LUKE CALLED FAYE as he and Woody were leaving Tehachapi. He’d been so busy the day before, he’d not been able to call but knew that Molly’s mother had already relayed the good news.

“Oh, Luke! I’ve been on cloud nine since I heard from Julia. You and Woody are knights in shining armor.”

“We just followed the lead.” He smiled, glad she couldn’t see him blush and happy at the joy in her voice.

“No, you did so much more. I confess, even though I knew you both were competent, I had my doubts. I really thought this case was too cold and too tough. Thank God you proved me wrong. I’m on my way to Tehachapi as soon as I post my blog update. Can I buy you lunch?”

“Uh, that would have been nice, but we’re heading back to Long Beach today. Something has come up there about another cold case.”

“Does it have anything to do with the body they found in that backyard?”

“Yeah, as a matter of fact it does. Are you clairvoyant?”

“I saw that on the news.”

Luke explained to her what had been found.

“Oh, my goodness! Poor Detective Hart. This must be hard for her.”

“Hard?” Luke frowned. “I think this will answer a lot of questions.”

“Maybe it will, but coming face-to-face with your father’s murder would not be easy. I still would like to take you to dinner —you and Woody. Please, let me do that. Okay?”

Luke cleared his throat. “I’ll talk to Woody and get back to you. Fair?”

“Fair. Thank you both, again.”

Luke disconnected and realized he liked the idea of seeing Faye again, even as he worried about how hard reliving her father’s murder would be for Abby.

Bill was waiting in front of the house on Granada with Luke and Woody when Abby arrived.

“Luke filled me in on the letter,” her partner said. “I sure wish it was a smoking gun.”

“Me too,” Abby said. “Can I go back and take a look?”

“Sure. Even though evidence collection is finished, the homeowners agreed to let us keep everything secure until after you came by.” Bill led them to the backyard, through a gate, and under police tape.

It was a big yard for Belmont Shore. Abby could see why the owners wanted to put in a pool. Most of the yard had been pressed concrete. A beautiful design had once been there from what Abby could see of what was left. A huge part had been broken up and removed, and in the center was a large hole where the dirt had been scooped out, uncovering her father’s remains.

Abby’s chest felt tight. She’d thought she was ready for this, ready to stay cop blank and strong. But it was emotional as the full import hit her hard. Her father died here. She wiped her eyes and felt Luke at her shoulder.

“You okay?”

She nodded, unable to speak at the moment. The words from Dad’s letter replayed in her mind. Three times her dad had expressed concern for his daughter. All he wanted was to be certain that his daughter was safe. How was it he ended up wrapped in plastic and buried under inches of concrete?

The guys let her have a minute of quiet before Bill spoke. “Twenty-seven years ago this house belonged to —”

“Kelsey Cox,” Abby finished for him.

“I remember her talking about putting a pool in.”

Everyone looked at Woody.

“She was going to put a pool in?” Luke asked.

“It’s a vague memory. She and Gavin were engaged. They lived together —I guess here; I was never close with them. We were at a graduation party and she was crowing about having a pool and spa to spend her honeymoon in.”

“So it was before the Triple Seven burned?” Bill asked.

Woody grimaced. “Must have been, but my memory is foggy. She obviously changed her mind about it.”

“Probably because she needed a place to hide my father’s body,” Abby said and the guys all looked at her. Her legs were back; she was solid again and working on figuring out how to confront Kelsey Cox.

“I’m done here, Bill.” She turned to leave.

“What are you planning?” Luke asked as he and Woody fell into step with her.

“Not sure. Maybe the direct approach: just walking up and asking the woman.”

They walked out to the front of the house, and Abby noted an SUV driving by. It was familiar but didn’t register right away. Then she locked eyes with the driver. Time slowed and the realization hit like a kick to the gut. The vehicle accelerated away.

That was Kelsey’s SUV, and she was the woman behind the wheel with a deer-in-the-headlights expression on her face.

“That’s her!” Abby sprinted around to the driver’s side.

“Who?” Luke asked.

“Cox. I’m going to confront her right now.” Abby was in the car starting the engine before anyone could stop her. She didn’t even hear what they were yelling as she peeled away from the curb.