Page 84 of Hunting Justice
Matt’s gaze dropped to the ground, then up to her. “We haven’t found him yet.” He held up a hand to stop Jonah from speaking. “He’s not in prison. We’ve questioned his friends. At least, the few we know about. It’s like he vanished.”
“Detective Williams.” An officer called from the front porch. “I have something you need to see.”
Matt motioned for them to follow. “Come on. Let’s see what Officer Taylor found, then I’ll take you out back.”
Noelle gripped Jonah’s hand tighter as they trailed Matt. Jonah had broken down her walls and become her confidant. She hadn’t told anyone the personal things she’d confessed to him. But with each step toward the house, she felt herself emotionally pulling away.
“What is it, Taylor?” Matt asked.
Officer Taylor waved them inside. “I found a photo tucked behind those books.” With gloved hands, the man held the image for all three of them to see.
Jonah’s head jerked up. “He has two sons.”
“That’s what it looks like.” Matt yanked his phone from his pocket. “I’m on it. I’ll ask Decia to investigate.”
Noelle fell down the black hole of memories. The killer’s muffled voice swam in her mind. Ice-blue eyes stared at her. His hot breath made her cringe. The sharp blade slid against her skin, sending fire ripping through her. She struggled to allow herself to stay in the moment and recall details.
A memory popped into her brain. “There was a kid. I saw him. Or rather, he saw me.” She squeezed her eyes shut. The musty odor in the house swirled in her nose and mouth. “But this isn’t where I was held.”
“From the documents I read, they found the shed attached to an abandoned cabin where he kept you, but never the person responsible.”
“What else do you have to show me?” A shiver ran down Noelle’s spine. She wanted out of the house but was unsure what came next.
“There’s an outbuilding set approximately twenty-five yards away from the main residence.” Matt pinched his lips together and scratched his jaw. “It appears similar to the place where he held you.”
“You can’t be serious!” Jonah narrowed his gaze. “Matt. You’re asking too much.”
Tears blurred her vision. No one had ever really stood up for her like Jonah. The man treated her better than anyone had in her life. Including her family. “Jonah, it’s okay. If it solves multiple cold cases, then I have to do this.”
He spun and cupped her cheek. “I don’t care what Matt says. If it gets to be too much, say so, and I’ll take you away from here.”
Words refused to form. His protective streak had stolen her ability to speak, so she nodded.
“The outbuilding is over here.” Matt motioned for them to follow.
A shed the size of a one-car garage sat near the tree line. The roof required repairs, and several sections of siding hung by one end. The building had seen better days. More evidence that Nelson hadn’t lived here in a very long time.
Matt opened the door and stopped. “Noelle, I know it’s a lot.”
“You think?” Jonah muttered under his breath.
She placed a hand on Jonah’s forearm to reassure him she’d be okay. “No. I get it. I’ll be fine.” She hoped. Studying documents and pictures was a far cry from visiting in person.
“Before you go in, I need to warn you about what we discovered in there.” Matt struggled to meet her gaze. “There’s a chair and a bed. But it’s the spots on the floor that are the most disturbing.”
She stiffened. Could she stay detached and not relive every moment of horror?
God, I need You. I can’t do it without You.
Noelle swallowed. “Let me see it.”
The door opened, and she and Jonah stepped inside. Dust covered every surface, the only light the duty flashlights supplied by the officers. She rubbed her nose, attempting to prevent a sneeze. A chair sat in the middle of the room, and a bed not far away. Ropes littered the floor around the minimal furniture.
Noelle accepted a flashlight and shone it around the room. The beam landed on dark brown spots of various sizes, staining the floor.
Her heart pounded, and a whimper escaped.
“Noelle?” Jonah’s hand warmed her lower back.