The sheriff's station felt like a tomb at midnight. Sierra Santos sat behind her desk, a file folder open in front of her. Valentina sat across from her, Axel standing guard at the door.
"You shouldn't have come here," Sierra said, not looking up.
"You summoned me." Valentina's voice was steady despite her racing heart. "Your deputy said it was urgent. About Duke's case."
"Axel can wait outside."
"Axel stays." Valentina's jaw set. "Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of him."
Sierra's eyes lifted, cold and assessing. "Suit yourself." She pushed the folder across the desk. "Look."
Valentina opened it. Crime scene photos spilled out. A shallow grave. Bones wrapped in a tarp. Close-ups of the remains. A rusted knife.
Her stomach lurched.
"That's Robert Reynolds," Sierra sai
