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to let you know I finally got through to the police. They may know something they’re
Ramirez family. They insist they don’t too scared to admit.” Before he hung up,
have a clue who killed their son or why, Emmitt had Phoebe’s agreement they
but the parents are convinced that Juan would reinterview the kids in the church
was getting his act together. Claim he was youth group. Phoebe would find out when
off drugs and going to school when he was the kids met next and get back with him.
killed. And apparently, he was part of the He was relieved he hadn’t had to suggest
same church youth group as Deshawn leaving Rierson out of it; she hadn’t
and Bryan.” mentioned asking her partner along.
“Well, they were right about the school ***
attendance and the drugs. The school There was a chill in the air and not a
records confirm that all three boys cloud in sight. The hardwoods sported a
attended regularly, only a few excused brilliant display of color that made Emmitt
absences among them during the six glad he’d escaped from the cramped
months prior to their deaths. Their drug cubicle that passed for an office. He drove
screens were all negative, too.” In spite of while Phoebe navigated, calling out the
being a member of the taskforce, Emmitt turns as they wound their way deeper into
wasn’t privy to all of the information the countryside. The final turn led them
Homicide accumulated on the cases. He down a dirt road with still no sign of the
cursed himself for not asking sooner. “So, church. “This place is out in the middle of
it looks like the drug angle is off base. If nowhere,” Emmitt said. “I didn’t know we
they were dealing, they would’ve been had spots this remote in the county.” “You
using.” “Rierson still thinks it’s a need to get out of town more often.”
possibility.” “You know that’s unlikely. Phoebe smiled at him. “This area near the
And there were no stashes of cash found river is still pretty undeveloped, and I
at any of the homes.” “I know,” Phoebe hope it stays that way.” “Is a deputy
said, “but at this point, we don’t have meeting us out here?”
anything else to go on.” Emmitt could Emmitt asked. They were well outside
hear the frustration in her voice, “All of Winston-Salem city limits. Technically,
the families said the boys were attending the sheriff ’s office had jurisdiction.
that church program when they were Phoebe shook her head. “They’re leaving it
killed.” “Rierson talked to the pastor about to us. They’re part of the taskforce, but I
Bryan. The guy told him the same story he get the feeling they’re happy to let us take
had about Deshawn. Both boys quit the the heat for the lack of progress on the
program a couple of months before their case.” Emmitt was pleased they were on
deaths. We didn’t know about Juan.” their own. His experience with teens
“Well, that doesn’t fit with what the taught him it was usually better to talk to
families are saying. They insist the boys kids without a show of force. Phoebe’s
were off drugs, in school, and petite size and youthful appearance made
participating in the church program. Now her naturally less threatening than him.
you’re telling me that you have Over the years, he learned how to put kids
conformation of the first two. We need to at ease in spite of his dark skin and line-
look at the church. It’s the only link we’ve backer bulk.
come up with so far. Has anyone talked They rounded the next curve and got their
with the other kids in the program?” first view of the church. It looked like
“Rierson took care of that angle,” Phoebe hundreds of other scattered throughout
said. “I’m sure he must have interviewed the South: a white clapboard rectangle
everyone who had any contact with the with double front doors, a small steeple
boys.” Her words were belied by the hint rising from the roof in front, and rows of
of doubt in her tone. windows down the side. No stained glass.
“We need to do it again, push harder,” A gray, one-story cinder-block building
Emmitt said. “The kids may be afraid met the back end of the church at a right
they’ll get into trouble if they talk to the angle, but didn’t appear to be connected
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