“We’re triplets,” they added in unison.
I got the impression they’d done that a thousand times before.
“Whitney is a forensic pathologist. He’ll be able to figure out who that poor girl Kat was.” He nodded at the drum, then took a couple of photos.
“Thank you,” I said. “We need to give her a proper burial.” My thoughts drifted to the skeleton of the pilot Mitch had found in another cave on Koolaroo. Another body. Another cold case. But it was all too much. I wanted them to focus on finding Bob. I made a mental note to tell them about that poor man soon.
They continued documenting aspects of the cave thoroughly and professionally. I felt rotten for not sharing everything with them, but for the first time since this nightmare had started, I felt like justice might actually be served.
The sound of the helicopter returning broke through the afternoon heat.
At the entrance to the cave, I shielded my eyes from the sun, watching the chopper descend. Cassidy and Mitch climbed out before the rotors had fully stopped.
We met them at the cave entrance.
“Did Lyle make it?” I asked.
“Yeah. Lyle and Frank were both being prepped for surgery when we left.” Mitch’s deep voice was tight and strained.
Relief hit me first, followed by much more complicated emotions. Frank would face what he’d done. But what about Bob?
“We’ll know more once the surgeries are complete.” Cassidy’s face was drawn, exhausted. She looked like she’d aged ten years in the last twenty-four hours. “How’s it going here?”
“They’re documenting everything,” I said. “I think they’re nearly done.”
“Good.” She glanced into the cave, then away. “We let everyone back at the homestead know what’s going on. Declan was getting worried.”
“I bet he was. None of us planned to be away this long,” Kayden said.
“Yeah, if we had, we would’ve brought more food,” Cassidy said, all serious.
I frowned. How can she be thinking about food? Then again, maybe Cassidy was just trying not to fall apart. She and her brothers had been through so much in the last couple of weeks, it was a wonder any of them could think straight.
The sun had dropped behind the ridge by the time the Callahan brothers finished their work. They packed up their equipment, preparing to leave.
Levi pushed off the cave wall. “Time for me to fire up the chopper. Good meeting you both. I reckon I’ll be seeing you again.” He shook my hand and Kayden’s. “Take it easy.” He strode away, taking a wide berth around the bloody stain on the cave floor.
Jaxson went over logistics, next steps, and timelines with me. It was all necessary, all professional.
Aria pocketed her phone. “We’ll find Bob, Sapphire. I promise you.”
“Thank you.”
Jaxson and Parker said their goodbyes with promises to be in touch, then walked to the helicopter, where Levi already had the rotors spinning.
Aria approached me with the wooden Chivas box under her arm. Her expression was apologetic, and I braced for what I knew was coming. “Sapphire, I’m sorry, but I need to take your badge and weapon.”
The words hit harder than they should have. I’d known this was necessary, but hearing it spoken aloud made it real and rotten.
“Bob Ackerman was your superior,” she continued, her voice gentle. “He tried to kill you. Internal Affairs will investigate. Every case you worked together will be scrutinized. It’s standard protocol with corruption of this magnitude.”
“I understand,” I said, and I did. But understanding didn’t make it hurt less.
“This isn’t a reflection on you,” Aria said, meeting my eyes. “I want you to know that. I’ve read your file and looked at your case history. You’re a good cop, Sapphire. But this is not negotiable.”
I reached into my backpack and removed my badge, the weight feeling heavier than it ever had. How many victims had I helped? How many cases had I closed?
How many of those cases would now be called into question because of Bob’s corruption?