“The man in the truck who tried to kill me.”
Trevor’s eyes widened and then the bedroom door opened.
“Is everything okay?” Charlie asked. He was fully dressed and he appeared tired.
“She said she saw the driver’s face.” Trevor got out of bed and pulled on his jeans.
“Are you sure, baby? You said earlier that you kept your eyes closed and pretended to be unconscious.”
“I opened my eyes slightly as he came right by the driver’s side window. I saw him, but I guess with all the trauma and the fear being in shock, I had forgotten.”
“Can you describe him for us?” Charlie asked, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. Dante entered now, too, only wearing dark jeans.
“Yes. We need to draw him or something. I’m not good at drawing.”
“I’m okay. What are we drawing?” Dante asked.
Charlie turned to look at Dante.
“The killer.”
* * * *
Dante drew the picture, erased parts then redrew it about five times before Lori was satisfied with it. They scanned the sketch into the computer and sent it to the sheriff and to Gunner.
As they ate breakfast and gave Lori as much loving as they could, they heard the doorbell ring.
Trevor went to answer it and returned to the kitchen with the sheriff and Gunner. Gunner placed a picture down onto the island in front of Lori.
“Is that him, honey?” he asked her, very seriously. Dante nodded his head for Lori to take a look. She appeared so uncertain and fearful even now, in their home and surrounded by him and his two brothers.
Lori looked at the picture and stared up at Gunner.
“Who is he?” she asked.
“Is it him, baby?” Charlie asked her and she nodded her head.
“You did awesome, Lori. Really great job remembering his mug. This guy is badass big-time. Sandman got the warrant for phone taps on Connor. Big Jay was watching Connor’s place and monitoring the calls. One came in from Fellington, five miles from here and about twenty minutes from where Sylvia’s body was found,” Gunner stated.
“Oh shit. Is this the guy?” Trevor asked.
“Well, in the recorded conversations between Connor and this guy he calls the stranger. This is the nickname this guy goes by. He’s got a record a mile long, no convictions though and no main place of residence. He’s a free spirit,” Sheriff Morgan adde
d.
“So what do we do?” Charlie asked as he placed his hands on Lori’s shoulders and squeezed them.
“Yeah, how do we catch this guy and prove that Connor is responsible for all of this?” Dante asked.
“Well the phone taps are key. Connor blatantly stated to the stranger and to Don Henshaw, that piece-of-shit real estate guy in town, about threatening the Cantrells and upping the pressure. Sandman used his resources to find out what else Connor is involved in and it isn’t pretty stuff. He’s been doing this kind of shit for years. He threatens landowners, forces them to sell to him, and then builds these shit-ass condos and spas in the middle of nowhere. Except he left a trail along the way and a few battered individuals willing to testify,” Gunner explained.
“How do we prove that the stranger killed Sylvia?” Lori asked.
“Hopefully the fingerprints we found at the crime scene and the evidence under Sylvia’s nails match this guy’s. She put up a fight. Direct transfer of DNA onto the victim,” Gunner stated.
“Damn. I’m still in shock at all of this. I hope Connor and this stranger guy rot in hell,” Dante said, and they all agreed.
“Now what?” Lori asked.