Page 92 of Forever Gone

Selena returned to the alumni database.

The victims’ school years overlapped, but the records continued to resist them. Karen appeared in the school paper and two literature events. Ruth had belonged to the business club and played volleyball. Linda’s activities came several years later. No teacher, club, disciplinary matter, or school event connected all three.

Boyd Cutler had led nowhere beyond old anger. Trina Vale’s photograph and the motel records supported Boyd’s alibi for Karen’s murder. Arnold had finished checking the later deaths. Boyd’s phone records showed no travel outside the Wallins Creek area during either likely death window, and the available traffic-camera and plate-reader checks had found no sign of his F-150 on the routes to Ruth’s house or Talon Road. Nothing connected him to Ruth or Linda beyond their years at Elmsview High.

The door opened.

Arnold entered carrying a folder beneath one arm. He wore his uniform again, but the skin around his eyes had a tired, irritated cast. A faint red patch marked the bridge of his nose.

Selena leaned back in her chair. “How did your date go?”

Color rose from his collar.

“Eh, not to my liking. Let’s put it like that.”

Kelly glanced over the top of her monitor.

Selena folded her arms. “How so?”

Arnold placed the folder on the table and took longer than necessary to align its edge with the wood.

“We went to Roy Tanner’s bar.”

“That sounds uneventful so far,” Selena said.

“It was, until she ordered the hottest chicken wings they sell.”

Kelly gave a small groan. “I remember those wings. They’re horrendously hot. He still serves them?”

“Unfortunately.”

Selena studied Arnold’s reddened nose. “And you ordered them, too.”

“She said she loved spicy food. I didn’t want to sit there eating plain chicken while she was setting fire to herself.”

“You hate spicy food,” Selena said.

“I know that now with greater conviction.”

Kelly turned her chair toward him. “How many did you eat?”

“Two.”

“That’s not many.”

“The second one nearly killed me.”

Selena felt the first hint of amusement she had experienced all morning. “Dare I ask what happened after?”

Arnold sighed and pulled out a chair.

“A piece of chili got caught in my throat. I started coughing. Proper coughing, where you can’t breathe and everyone in the place turns to see if they should help.”

“Did she help?” Kelly asked.

“She slapped me on the back hard enough to move a rib.”

Selena pressed her lips together.