Amanda’s legs weren’t moving as fast as she’d like. She was armed with another mark against Lance Crane to share with Trent. She slipped into the department car, and Trent was hunched forward and working on the onboard computer. Maybe he should go first. “Talk to me.”
He barely looked up, so she spoke, the words quickly spilling over each other.
“Lance Crane is a former employee of Corey’s Grocer, and he had access to the video room. That means he knows what the exterior camera covers of the lot and what it doesn’t.”
He sat back and looked over at her. “You had far more success than me. From his background, Lance has never been married and has no children. I can’t see that he owns any properties or has access to any besides where we’ve already been. He doesn’t fit the profile of our killer.”
“Beg to differ. What I just told you, but he also has a fondness for Prince Park. He walks his black Lab there every day.” She didn’t know which point to stress over the other. “We need to watch the videos in their entirety for the two Tuesdays in question—when the Archers were last here and the one the Reillys were—and see if we can tie him or his vehicle to the plaza’s lot.”
“Which could be a coincidence. But, trust me, I’m with you. We need to at least question this guy.”
She nodded. “I’m going to call Sergeant Graves and bring her up to speed. You get us headed to Crane’s house.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Trent saluted her, a smirk tugging at his lips.
“Uh-huh, always a smart ass.” Amanda placed the call, and the sergeant answered before the second ring. Amanda filled her in on their plans, and Graves said she’d arrange for officers to meet them outside Crane’s place. She was also sending officers to the other stores in the plaza to see if any of them had surveillance cameras that would cover the entire lot. “Also, have officers show a picture to everyone who works in those places. I’ll send it over when I hang up. The man’s also a suspect.”
“Someone besides Crane?”
“Yes. It’s the man we told you was seen talking to Jill Archer outside Dumfries Elementary. He could fit the man on the plaza video too. Without a clear shot of his face, it’s hard to tell.”
“All right… Could the man outside the school be Lance Crane?”
“Definitely not. Trent and I would recognize him. But we need to focus on the man we have on the video with the Reillys.”
A few seconds passed in silence.
“I’ll take care of everything. Keep me posted on Crane. Bring him in, question him here. We all know the power of an interview room.”
“Will do.”
The sergeant held the line for a few seconds, and Amanda thought she was going to add something else. All she said was “goodbye” and “thank you for bringing me up to speed.”
“The sarge wants us to bring Crane to Central for questioning.”
“Suits me just fine.”
The time on the dash read four fifty-five. Zoe… Sometimes she felt like a total failure as a mother. And it was often paired with making progress on an investigation. Amanda called Libby to let her know she’d be late.
“It’s really no problem, Amanda. Zoe’s got some friends over and from what I hear, she sounds pretty happy.”
Amanda would have to take Libby’s word for it, but she conjured the sound of Zoe’s laughter and it put a smile on her face. But that was the girl’s superpower. “You’re the best.”
“Remember that at Christmas.”
Amanda laughed. Libby had a love for the holiday that went above and beyond reason. Every corner of the house she shared with her partner was decked with garland and twinkly lights during the season. The display put Amanda’s decorating skills to shame. She was proud of herself when she got a tree up.
Amanda ended her call with Libby just as Trent was pulling up in front of Crane’s house. A police cruiser was headed down the street toward them. Graves hadn’t wasted any time getting their backup. Good thing because Amanda was ready to move.
She beat Trent to the door and knocked hard.
The pup answered right away. She barked and tapped her paws against the back of the door.
“Well, the dog’s home. Crane’s vehicle is in the driveway…” He could be inside breaking Leanne’s and Gracie’s necks right this minute. She pounded on the door in a successive rapping pattern for several seconds.
The dog responded in kind, its barking intensifying. Its nails now scurrying on the entry floor.
Lance should have answered by now. The thought he was ignoring them didn’t give her a good feeling. “Where the hell is this guy?”
The dog silenced, and the door opened. Lance had the pup in his arms and was stroking its head and soothing it with, “It’s all right, girl.”
“I’m sorry to inform you, Mr. Crane, but everything is far from all right.” Amanda stiffened her posture and made solid eye contact with the man.
“Okay,” he dragged out. He looked past them to the road where the police cruiser would be. “What’s going on?”
“Are you home alone, Mr. Crane?” she asked, stiffening.
“Just me and this girl.”
“Would a search of your house confirm you are telling the truth?” They didn’t have a legal right to enter and search his home, but she served that to gauge a reaction.
“Yes.” His voice was shrill.
She scanned his eyes and strained to listen. Heard nothing. That might not be a good thing. Leanne and Gracie could be hidden inside the home and gagged—or worse, already dead. “My partner and I need you to come down to Central Station with us.”
“Like I’m some sort of criminal?”
“Not saying that just yet, but we have questions you need to answer.” The interview could give them a basis to obtain search and arrest warrants.
Lance stepped back just a few inches. “I answered all your questions the other day when you were here. I have nothing more to say. I saw a fire, and I called it in. That is all. You said some woman and her child were found? That has nothing to do with me.”
“Then you should have no problem accompanying us to Central.” Her words weren’t giving Lance any chance to negotiate.
“Fine, I’ll go with you, but you’re looking at the wrong person. I never knew about them until you came to my door.”
“Mr. Crane, we’ll talk about all this momentarily. If you could grab your shoes and your coat…” Amanda gestured inside the house hoping to prompt him to get moving.
“Sure. Just let me get this one sorted away.”
Amanda’s gaze fell over the pup, and she reached out and pet her. The action had Lance pausing all movement for a few seconds. He was obviously surprised by the affection she’d shown the dog, but she’d done so for a purpose.
“I’ll be right back.”
“And we’ll be here.”
Lance left, and she looked at her hand. Mission accomplished. She held her palm out for Trent to see. Hairs from the black Lab were clinging to it and her fingers. Forensics testing would confirm if these hairs matched the canine ones plucked from the dolls.
Trent nodded, getting the meaning. “Slick move.”
More an action born of necessity. If Lance Crane was their killer, she wanted a strong case against him. Though her immediate priority was finding Leanne and Gracie Reilly.
Lance returned and declared himself ready to go.
Amanda led him to the cruiser and the uniformed officer.
“You’re not expecting me to go in that. Are you?”
“We’ll meet you at the station,” she said to the officer, ignoring Lance. She wanted to impress upon Lance the severity of the situation in which he found himself.