruff no longer working the case? We’ve read all of those articles and your name never came up.”
“Sergeant Woodruff was the investigator on the disappearance case, and he was over things until about two weeks ago, when the file was given to me. I’ve been employed with the department for sixteen years, but about four years ago, I was injured in a search and rescue and was taken off of active duty. I now work here in the station, closing out cases, doing phone work for other investigators, and anything else that doesn’t require legs.” He smiled to soften the impact of the words, but Sadie felt her sympathy rising again. “I was given this case to close, but it hasn’t been a priority—I expected to finish it off by the end of the summer. Until these came in.” He tapped the top of the folder. “I’ve spent the morning reviewing the file, but I’m certainly not yet familiar with the intricacies of the case. I’d like to review it some more and, perhaps, ask you some follow-up questions. Would that be all right with the two of you?”
“Sure,” Caro said with a nod.
“Of course,” Sadie confirmed.
He put the file back in his lap and pulled back from the table. “Great. I’ll be in touch then, if both of you would kindly leave your contact information, including where you’re staying while you’re here in town, with the officer at the front desk, I would appreciate it.”
He reached the door and pulled it open before either of them could do it for him. The same female officer that had escorted them inside was waiting for them outside the door and led them to the front of the station. They retrieved their purses and left their contact information, as Officer Nielson had instructed, and headed through the front doors.
“Well, that was ... ”
Caro didn’t finish the sentence, and Sadie wasn’t sure she knew how to finish it, either, so she simply agreed. “Yeah.”
They got into Caro’s car, which was already hot from the morning sun. Caro started the car and turned the AC all the way up. “They’re closing the case already. That must mean that they really aren’t working on any leads, right? They didn’t find anything in their investigation that warranted keeping the case active.”
“That’s what it sounds like,” Sadie said, turning to smile at Caro across the seats. “And giving them this brought it back to life. Well done.”
Caro smiled and shifted into reverse, catching Sadie’s eye as she looked over the seat to pull out of her parking space. “I’d have never done it without you telling me to. Maybe it will help Tess feel better to know the police are picking things up from here.”
Sadie felt mean-spirited toward Tess right now and so she didn’t make any comment in regard to wanting Tess to feel better about things. They pulled out of the parking lot without continuing the conversation.
“Now what?” Caro said after pulling out onto 200 East.
“I guess we continue the weekend as we’d originally planned,” Sadie said, trying to ignore the letdown of being off the case. “There’s those outlet stores, and the tour of the temple visitors’ center, and ...” She wasn’t feeling much enthusiasm for those things any more.
“Just walk away?”
“It’s in the hands of the police. Our part is done.”
Caro slowed down at the stop sign. “What do we do about Tess?”
Sadie’s first instinct was to point out that this had never been about Tess, but she stopped herself. Caro was in a difficult position, and Sadie had no desire to make it harder. “I suppose Tess can do whatever she wants. As can you and as can I. I am secure in the fact that the police are taking care of this situation, and I’m
Similar Books
