Arnold pointed at her.“That was almost support.”
Selena laughed.
The small exchange eased the room for a few seconds.Then Selena saw the evidence board and the lightness fell away.
Warren and Victor stared back from pinned photographs.
Connor spoke first.“We’ve gone over Victor and Warren’s cell phone record, but nothing that indicates that either of them was having an affair.”
“Could have used a phone we haven’t found yet.If they were being careful,” Selena said.
“We’ve also had a full forensic write-up from Matt Price, signed off by Dr.Blethan,” Arnold added.
“I’ll take a look.”
“There’s not much in it,” Connor pointed out.“No prints or footprints from each scene.No DNA.Nothing.Just a single shot to the head of each victim, and that strange blank piece of paper.That’s it.The revolver at the lodge matched the round from Warren, but there were no prints on it.Whoever staged the scene wiped it clean.”
“Did we get anything back from Maple Street?”Selena asked.“Did any of the neighbors have ring cams or security cameras that might have caught someone coming and going?”
“Nothing like that, sorry,” Arnold answered.“It’s just not that type of place.People feel safe here.Well… Felt safe.”
Selena looked at the murder board, and she shook her head, knowing there was still too much missing.
Connor followed her gaze.“So what’s our first point of business today?”
Selena set her bag on a chair.“We need to speak with Marlene about why she lied about being in town.”
Arnold’s grin disappeared.
Connor did not speak.His eyes stayed on Selena, hard and disappointed for one brief second before he hid it behind the coffee mug.
Arnold said, “She’s due back today with the kids.We can call her, if you’d like?”
“Can you try contacting her and letting her know we’d like a chat?”Selena asked.“I’d rather speak in person.”
Arnold looked at Connor, then back at Selena.“No problem.I’ll do it.”
“Thank you.”
Connor took another sip.The look had passed, but Selena had not missed it.Disapproval.Defensiveness.Maybe fear.Marlene Schmidt belonged to his county, which meant he saw a person before he saw a suspect.That made him decent.It also made him dangerous to the case.
Selena moved closer to the board.
Victor’s photograph had been placed beside Warren’s, with a separate row for Carl Higgins, Ray Parkinson, Sandra Holt, and Marlene Schmidt.None of them sat comfortably in the pattern.Business grudges, suspected affairs, missing alibis.It all spread sideways when it should have narrowed.
Unless she had been asking the wrong question.
Selena studied Warren’s file photo, then Victor’s.Two husbands, she thought.The thought bounced around her mind for a moment.
“Have there been any other husbands who’ve died suspiciously recently?”
Connor lowered his mug.“Um...Not really.”
She turned.“What does not really mean?”
Arnold’s eyebrows lifted.“You thinking of Gary Beaumont, Chief?”
Connor set the mug on the table.“Possibly.”