The ordinary rhythm of the exchange gave the room a strange comfort.Selena had not expected that either.A murder case waited on the table, but inside the department, the old structure of local law enforcement remained intact.Teasing.Irritation.Habit.People dealing with awful things by making the small things survivable.
Connor plugged in the coffee machine and set the cups beside it.“This should keep us going.”
Selena glanced at the machine.“Has the coffee gotten any better since last time?”
“It might not be your fancy city coffee, but it gets the job done.”
His eyes met hers for half a second, and then both of them looked away.
Arnold noticed.His grin returned.
Selena opened a browser window before he could say anything.“Once you have the photos, put them up.After that, how about you put some of that local knowledge into action?”
Connor turned.“What do you mean?”
“You seemed to know the family pretty well.At the farmhouse, my presence caused issues.Janet made that clear.”
"Warren was a friend.The family trusts me.Sandra was upset."
“Is there anyone worth speaking with who knew Warren well enough to give us a good handle on what’s been going on with Warren’s professional life?Anything confrontational would be a start.”
Connor folded his arms, thinking.“Ray Parkinson.”
Arnold snapped his fingers.“Oh, yeah.Ray.Didn’t he have that disagreement with Warren last year?”
Connor looked at him.“He did.”
Selena shifted toward them.“What was it over?”
“The fight was public,” Connor said.“Cause of it wasn’t.I’d only be guessing.”
“Guess.”
“Probably a real estate deal.Warren and Ray used to be in partnership.Bought parcels together, flipped properties, leased hunting land.Then they split.Not cleanly, from what I heard.”
“Any police report?”
“No.Just raised voices outside Davy’s Hardware and Ray telling Warren he’d bury him.”
Arnold lifted one finger.“Technically, he said he’d bury him twice, if I remember.”
Connor gave him a look.
Arnold lowered his hand.“Important distinction.”
Selena reached for her notebook.“When was this?”
“Late summer last year, maybe August,” Connor said.“I can check.”
“Do that.You think you can ask Ray a few questions?”
Connor’s brow lifted.“You’re not coming?”
"I want to stay on Sandra Holt.Her online presence, financials, and cell phone activity, if we can get access, background checks, anything that gives us a clearer shape of that household."
“You really think she might have done it?”
“I think she had motive, opportunity, and no alibi.”
