Facebook made good on its word, but eight o’clock at night was cutting it close to the end-of-the-day promise. Still, as Cord sat down with Eve’s private messages in Walt’s office, with Kendall at the computer, he was thankful they’d come through at all. And it was a good thing they had, as the interviews that afternoon hadn’t turned up any new leads, and they had only fourteen hours until the deadline Eve had set for receiving the money.
As Kendall scanned Eve’s account on the computer, Cord started reading the printout and came to a stop when he spotted the name Phillip Reese several times on the page. Cord flipped through the messages and saw that the guy was a frequent flyer in her Facebook messaging app. “Eve’s been messaging with a guy named Phillip Reese for some time.”
“I’ll look up his DMV records.” Kendall started typing. “No records for a Phillip Reese, so he never registered a vehicle in the area.”
Cord continued down the page and couldn’t believe what he was reading. “The messages say they connected over their passion for church and dogs. He uses social media as a way to ease his loneliness, he claims. Guy says he lives in Alaska but is from Texas and misses his home state. He wanted to move back but had some health issues. Claims he spent all of his retirement fund on doctors and has no money.”
Kendall looked up, her forehead knotted. “I don’t like the direction this is going.”
“Me, neither.” Cord kept reading. “This goes on for about a month, and then he claims their Facebook friendship has blossomed into something more than friendship. Says he really loves Eve and wants to marry her. But he can’t afford to come to Texas. So she wired him money for travel.”
“But how?” Kendall asked. “Her bank accounts didn’t show any electronic-fund transfers.”
“Reese said he didn’t have a bank account, so she took cash to Western Union.”
“This is bad, Cord. Looks like he’s catfishing her.”
Cord was fully aware of the term that meant a person pretending to be someone else to lure another person into a relationship, often for financial gain.
“This is a classic con, called a sweetheart scam, to befriend an elderly woman or lonely woman online,” Kendall continued. “We’ve seen an uptick in this kind of scam on the cybercrimes task force I mentioned, but none of it ever manifested on a local level. It was all done online and no one met up in our area.”
“Maybe he didn’t move here. He claims he had a few additional setbacks along the way, needing money, so she wired him even more.” He turned the page. “Oh, you go, Eve.”
“What?”
“She became suspicious of Reese’s money needs and asked him point-blank if he was using her. Of course, he said no and then claimed he’d arrived in town and used the money she wired to rent an apartment. They agreed to meet at a restaurant.”
“Let me guess. Buddy’s.”
“Yes.” Cord started to look up but something caught his eye. “Wait, this is interesting. He says that the picture he used for his profile was his brother’s. Reese apologized for misleading her. He said he’s not as handsome as his brother.”
“Does he give her another picture?”
“Yes.” Cord held out the page.
“Looks like the guy Billie Jo described, but I don’t think he resembles Herman at all.”
“Agreed.”
“We need to show this picture to her, too. And if he really did move to Lost Creek and rented an apartment, I should be able to find something on him.” Kendall went back to the computer.
Cord kept reading the messages that continued after Phillip had arrived in town. “She arranged all of her dates via direct message.”
“If the relationship was going well, then why didn’t they call each other?”
“No idea. Can you give me the dates for the meals so I can cross-reference with the messages to be sure we have the right guy?”
She flipped open her notebook and handed it to him before focusing back on the computer again.
He ran down the dates and they matched. “She dined with Phillip each time, right up until this week. Nothing in the messages to indicate they had a falling-out.”
“I’m not finding anything under that name. If he is here—”
“Oh, he came to town, all right. The messages from Eve confirm that she enjoyed meeting him and was obviously falling for him,” Cord said reluctantly.
“Then maybe he’s not really catfishing her. Or if he is, he’s using an assumed name for his living quarters.” Kendall grabbed her phone. “I’m calling Donald Edwards. He’s the cybercrimes task-force leader, and he might have new reports of catfishing scams in the area.”
She dialed her phone and lifted it to her ear. “It’s Kendall McKade. Do you have a minute?”
Cord continued reading the messages but kept an ear out for Kendall’s half of the conversation.
“I’m looking for information on a Facebook catfisher. Classic sweetheart scam. Has there been anything recently reported on that?”
Kendall was quiet for a long time, then said, “Okay, thanks. Let me know if you hear anything.”
Cord looked up. “He have anything to report?”
Kendall shook her head. “But I can text Reese’s picture to my FBI friend to get her to run facial recognition on him. If he’s in the system, we could have an ID before long, and this could all be over soon.”
* * *
Kendall stroked Beauty’s neck with the curry comb and sighed. Her friend hadn’t called back, and Matt was coming over soon to talk about what to do in the morning. She was frustrated. Cord was worried sick, and they were both getting cranky. Totally cranky, and she needed a quick break. From the case. From him. From her continual awareness of him.
So she’d asked Granddad to come out here with her so she could spend time with Beauty. She could’ve come alone, but Cord would insist on accompanying her, and that would defeat the purpose.
Footsteps sounded outside the open door, and she looked up to see Lucas stomping her way. He’d likely fought with Cord again. Gone was the easygoing mood of the morning.
His sullen expression cleared when it landed on Beauty. “Can I help?”
She smiled at him. “Sure.”
He grabbed a comb with his good hand and came to stand next to her but didn’t move.
She glanced at him. “Is everything okay?”
“Okay? Nah. Like anything’s been okay since my parents died.”
She stopped brushing to meet his gaze. “I’m so sorry about that, Lucas. It must be hard for you. I wish I could help.”
“Don’t see how.” He sounded like a frustrated toddler. “If only I didn’t have to live with Cord.”
His response wasn’t a surprise, but it was still painful to hear. “He loves you, bud. And wants the best for you.”
He flashed her an as-if look.
“You may not be able to see that right now but trust me. I’m a good judge of people. Cord’s the real deal. He loves you, and you should give him a break.”
“I just… He… It’s his fault, you know. My mom and dad dying. He probably didn’t tell you that, did he? They weren’t supposed to be on that plane. He was. But he bailed at the last minute. Mom and Dad decided to go instead.” He jutted out his chin defiantly.
She ignored his attitude. “But that doesn’t mean it’s Cord’s fault. God’s in control of life and death. Not Cord.”
“God. Right.”
“You don’t believe in Him?”
“Did. Once.”
“But not now?”
He shrugged.
She should probably leave this alone and let Cord handle it, but she couldn’t ignore the boy’s obvious pain. “Have you talked to your pastor about this?”
He shook his head. “Cord’s been making me go to church every week, but I didn’t really feel like talking about it.”
“And now?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Our pastor is amazing,” she said, seizing the opening. “I could ask if he has time to talk to you.”
“Maybe… I guess. If you think it will help.”
“I do. I honestly do.” She circled her arm around his shoulder and held him close.
She expected him to squirm away, but he didn’t.
“Thought I’d find you down here.” Cord’s voice broke the connection, and Lucas pushed free. His expression closed down as he started brushing Beauty.
Kendall went to Cord, took his arm to move him out of Lucas’s hearing and explained how he wanted to talk to a pastor.
Cord’s eyes narrowed. “Now? Here? Can’t it wait until we get home?”
She understood him wanting to put this off, but she felt a strong desire to make it happen. “At his age, he could change his mind in a flash. We should grab the chance while we can. Besides, our pastor is young and he gets along great with all the students, so Lucas might relate well to him.”
Cord gnawed on his lip. “I suppose it can’t hurt.”
“Let me call Mark to see when he’s free.” Kendall quickly dialed their pastor’s cell. When he answered, she gave him an overview of Lucas’s issue.
“Youth group just ended, and I’m closing up the community center. You could bring him down here now if you want. We could shoot some hoops and talk. You know, a casual kind of thing.”
“Perfect! We’ll be there as soon as possible.”
Kendall ran back to the barn. “Granddad, can you finish grooming Beauty?”
“Of course.”
“Okay, Lucas, let’s go. Our pastor wants to shoot hoops with you at the youth center.”
“Cool.”
The three of them started up the path to the house, but Cord seemed like he was dragging his feet. He glanced at Kendall. “You should stay at the ranch.”
“I want her to come with me.” Lucas lifted his chin, fairly demanding Cord to deny him.
She didn’t want to do anything to stop Lucas from meeting with Pastor Mark, so she gave Cord a pleading look. “It’ll be fine.”
He ran a hand over his hair and nodded. “But keep your eyes open.”
She linked arms with Lucas and led him toward the parking area.
“Can we take your patrol car?” he asked, his eyes twinkling.
“Sure.”
“Shotgun.” He scrambled inside the passenger’s seat the moment she unlocked the door.
Cord didn’t look happy riding in the back seat, and she didn’t blame him, but Lucas came first right now. Cord checked around the vehicle for a GPS tracker and got in the back, but he didn’t complain or even scowl.
Lucas spent the whole drive asking her questions about the car and her job, her father’s job as sheriff, and about law enforcement in general, talking about how cool it must be to be a deputy. She felt Cord’s eyes burning holes in the back of her head, and he was likely wishing that Lucas would be this excited about and interested in Cord’s job.
She pulled up to the community center and parked by the front door.
Lucas looked over the seat at Cord. “I want Kendall to come in with me and you to stay here.”
Kendall’s heart creased over how badly that comment must’ve hurt Cord. She had to try to rectify it. “We both—”
“Just you. Please.” Lucas’s pleading gaze nearly had her caving in.
“I’ll escort you both inside.” Cord’s tone was tight. “And then I’ll come back to the car. Does that work?”
“Yes.” Lucas bolted from the vehicle and slammed the door.
“I’m sorry about that, Cord,” Kendall said.
“It’s okay. If this is what Lucas needs right now, it’s the right thing to do, and I’ll get over it.”
Kendall had never admired Cord more than she did at this moment. He was totally selfless when it came to Lucas, and she prayed God would honor that.
Cord escorted them safely inside and walked away, with his shoulders just a bit lower than usual. Kendall wanted to run after him to give him a hug. Instead she plastered on a smile for Lucas and they went in search of Pastor Mark. They found him dressed in athletic attire, standing at the end of the hallway. She introduced them.
“I’m warning you,” Mark said, a fiendish look in his eyes. “I’m crazy good at hoops.”
Lucas laughed.
“You two have fun. I’ll wait outside.”
“Afraid we’d skunk you if you played?” Mark asked, but she could tell he was glad she planned to leave them alone to talk.
She settled on a bench outside the door and glanced at the wall clock. Man. Only nine o’clock. She was so mentally exhausted, it felt like midnight. Standing in as a detective was more grueling than patrol. In a different way. It didn’t have the adrenaline highs that patrol brought. After all, each day she climbed into her squad car, she was putting her life on the line, and the day was made of decision after important decision. If she made even the slightest mistake, she could lose her life.
She closed her eyes and rested her head against the cool concrete-block wall. She ran through the day’s events and the investigation again. She needed to figure out who in Eve’s circle might be smart enough to erase her computer and phone history so thoroughly. Sure, you could get programs online pretty easily, but it still took some understanding to pull it off, so she had to believe their suspect possessed some technological skills. But his identity was as much of a mystery tonight as when she’d been attacked.
A noise sounded nearby, and she opened her eyes, catching sight of the big wall clock. She was surprised to see an hour had passed while she was thinking. She glanced down the hall, half expecting that Cord had given up on waiting in the car and had come inside, but the hallway was empty.
She sighed. He had to be hurting. And he’d already been through so much pain. She closed her eyes again and lifted him, Lucas and Eve up in prayer.
She sat quietly and thought about all that had recently transpired. Could she be confusing her Christian concern for Cord for feelings for him? Could she even separate the two emotions? Being a Christian was who she was. It informed her life and everything she did. Why would this be any different?
She heard a footstep. Thinking the session was over, she opened her eyes and put on a smile to greet Lucas.
A man wearing a ski mask stood before her instead. He held a handgun focused on her.
Instinct kicked in. She reacted. Launched herself at him and prayed. Prayed hard that she didn’t lose her life.