Lucy shook her head. “We’ve only had the property for four years. Moved up from Uvalde because there were too many water restrictions, and we needed water to grow our crop.”
“Is there a basement on your property?” Avery asked.
Lucy nodded. “Yes. But it’s just barely big enough to store my canning supplies and canned goods. You’re welcome to check it out. Hell, you’re welcome to look all over the property. Lord, I hate to think the killer is among us. Randy, show them around. I have a pot of potatoes on the stove, probably boiling over, or I’d do it myself.”
“Roy,” Randy nodded toward the man. “Go with Lucy.”
Roy nodded and walked with the pregnant Lucy around the side of the barn.
“I’ll show you around, but you won’t find a killer here. We have surveillance cameras installed all over the place. We’d know if someone breached our perimeter.” He held out his hand. “All I ask is that you let me hold onto your gun during the tour.”
“Fair enough.” Grant pulled the handgun from his waistband and handed it to Randy.
Avery suspected the tour would be a dead end, but went along with Randy as he led them into the barn, opening the doors to the tack rooms and storage rooms. She saw no sign of hidden doors or felt any false flooring covering a basement.
He took them through the greenhouse where they cultivated the hemp plant starts using lights strung from the ceiling to encourage fast growth.
The floor was hard-packed dirt.
Lastly, he led them to the house and the trapdoor Avery had suspected led to a basement below the house. He spun the combination lock and rolled the tumblers until the lock disengaged and he could remove it. “There’s also a staircase from the kitchen into the cellar. We can use the space as a storm shelter in case of tornadoes, but it’ll be tight. Standing room only.” He waved a hand. “You’re welcome to see for yourself.”
Grant shot a glance toward Avery. “I’ll go.” He was down and back up in less than a minute. “You’re right. It’s small.”
Avery held out a hand. “Mr. Smolka, we apologize for disturbing you and your family. We’re just trying to explore all avenues to capture the killer before he takes another victim.”
“I hope you find him. I’ll be sure to keep Lucy on a short leash until you do.”
“Leash my ass.” Lucy rounded the corner of the house. “But yes, I’ll be stuck to him like glue.” Her hand rubbed over her swollen belly. “If not a killer on the loose, we’re getting close to our delivery date. All the more reason for him to shadow my every move.”
“Thank you for being patient with us,” Grant said. “If you see or hear anything that just isn’t right, don’t hesitate to contact the sheriff’s department. We’re working closely with him and his crew.”
“We will,” Randy said, gathering his wife close. “It’s getting dark. Do you want one of us to take you back to your vehicle?”
Grant’s lips quirked. “Thanks, but we’ll make it fine if we walk on the road, not through the woods.”
“Combat experience?” Randy asked as he handed Grant his gun.
“Navy SEAL.” Grant nodded toward Randy’s AR-15. “You?”
Randy nodded. “Airborne Ranger. Three tours to Afghanistan.”
Grant held out his hand. “Be vigilant.”
“We will.” Randy shook Grant’s hand. He and Lucy stood beside their home as Grant and Avery walked away.
“Not the place,” Avery stated, though Grant had seen it himself. “At this rate, the killer might already have his next victim, while we’re touring homeless encampments and hemp farms.”
“We’ll check in with Melissa and Bree when we get back to town. Maybe they found more information on breweries than what Cook gave us. We still have a couple of his suggestions to check out.”
“Do you want to get the one we bypassed on the way out here?”
“Though I’m hesitant to show up unannounced at night, we might sneak in like we did here.” He reached for her hand as they stepped over a water-filled pothole. On the other side of the obstacle, he didn’t release her hand, nor did she pull free.
She liked it when he held her hand. It could mean something. Or nothing. She preferred to go with something.
Back at the car, he held the door for her and waited until she was seated inside before he rounded to the driver’s door and slid inside.
He’d just pulled out onto the highway when headlights appeared behind them.
