The Wrong Bones (Widow's Island #10)(9)

Tessa introduced herself. “I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

“About what?” Duncan rocked back on his heels. His features were similar to his sister’s, but his straight black hair was cut short. Lillian’s blue eyes held humor. His projected anger.

“There was a disturbance in the cemetery last night. Did you see or hear anything unusual?”

Duncan’s shoulders relaxed. “No. I went to bed early.”

“It wasn’t late. About ten o’clock.”

He stamped the head of the axe on the ground. “I was asleep.”

“So you didn’t see or hear anything?”

“No.” He positioned another log on the stump and cleaved it in two with one powerful swing of the axe.

“Thank you.” Tessa backed away. She returned to her vehicle and drove to the end of the lane, stopping fifty feet from the quaint A-frame. She saw no sign of occupancy. No vehicle in the driveway. No people visible through the large windows. She got out of her vehicle, walked to the front door, and knocked. No one answered.

Her skin tingled. She felt eyes on her. Stepping back, she scanned the house. A flash in one of the windows caught her attention, but she wasn’t sure if it had been the reflection of sunlight on the glass or if someone was actually inside.

Watching her.

When nothing moved in the next few minutes, she returned to her SUV and used the dashboard computer to access property and tax records. The property seemed to be a second home, owned by Nicolas Gorzala, whose primary address was in Oregon.

Maybe he’d rented the house or let a friend use it? She pulled up Mr. Gorzala’s contact number, which was listed as a cell phone. The call went to voice mail, and she left a message asking for a return call.

Next she ran a background check on Duncan Marshall. It didn’t take long to find him. He’d been released from prison a year ago after serving almost eight years for manslaughter.

It was almost time to meet Logan. She used her radio to call Bruce, who was on patrol. He was tied up with a fender bender but volunteered to help her with background information on Duncan. A violent felon immediately went to the top of her suspect list.





4


Logan had stopped at home for a combat nap, a shower, and breakfast before filling his thermos with coffee and driving out to the state park. He’d barely left his Range Rover when the cars pulled in and a dozen teenagers piled out. He checked the group’s permit, reviewed their planned hike, and gave them the standard park rules and safety spiel. Due to dry conditions, the entire park was under a fire ban. The group would have to survive on cold meals.

He handed out trail maps. Each teen wore a backpack. They were well equipped with sleeping bags and tents. Luckily, the weather in September was generally mild, and they should be comfortable enough without a campfire. The leader’s backpack was larger, containing emergency and first aid supplies and a satellite phone. Cell coverage in the park was spotty.

Satisfied, Logan watched them walk off, the boys bouncing and jostling for position as they made their way to the trailhead. Then he grabbed his pack, left the office, and drove to the area of the park closest to the cemetery. He parked in the same location as the night before and waited for Tessa.

A few minutes later, she pulled up next to his SUV. They met behind their vehicles and opened their cargo hatches. Instead of her regular daypack, Tessa shrugged into a large backpack. “I interviewed a woman who lives next to the cemetery. Her brother is staying with her. He just served time for manslaughter.”

“Do you know what he did?”

She shook her head. “Bruce is digging into the case details for me.”

“Definitely a red flag.”

“Yes,” she agreed, adjusting the straps on her pack.

“What are you bringing?” Logan usually carried a full pack. As a ranger, he liked to be prepared for emergencies.

Tessa changed into her hiking boots. “I have a small crime scene kit, including impression-casting materials in case we find a decent footprint or tire track.”

“Then let’s go.” Logan led the way to the spot where they’d lost track of their suspect the previous night. In the daylight, he found a rough game trail and followed it.

A short distance down the trail, they crossed a shallow stream. Logan stopped and pointed to the ground. “Look here.”

Dirt bike tracks dug into the muddy stream bank. She squatted to examine the impressions. “I can cast these.”

Logan spotted an area of flattened weeds at the base of a tree. “Looks like a heavy object was parked here.”

“Like the suspect left the bike leaning against the tree,” Tessa suggested. She stood and squinted down the trail. “We’re only fifty feet from the edge of the woods. This would be a good place to park it if you wanted to keep it out of sight.”

Tessa lowered her backpack to the ground, took out her camera, and handed it to Logan. He captured the tracks at multiple angles and noted the GPS coordinates while Tessa organized the casting materials she’d brought with her.

He lowered the camera. “I’m finished.”

She added water to the plastic bag containing the powdered dental stone, then kneaded the bag and added more water until the material reached a batter-like consistency. When the mixture was ready, Tessa held a paint stirrer over the track to gently disperse the mixture into the impression. Swift work was important. The materials would set quickly. After the entire impression was filled, Tessa used the paint stirrer to smooth the top of the material.