Page 32 of Slack Tide Kill

Liam came in alongside her. "Like we found in the victim's bloodstream."

Sally straightened. Her spine ached. "Could be. It's a common sedative drug."

"Not in Kent," Mayhew said, taking a photograph. "And you're missing the cardiotoxic agent."

"We've only done a cursory search, DCI. It could be here."

Mayhew reached for the radio on her shoulder, but Sally laid one hand on her arm.

"What?" Mayhew asked.

The case revolved in Sally's head, pieces struggling to slot in like bullets into a mag. The Crab Shack. The reactor CCTV. Dogs and an engine at 3 a.m. Reactor Logistics. Reg Rook. Ketamine. There were so many pieces already, but no clear throughline. Except, maybe…

"Does section 18 clear us to search the Crab Shack on Dungeness?"

Mayhew frowned. "18's for property controlled by someone under arrest. You think the Rooks own that shack on the beach?"

Sally had to be delicate now; not lie, but not tell the whole truth about withholding earlier. "I just got confirmation from Roarke Rook that his father, Reg Rook, owned it. I think Roarke's using it now."

Mayhew's eyes narrowed. "You just got confirmation now?"

"That's right, DCI."

"Why do I doubt that? But OK, for now. What do you think they're using it for?"

Sally made the leap. "Could be a waypoint for small boat drop-offs. It explains the dogs last night. I'm betting that was the Rooks making a pick up."

Mayhew considered that for a moment. "Slow down, Rogers. You think those girls came in on small boats last night? Through this shack on Dungeness?"

"That's my working theory. It's a perfect location for storage, retrieval."

"Perfect doesn't make it true. Have you got anything solid to back it up?"

"Approve the shack search and we'll find out. We've got the van-driving brother under arrest. 18 works, and CCTV from last night could change everything."

Mayhew paused, fingers still on the transmitter for her radio. "So what's the full theory, Rogers? The Rooks did an illegal pickup then killed that boy? Busy night."

Sally hadn't worked it through that far. "Maybe. The victim could've seen something he shouldn't have. Or maybe the Rooks weren't involved at all, but they saw something, or their CCTV did."

"So they're witnesses, now?"

"I don't know, DCI. But we need the facts." Sally paused; the second time she'd used Mayhew's words against her. "We'll know once we're in the shack."

A beat passed. Then Mayhew nodded. "OK, you're authorized under 18." She handed Sally the metal bar. "But avoid excessive damage, and don't touch anything except the CCTV until Akilota gets a team out there."

Sally took the bar, fighting a grin. Now they were making progress. "Yes, ma'am."

15 SECTION 18

Sally and Liam headed up the Umberside Lodge trail, toward her Mustang. At the intersection with Dungeness Road, Liam's Audi had now sunk halfway into the marsh. There were no more sirens, no police presence, but that was no surprise. Every free car would be out hunting the Rooks.

"They battered the hell out of my door," Liam observed.

"Now it's got character," Sally said, then pointed at his neck. A long red welt was appearing where the seatbelt had dug in. "You too."

He touched his throat as they continued along the road. "Yeah. I could've just got a tattoo." He looked over. "You said you fought him, Sally. Are you hurt?"

She refrained from touching her own throat. "I'm fine. The dogs almost got me, but the marsh slowed them down."