Burn Out by Traci Hohenstein Page A

made his way back to the visitor’s room. He was anxious of
any news – good or bad – that involved Sam. As he walked into the
room, he saw a pretty redheaded woman sitting next to his lawyer.
He guessed this was who Chief Gladstone was talking about. The
woman who ran the search and rescue company. Now he took a good
look at her, he recognized her from several cable network shows
like Nancy Grace and America’s Most Wanted. She wore a white skirt
and turquoise top which showed off her tanned figure. Ken thought
she resembled the girl from the movie Pretty Woman.
    His attorney, Suzette, stood up from
the table and made the introductions. Ken was shocked to see his
attorney was dressed a little more appropriately today in black
pantsuit. She still wore her blonde hair with the trademark hot
pink streak in it, though. “Rachel works with Florida Omni Search.
Nora called her and asked if she come down here and help us found
out what happened to Samantha.”
    “ I have seen you on TV
before. You worked on the Amber Knowles case,” Ken said, looking at
his lawyer. “She was the governor’s daughter who went missing a few
months ago.”
    “ Yes, the governor
requested my help in finding his daughter after she disappeared
from a cruise ship,” Rachel confirmed. “I’m sorry we have to meet
under these circumstances. I would like to help in any way I can.
Can you tell me why you think Sam would have
disappeared?”
    Ken ran his hand through his hair. “I
just can’t believe this. Sam wouldn’t leave our kids, with
everything that’s going on.”
    “ Your mother-in-law said
the same thing to me when I asked if Sam would have left on her
own.”
    “ I heard you guys were
going to do another search today. I thought the police already did
this once. Did you find anything different?”
    “ I know they conducted a
search around the warehouse the day after she disappeared, but we
have special equipment most law enforcement companies don’t,”
Rachel explained. “During our search, we did find a couple of items
of interest. The police department is processing them for prints
and such, so I only have these.” She put a couple photos on the
desk in front of him.
    Ken stared at the pictures. “What is
this?”
    “ It is a piece of red
fabric, probably from an article of clothing.”
    “ This is Sam’s knife.” He
pointed to the other picture. “Where did you find it?”
    “ Our searchers spotted the
red cloth first. Then the knife was found under a bush near the
cloth. It was located about a half mile from the farmer’s market,”
Rachel said. “Are you sure the knife is Sam’s?”
    “ Yes, I’m sure. I picked it
out with the kids for her Mother’s day gift last year. She had lost
her other one during a fishing trip. I was going to get it engraved
for her, but never got the chance.” Ken scrubbed his face with his
hands.
    “ Did she always carry the
knife with her?”
    “ She never went anywhere
without it.”
    Click. It was like a light bulb went
off in her head. That was the same thing Mack had told her. She
didn’t say that to Ken though. She was starting to get an inkling
something between Mack and Sam was going on.
    “ Where did she keep
it?”
    “ She always kept it on her
while she was on duty. She put it in the front pocket of her
pants.”
    “ When was the last time you
spoke to Sam?”
    “ Last Tuesday, a couple of
days before she disappeared, she came with my lawyer to talk about
the case.”
    Rachel looked at Suzette for
confirmation. She nodded her head in agreement.
    “ Did you notice anything
unusual about her demeanor?”
    “ No. The Chief asked me the
same questions. If there was something bothering Sam, then she hid
it well. She is a rock.”
    “ Did you know she was
putting the house up for sale?” Rachel asked.
    “ What?” Ken exclaimed. The
question stunned him. “No, I didn’t. I mean, we talked about it,
but I didn’t think she would do it.”
    “ The house is in her