CHAPTER SIXTEEN
"Twenty minutes!" May saw her own consternation reflected in Owen's eyes.
They'd been breaking the rules, and unless they were able to get back in time, they'd be caught.
"We need to hustle," he said. "I think it'll be quicker going around to the west."
They raced back to the car. May jumped in, started up, and floored it.
As the green, forested scenery sped by, she kept one eye on the road and the other on the car clock that was inexorably counting down the time.
"I'm so disappointed that didn't work out," Owen said. "We should be the ones bringing a suspect in."
May felt the same. Also, she felt utter disbelief that her sister could have caught the killer so fast.
May was very aware of the fact that Kerry sifted clues and information in a way that was different than her. But her sister was not a miracle worker, and with such a glaring lack of any solid leads so far, May suspected that if she had identified any possibility this soon, she was bringing them in to make herself look good.
It was unpleasant to think that, but she couldn’t help it.
Now that they were on the west road, the traffic was light, and she was able to make better time.
"We'll get our chance," she said, taking a corner a little too fast.
"You don't think the case is closed now?" Owen asked.
"I doubt it," May said darkly.
She wasn't about to give up until she knew for certain who had killed Shelby and Savannah.
"I guess we'll just have to wait and see," Owen replied.
May gripped the wheel, aware that this was her torment. At least they were nearly there. She could see the row of cars, parked outside the Fairshore police department.
To her immense relief, the Lexus wasn't there yet. But Jack's cruiser was there. May noted that with a twinge of guilt.
May parked in her space and they hastily climbed out. They sprinted through the back entrance of the police department and took the stairs two at a time.
To her consternation, she saw that Jack had already come out of the back office and was watching them.
He had a very strange look on his face.
May was absolutely certain that Jack knew they had been breaking the rules. She felt a surge of fear, a sense of foreboding.
They'd been seen.
For a moment, she stood still, staring at him. In her heart, she knew she'd been caught. He was here to reprimand them.
Looking stern, Jack pointed to the back office. May hustled inside. Jack followed, closing the door.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I'll get right to the point," he said. "I received a phone call earlier on from Mrs. Knight, Savannah’s mother."
May jumped guiltily.
"She wanted to thank me for the sympathetic way you handled the interview."
Jack's face was deadpan. May's heart accelerated.
"I - I - " she stammered.
"I told her we were thankful for the feedback, especially seeing it was such a difficult time for her and would continue to do our best." He sighed. "But May, I must warn you - you can't investigate this. It's the FBI's domain now. I know how you feel. I feel the same. But I need you to step away, or there will be political issues, not to mention logistical ones."
"I'm sorry," May muttered.
"You can monitor the hotline. But that's it."
“Can I at least meet with Kerry? Because I have a lead, Jack. There’s something I think she needs to follow up on.”
He sighed, and for a moment she saw he was as frustrated as she was.
“The agents have expressly asked for no interference, May. Your name, in particular, was mentioned. They seem to have a clear plan in place. So for now, politics being what they are, I think we must wait, and trust them.”
Her name had been mentioned? Her sister had expressly told her boss she wasn’t to interfere? May could not believe it. She felt deeply ashamed and in fact, felt checkmated. She was in no position to argue back.
“I won’t follow any new leads. I promise.”
At that moment, there was a commotion from outside and Jack jumped to his feet.
"This will be the incoming suspect," he said. "With any luck, this might close the case."
He rushed out of the office, with May hot on his heels.
Outside, May saw a small crowd had gathered. There were a couple of journalists among them.
As Kerry reached into the van and manhandled the handcuffed suspect out, there was a spattering of applause and camera flashes.
Adams grabbed the young man's other arm.
May thought the dark-haired man, who looked to be in his early twenties, looked bewildered. And she had to admit, he did seem guilty looking, too.
He was wearing a dark green tee-shirt with a logo on the pocket, and designer jeans. He was thin, with a scruffy beard.
"Vincent Blackman, we are detaining you on suspicion of the murders of Shelby Ryan and Savannah Knight, and the abduction of Cassandra Cole," Kerry announced. "You do not have to say anything, but anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."
The young man's eyes were wide.