“I have to ask everyone this,” Connor said.“Where were you last night?”
“At home.”
“Anyone with you?”
“No.My mom is on vacation to Canada.”
“That’s not helpful, for you or for me.”
“Truth usually isn’t.But I always tell the truth.”He grinned.Connor didn’t like it.
Connor changed track.“Did you know Warren used the old hunting lodge?”
“Everyone knew.Him and his buddies.Rich men playing country.”
“You ever go there?”
“No.”
“Own a gun?”
“Probably the only man in the county that doesn’t!”
Derek glanced toward the counter again.Maggie had stopped and was giving Connor a judgmental look.
Connor closed the notebook.“I think I got enough.But Derek… Don’t leave town.”
Derek’s laugh came out thin.“Where would I go?”
Connor stood.“If you remember anything else, call me.”
Maggie came over as Connor headed for the door.“He didn’t do this.”
“Why are you so sure?”
“Because he doesn’t have a bad bone in his body.”
Connor put his notebook away.“Maybe not.I gotta ask, Maggie.See ya both.”
They didn’t say anything in return.
Outside, the sun had started to drop behind the roof line across the street.Main Street traffic moved slowly at the next junction, pickups and sedans easing through the afternoon heat.
Connor climbed into the SUV but didn’t start the engine.
Ray had motive.Derek had motive.Both had worked with Warren.Both claimed he had money problems.Both were alone when Warren died.
And somewhere between them, Warren’s clean public life was beginning to show cracks.
Connor turned the key.
Either man could be lying.
But right now, he needed more to go on to figure out which.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Evening had softened the heat but hadn’t broken it.
