The dispatcher looked resplendent in a gauzy lined tunic of tie-dyed design, featuring all the colors in her namesake, worn over black leggings. She’d gathered her blond hair up onto the crown of her head and secured the tresses with what looked like a pair of chopsticks.
“How are you doing?” Rainbow asked as she disconnected her caller.
“Okay. You?”
Rainbow wore a concerned expression. “That’s awful about Candace Banks. Thank goodness Robo found her, or she might still be up on the hill. Or worse yet, one of the kids from school would have stumbled across her.” At the sound of his name, Robo pushed forward to fawn against her while she patted and stroked him, and she continued talking in sweet baby talk. “You’re such a good boy, aren’t you, Robo? Such a good boy.”
Mattie could tell the baby talk was getting him too excited. Worse than a kid. “Okay, Robo, that’s enough. You and Rainbow can play after hours. Right now, you’re on duty.”
She settled her dog at heel as she drew the scrap of paper from her pocket. “Could you look up this plate while I’m in the meeting and make sure this vehicle isn’t stolen? Interrupt me if it is.”
“Sure,” Rainbow said as she took the note.
Mattie started to leave but then stopped for a moment. “Do you know the Banks family, Rainbow?”
“No, not really. But I’ve met the mom, Juanita, at Rancher’s Supply Feeds, where I buy grain for Miss Nanny.”
Her goat. Rainbow lived out west of town, where she rented a cabin beside the creek and kept a few animals for pets. “Met her how?”
“Oh, she works there.”
“Has she worked there a while?”
“Yeah, I’d say a year or two.”
“Did you ever get into a conversation with her about anything personal?”
Rainbow paused, a furrow on her brow. “Not really. Maybe she asked me about my animals, but I don’t remember her saying anything about herself.”
“So you never met Candace?”
Sadness crossed her face. “No, I didn’t.”
“Okay. Well, I better get into the meeting.”
“Wait, I almost forgot.” Rainbow ducked down to peer under her desk, drawing out a paper bag. “I made some zucchini bread last night, and it’s absolutely divine. The best recipe I ever made. I brought this for you, and don’t give it to any of the others, okay? Have some at lunch and let me know what you think?”
Rainbow had been trying to tempt her with all kinds of foods, brought to work or to her home. Mattie knew that her friend worried about her weight loss because they’d already tangled over it. She’d told Rainbow she didn’t like people worrying about her and to quit asking her if anything was wrong. This had resulted in a long string of goodie gifts that Mattie ended up giving to Mama T, since for the most part, she didn’t feel like eating.
“Thanks, but you shouldn’t be bringing me food all the time.”
“Never mind about that. Just tell me what you think of it. You can be my taste tester.”
Mattie had to give her friend credit—she was getting very creative with her efforts to conceal her motives. She hurried into the staff office to leave the bag on her desk and then went to the briefing room. As she entered, she encountered a familiar sight. The dry-erase board had been wheeled to the center of the room, and Stella was writing on it while Brody and the sheriff sat at a table in front.
“Deputy,” McCoy greeted her before turning his attention back to Stella.
Brody’s back was toward her, his broad shoulders straining the fabric of his khaki shirt. She crossed between the Formica-topped tables and took a seat beside him. Robo circled and lay down at her feet.
Brody rolled his shoulders and leaned his head from side to side, stretching his neck and setting off muffled pops as his bones cracked, a familiar noise. Brody was wound pretty tight.
“We’re setting up the grid, Mattie,” Stella said while she continued to write. Fatigue showed in the detective’s eyes, and Mattie wondered if she’d worked the case most of the night.
The name “Candace Banks” had been written at the top of the board, and an enlarged photo of the teen was taped next to her name. It looked like a recent school photo, and Mattie took in the happy brown eyes, walnut-colored curls, and confident grin. The child’s happiness made her sad. Candace didn’t look like a troubled child, at least not in this photo.
Starting on the left, Stella had written “Evidence” and listed several things: “Tire-tread print beside Highway 12—B. F. Goodrich/TKO (common brand for trucks and SUVs)”; “Boot prints—around size ten/smooth sole”; “Photos with HS friends”; “Clothing from room”; “Magazines”; “Cell phone.”
“We’ll add in the cap you found on the escape route here too. Just in case it turns out to belong to our killer.” Stella added it to the list. “We’ve discussed the things we found in Candace’s room and your theory about them prior to your arrival, Mattie. The clothing and magazines might not be evidence. If we find that these items have nothing to do with our victim’s death, I’ll eliminate them for the sake of keeping the information confidential. For now though, everything should be considered.”
Mattie nodded, turning over the information in her mind. She decided to tell the others what she’d learned from Angela. “I spoke to a high school student last night. Unfortunately, Candace had a bad reputation, and if rumors are true, boys from the high school have been taking advantage of her.”
“I’ve found evidence on the cell phone to support that as well.” Stella tipped her head at Mattie as if conceding the point. “Do you have anything to add from your search this morning?”
“Robo pointed out lots of stuff on the hill, but I think it’s probably all litter. I’ve bagged it, if you want the CSU techs to go through it.”
“Still no backpack?”
“Right.”
“I’ll add ‘Missing backpack’ here. It could be important if we find it. We’ll talk about the autopsy and then go back to the cell phone.” Stella wrote “Autopsy” to the right of “Evidence” and started a new list. “Cause of death: asphyxiation from a severe asthma attack. Doc McGinnis was right on the money with that theory last night. But there’s enough evidence from the autopsy that we’re classifying the manner of death as a homicide.”
Stella finished writing “MOD: Homicide” on the board. She continued to list items as she spoke. “This evidence includes burlap fibers in the victim’s airway and on her clothing. Brings to mind something like a burlap sack. The ME was leaning a bit toward classifying this as an accidental death, because he thought it might have just been some kids horsing around. You know . . . someone putting a bag over Candace’s head in play. But combined with other things found, he decided to go with homicide.”
“Other things?” McCoy asked.
“Bruising on her arms in a pattern that would suggest someone held onto them by gripping tightly. Bruising and contusions on her torso consistent with her falling onto the rocky ground. Broken fingernails suggesting she fought. Scrapings from under her fingernails that included skin cells that we’ll send to the lab for DNA.”
Stella paused while they took it all in. “Someone held that bag in place while she fought for her life.”
Mattie conjured the scene in her mind. Candace, fighting someone bigger and more powerful until the results of the asthma attack overtook her and she collapsed, unable to breathe. Mattie suppressed a shiver.
“The feed store,” she said.
Stella gave her a sharp look. “What about it?”