CHAPTER THREE
May felt determined as she set off along the deserted shoreline. Armed with a flashlight, she scoured the area for any signs, with Owen striding alongside
She hoped that the dark lakeshore might reveal more about this crime, and the victim's identity. Perhaps there were clues to be found here. There was surely a chance that someone had chosen this quiet, out of the way area as the dumping ground. They might have left vehicle tracks, footprints, or even dropped something. If so, she wanted to find it.
She and Owen started from the point where the young couple had been swimming and walked south along the shoreline.
The night was clear, and the moon was full, shining overhead. But May wasn't appreciating the beauty of the night.
All her attention was focused on the ground. She shone the light around, looking for tire tracks, footprints, anything that might point to the killer having hastily dumped his victim.
Owen paced alongside, swinging his own powerful flashlight around, and May felt appreciative of his calm presence. Especially since the thought of Lauren's disappearance, on this shore, made her shiver.
"You cold?" Owen asked. She was surprised he'd noticed her reaction.
"No, just thinking of scenarios," May said, not wanting to admit that her mind had veered into the past for a moment.
"What are you thinking? That the victim was killed elsewhere, and then dumped here? She might have been. She surely can’t be local, or Sheriff Jack would have received a missing person’s report."
"I agree. Or she could even have been dumped elsewhere and washed up here."
"Either way, why this lake?" Owen asked. "Surely the murderer must be familiar with this area or how would he or she know about it? It's such a quiet part of the world. Why here?"
May nodded. She was wondering the same.
"Perhaps the killer lives in one of the lakeside towns. There are so many questions we need answered," May said. Her mind went back to her sister's disappearance again, and she forced it away.
May shone her flashlight beneath every bush, into every nook. She searched desperately, hoping that at least something would turn up.
But after walking nearly half a mile, they had seen nothing, except for a few beer cans along the route that she and Owen picked up and disposed of.
"Let's try the other side, shall we?" Owen said. "We could search where the path goes up to the road."
"All right."
May felt disappointed as they turned back. She'd hoped for something solid. Discarded clothing, vehicle tracks, some kind of usable evidence to take them further.
At that moment, May's phone rang. It was Jack on the line.
"We've just identified the victim," he said.
Quickly, May switched her phone to speaker so Owen could also hear.
Her heart accelerated as she waited to hear who the young woman was, and where she was from.
"Her name is Savannah Knight. She lives in Snyder."
May nodded. That small town was about ten miles away, on the far side of the lake.
"She was reported missing three days ago. Her family notified the local police in Snyder," Jack said heavily. "They've just gotten in touch with us and confirmed it's her, based on her appearance, and the pendant she was wearing."
“Three days?” May said in surprise.
“I know, that disturbed me too,” Jack agreed.
The timing didn’t make sense, since Andy Baker had been talking about hours, or possibly a day, in the lake. Where had Savannah been between the time of her disappearance, and the time of her murder, May wondered instantly. That gap needed to be explained.
"We're on our way back," May said. "We haven’t found any evidence so far. But, Jack, it's not that late. Can we head over to Snyder tonight and speak to her parents? We need answers. I want to get this solved, urgently, if one of the other officers could finish checking the lake shore."
She felt nervous at the thought of this interview, but as the county deputy it would be her responsibility to take it on.
She waited expectantly, hoping that Jack would agree.
After a moment's thought, he did.
"Yes. I'll be tied up here a while with the crime scene. I’ll deploy one of the other officers to search the other side of the lake. Meanwhile, yes, I think it's a good idea for you and Owen to make a start."
May disconnected, feeling hopeful.
"We've got permission to speak to Savannah’s parents tonight," she said.
"What, now?" Owen looked surprised.
"Yes, now. Let's go!"
She and Owen hurried back along the winding path that skirted the shoreline. May felt filled with impatience and anxiety. Questions thronged her mind and she hoped that she could get answers soon.
Arriving back at the beach, she saw the body was gone. Jack was on the radio, and she guessed he was communicating with the Snyder police.
He disconnected, looking grim.
"Here's Savannah’s residential address.” He scribbled it down. “Her parents will be devastated, so you might need to do some follow-up questioning tomorrow, if they’re not able to handle everything tonight." He paused. "I hope you have a productive time. Take care."
Feeling grateful that Jack had entrusted them with this responsibility, May hurried to her car. Owen jumped in beside her and they sped off.
She'd been deputy sheriff for less than an hour, and already she was taking on the responsibility for a horrific murder case.
May hoped with every fiber of her being she could do it justice.
*