Chapter 34

Charlie walked into the house exhausted and sweaty. It had been a long day and all he wanted was a hot shower and to collapse into bed. He knew Sarah's parents would be there and he could not begrudge them for it. He didn't know how much Sarah could do on her own just yet.

"Hey Charlie. Long day?" Daniel Truong asked.

"Definitely not something I'd like to repeat," Charlie nodded as he kicked off his muddy shoes and shrugged off his jacket. He wished he could talk about it with Daniel but he couldn't.

"Why don't you hop in the shower? I can make sure Rex gets dinner," Daniel said.

"He needs his legs cleaned up. I have to do that before he gets mud all over," Charlie admitted. Rex was patiently sitting on the mat near the door, knowing he was messy. Sometimes the detective was so glad to have such an amazing partner.

"I can do that too. Go on, get moving. I'm sure that Rex can show me where the hose is outside," Daniel winked. Charlie only nodded again and trudged his way to his bedroom. He couldn't exactly wander around in a towel with company over. Not wanting to barge in, he knocked on the bedroom door.

"Ah there he is. I'm betting a shower is on the menu," Mai smiled as she opened the door.

"Yes, it is. Is Sarah ok?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, she was getting tired so I helped her get into bed. I'll leave you to it," Mai smiled again and then left the room. Charlie walked over to Sarah and kissed the top of her head.

"See, I told you I'd greet you," Sarah chuckled.

"It's good to see you in the right bed," he teased.

"Doctor says I have to wait to use it properly," she teased him.

"You're crazy if you think I'm trying anything with your parents in the next room," he laughed.

"Yeah, I'm thinking we'd wait until they went home. Go take a shower stinky. I'll be here when you get out," Sarah promised.

"Glad to hear it," Charlie smiled before grabbing some lounging clothes and heading into the bathroom. He stood under the hot water trying to wash away the events of the day. Despite searching the outhouse and its waste storage, they found nothing. It seemed like the Moffats didn't take the easy way out. So, they started ground searches and hoped between the ground penetrating radar and Rex's nose, they'd find something. It had gotten to be three pm when suddenly Rex alerted. The ground penetrating radar grew rushed over and scanned the spot. There was definitely something where Rex indicated. Carefully, they started to move the top layers of dirt and forest debris. About thirty minutes later a tech cried out. He'd found the corner of a black plastic bag. Charlie pulled Rex away and the two went down to the cars. He'd called Joe and told him they needed lights. It was going to be a long night. Joe told him he'd get an unformed officer to drop them off. He also told him that the building inspector was on his way and that Charlie should meet him.

The building inspector, Cory Hawkley, said that they could get an emergency demolition of the broken two room cabin. Cory's bigger concern was the fact that there had been old propane tanks for cooking strapped to the building. The fallen tree had stopped about a foot above the tanks. Had it gone any further, they could have had a forest fire on their hands. So, Charlie called the St. John's Regional Fire Department and they quickly sent a truck with equipment to remove the tanks and possibly parts of the tree.

"I think I used up all the hot water," Charlie admitted as he exited the bathroom thirty minutes later dressed in his lounging clothes.

"I bet you did, but I bet it felt good," Sarah said.

"It did. I'm expecting a call from forensics. My phone didn't ring, did it?" He asked.

"No, it did not. Did you find her?" She asked.

"If it isn't her… They were slowly unburying a body that had been wrapped in black garbage bags," Charlie admitted, not wanting to think that it wasn't Debra Moffat.

"Hopefully, they can get you some information then. Why don't you get some dinner in you? Can't have you getting too skinny on me," Sarah gave him a look, knowing that the entire time she was in the hospital, Charlie was not eating right.

"I should go check up on your dad and Rex anyway," he stuck his tongue out at her and headed back out to the kitchen. He was met by Mai reheating something on the stovetop.

"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes," she told him.

"It smells great. Thank you," he said, a little surprised as he moved toward the living room. Although what surprised him more was the fact that Rex was curled up on the couch with Daniel.

"He give you any trouble?" Charlie asked him.

"This guy? Never. All nice and clean and he practically inhaled his dinner," Daniel chuckled.

"I bet he did," Charlie chuckled and ruffled Rex's head. Rex licked his hand.

"Feeling better?" Daniel wondered.

"Much. So, Mai is making me dinner…" Charlie gave him a look. He was hoping that he hadn't done anything wrong.

"Yup. You're hungry right?" The older man asked.

"Starving," the detective said.

"Good," Daniel said before leaning over and whispering, "Relax son. She isn't upset."

"Good," Charlie whispered back with a smile on his face.

To Be Continued…