ten p.m.”
Thane’s cell vibrated and he looked at the text from CDR Hunter.
Confirmed. Gesem left the Ardon building. Body recovery complete at Kallis estate. Dean wants me down at the morgue to ID the body.
Poor bastard. Even if Hunter wasn’t in love with the woman, they’d had a relationship. He replied.
Condolences, CDR.
“Petty Officer Saxton, do you have contact with Melodie?”
Cracker remained in the seat. “No, sir. I don’t have a clue where she went. I suggested the Feds would probably put her in protective custody if she’d be willing to talk. But she’s scared.”
“When you tracked her from the Kallis estate, where did she go?” People, especially addicts, were creatures of routine.
Ed seemed to come to the same idea, once prompted. His eyes widened. “Yeah, right. It’s a shithole of a lounge in El Cajon called Copperhead. Melodie met her dealer there.”
He nodded. “Well, that’s where we’ll find her. Just a matter of time. I’ll let Det. Dean know. You’re dismissed, Saxton.”
Cracker reached the door. “Sir, do you think I’ll stay on the west coast or be relocated to Little Creek? Only reason I ask is that I met this gal.” He cleared his throat. “I like her, she’s…different. But if I’m going to be posted to the east coast—”
Thane nodded. “I hear what you’re saying, Ed, but did you understand what I said?”
“I did, sir. Clearly.”
“Then for now, I’d say take the lady out to dinner.”
Cracker actually smiled before he left the office, which if Thane remembered correctly, sure as hell didn’t happen very often.
They’d have Melodie in custody within a day or so. Senator Kallis was going to be a lot harder to bring down.
CDR Hunter didn’t have the connections to make that happen, but Thane sure as hell did. Especially with his new position, which he hadn’t divulged to anyone. Not even Kayla knew the scope.
He dialed a number on his cell. When the party answered, Thane spoke. “I have a submission for the table.”
The man on the other end of the call said, “Sounds urgent, Admiral.”
“You shelved this issue as unresolved. Time to dust it off and close the case. I’ll be on a plane in two hours.”
“I see. I’ll gather the members.”
Thane dialed another number after he disconnected the first call. “Lt. Manchester, it’s Thane Austen.”
“Been waiting for your call,” he said. “We’ve been watching the news. I assume you’re calling about Captain Reynolds.”
He gave Manchester the update and ended with, “We’re looking for any evidence that points to the real murderer. In a few minutes, we should get confirmation that Gethsemane Reynolds was one of the women buried on the Kallis estate. In which case, your team can flood the property.”
Manchester hummed. “Yeah, my gut told me it wasn’t Dixie, even though she has motive to kill that sonofabitch.”
“If we don’t find someone to ID the real killer, or something that proves Dixie didn’t kill him, she’s going down for this.”
“Keep in touch.”
Thane stashed the phone in his slacks pocket.
Rayne tapped on the open door. “Sorry to interrupt. I saw Cracker leave. I have a report from Delta Squad for your review.”
He waved and Miss Levy handed him the file. “I’m leaving for a meeting. Won’t be back until tonight. Any operational questions, contact Mrs. Callahan. Anything that needs authorization, send to me.”
“Yes, sir.”
He grinned. “And congratulations.”
Rayne blinked with surprise. “For what, sir?”
“You’ve gone to the bathroom three times in fifteen minutes. You either have the flu or you’re pregnant.”
Her jaw dropped open. “Don’t tell Eli. It’s a secret.”
Thane chuckled and nodded. He followed Rayne back into the dimly lit ops room because he didn’t have a security pass any longer.
Gord waved. “Nice to see you, Admiral.”
“You, too. Gord.”
Thane’s gaze swerved to the back of the ops room, toward an unmanned console, the control switches glowing red and green in the darkened room. A thin smile creased his lips. That’s where Kayla had stood the first time he’d seen her. Hidden by the darkness until he’d insulted her, and she’d stepped from the shadows with a fiery response. His heart swelled with warmth at the memory. Back then, if he’d been honest with himself, he would have admitted he’d fallen for the woman when their eyes met.
He hoped Josh and Dixie would get a chance to find their happily ever after.
“Sir?” Rayne stepped up beside him. “Everything all right?”
“Just taking a stroll through the past.”
“Anything you’d change?” she asked quietly.
He grinned. “No, Miss Levy. Not a damn thing.”
Chapter Twenty-four
After viewing the camera footage from