always a draw.”
Cait nodded, already making plans. “Do you know if your county’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has a current map of soil samples for Lane County?” The expression on Andrews’s face and Barnes’s silence gave her the answer. “Well, it’s easy enough to call and see. If we get lucky, we’ll be able to score a map of soil samplings from the entire county.” High sulfuric content would be most likely to occur in areas with acidic soil, which should be indicated on the NRCS maps.
“And then what?” Barnes demanded. “There are smaller springs on private property scattered around the area and throughout the state, too. Even if we could get access to every piece of property around with the right soil sample, what would we be looking for?”
“For starters, we look for the missing bones.” Cait rounded the nearest gurney to stand at the head of the third one. “For instance, these remains are minus several of the smaller bones from each hand and a couple for the toes. It’s possible the beetles destroyed them. Equally possible that they were missed when the UNSUB was transferring the remains into the garbage bags. If we discover the primary scene for these homicides, chances are we find the offender, too.”
Barnes still looked unconvinced. “Do you know how long it’s going to take to cover every spring in this part of the state? And we can’t get access to those on private property without a warrant, which we don’t have grounds for.”
Undeterred by his skepticism, Cait addressed the sheriff. “We don’t have to cover the entire state, or even the entire county. We start in the area closest to where the bones were found and establish a grid around it, working outwards in each direction. Many of the private homeowners may well allow us on their property. It’s a starting point.” She cocked her brow. “Unless you have a more pressing lead to follow.”
The expression on Andrews’s face was answer enough. “Lots of folks in the more rural areas value their privacy. They might not be as cooperative as you think.” But it was clear she was considering Cait’s suggestion.
“We’ll explore other avenues simultaneously, of course.” Cait went to get the documents Kristy had prepared and walked back to hand one to each officer. “I’ll start feeding preliminary descriptions of the victims, at least height, sex, and approximate weight, into the National Crime Information Center database for missing persons and see what we get for hits.”
Seeming to come to a decision, the sheriff nodded and looked at Barnes. “Keep tracking down those with violations listed with the Forest Service. Check out those individuals for criminal records. Cait can follow up on the soil samples. With the forestry agencies busy with that fire in the Cascades, we can use Sharper to get her where she needs to go.”
Her satisfaction at the sheriff’s words was more than a little dampened at the thought of spending more time in Sharper’s company. But Cait made sure her reluctance didn’t show in her expression. It had been a long time since a man had been allowed to affect her in any but the most superficial way.
Zach Sharper would be no different.
Chapter 4
Zach managed to refrain from voicing the questions swirling in his head. He may not like playing chauffer for Caitlin Fleming at Sheriff Andrews’s demand, but he told himself it could be worse. He could be forced to spend this much time in the sheriff’s company instead. Or be paired with Deputy Tony Gibbs, a horse’s ass if he’d ever met one. At least Fleming didn’t make him want to punch her.
She did, however, leave him wanting to punch something . It would be a welcome outlet for the simmering tension that increased with every hour spent in her company.
To divert himself from the unwelcome sexual attraction, he seized on the curiosity that revved to life whenever he saw her studying a map from the sheaf in her lap. It
Cait nodded, already making plans. “Do you know if your county’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has a current map of soil samples for Lane County?” The expression on Andrews’s face and Barnes’s silence gave her the answer. “Well, it’s easy enough to call and see. If we get lucky, we’ll be able to score a map of soil samplings from the entire county.” High sulfuric content would be most likely to occur in areas with acidic soil, which should be indicated on the NRCS maps.
“And then what?” Barnes demanded. “There are smaller springs on private property scattered around the area and throughout the state, too. Even if we could get access to every piece of property around with the right soil sample, what would we be looking for?”
“For starters, we look for the missing bones.” Cait rounded the nearest gurney to stand at the head of the third one. “For instance, these remains are minus several of the smaller bones from each hand and a couple for the toes. It’s possible the beetles destroyed them. Equally possible that they were missed when the UNSUB was transferring the remains into the garbage bags. If we discover the primary scene for these homicides, chances are we find the offender, too.”
Barnes still looked unconvinced. “Do you know how long it’s going to take to cover every spring in this part of the state? And we can’t get access to those on private property without a warrant, which we don’t have grounds for.”
Undeterred by his skepticism, Cait addressed the sheriff. “We don’t have to cover the entire state, or even the entire county. We start in the area closest to where the bones were found and establish a grid around it, working outwards in each direction. Many of the private homeowners may well allow us on their property. It’s a starting point.” She cocked her brow. “Unless you have a more pressing lead to follow.”
The expression on Andrews’s face was answer enough. “Lots of folks in the more rural areas value their privacy. They might not be as cooperative as you think.” But it was clear she was considering Cait’s suggestion.
“We’ll explore other avenues simultaneously, of course.” Cait went to get the documents Kristy had prepared and walked back to hand one to each officer. “I’ll start feeding preliminary descriptions of the victims, at least height, sex, and approximate weight, into the National Crime Information Center database for missing persons and see what we get for hits.”
Seeming to come to a decision, the sheriff nodded and looked at Barnes. “Keep tracking down those with violations listed with the Forest Service. Check out those individuals for criminal records. Cait can follow up on the soil samples. With the forestry agencies busy with that fire in the Cascades, we can use Sharper to get her where she needs to go.”
Her satisfaction at the sheriff’s words was more than a little dampened at the thought of spending more time in Sharper’s company. But Cait made sure her reluctance didn’t show in her expression. It had been a long time since a man had been allowed to affect her in any but the most superficial way.
Zach Sharper would be no different.
Chapter 4
Zach managed to refrain from voicing the questions swirling in his head. He may not like playing chauffer for Caitlin Fleming at Sheriff Andrews’s demand, but he told himself it could be worse. He could be forced to spend this much time in the sheriff’s company instead. Or be paired with Deputy Tony Gibbs, a horse’s ass if he’d ever met one. At least Fleming didn’t make him want to punch her.
She did, however, leave him wanting to punch something . It would be a welcome outlet for the simmering tension that increased with every hour spent in her company.
To divert himself from the unwelcome sexual attraction, he seized on the curiosity that revved to life whenever he saw her studying a map from the sheaf in her lap. It
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