Solitude Creek (Kathryn Dance 4)

To Boling, O'Neil said, "Jon. Sorry, it's late. I kidnapped her for an operation on the way home."

"Nothing serious, I hope."

"Another hate crime. Not too far from here."

"Oh, no. Anyone hurt?"

"No. The perps got away, though."

"Sorry."

Dance carried her wheelie to the porch and Boling took it from her.

"Just to let you know," he said, "Wes came in about forty minutes late."

She sighed. "I'll talk to him."

"I think a girl said no to his invite to the graduation dance or something. He was in a mood. I tried to get him to help me hack some code together. But he wasn't interested--how 'bout that? So has to be love sickness."

"Well, we have something official I'm hoping you can help us with," she said.

"Sure. What can I do?"

She reminded him of the clip that had been posted last night--of the Solitude Creek tragedy.

"Right." To Michael: "What you were telling us this morning, breakfast."

O'Neil nodded. Dance explained what Stan Prescott had done and that he'd been killed in Orange County--by the Solitude Creek unsub. Without going into the part that she and O'Neil had both been in the line of fire.

"Killed? Why?"

"We aren't sure yet. Now, there may be a connection between the unsub and this Prescott. Not likely, but possibly. I've got his computer and the unsub's phone. Can you crack the passcodes and run a forensic analysis?"

"What kind of box is it?"

"ASUS laptop. Nothing fancy. Windows password protected. And a Nokia."

"Be happy to. I like playing deputy. I want a badge someday. Or, like on Castle, one of those windbreakers. Mine could say GEEK."

O'Neil laughed.

She handed the items over. Without prompting from her, Boling signed the chain-of-custody card.

"It's been dusted for prints but--"

"I'll wear my Playtex Living gloves. I'll take a peek now but I'll probably need the big guns to crack it. I'll start first thing in the morning."

"Thanks," she said.

O'Neil added, "Oh, and it's been swept for explosives."

"Always a plus."

"Thanks, Jon."

"The kids've eaten. We've got plenty of leftover leftovers. Why don't you stay for dinner?"

"No, thanks," O'Neil said. "We've got plans at home."