Page 55 of In Her Memory

Jenna decided to turn the interview in a new direction. It was risky, but she wanted to gauge Nolan’s reaction.

“In the meantime, we do have some questions about the mansion,” she told him.

Nolan seemed relieved at the change of subject. “What do you want to know?”

“The secret passages,” she said. “How many are there?”

The reaction was immediate—Nolan’s face went blank with surprise. “Secret passages?” he repeated, looking genuinely bewildered. “In this house?”

Jenna exchanged a glance with Jake. Either Nolan was an exceptional actor, or he truly had no idea what they were talking about.

“We discovered an entrance to one in Mr. Calloway’s bedroom,” Jake explained. “Hidden behind a wall panel. It seems to connect to a system of corridors throughout the mansion.”

“Are you serious?” Nolan leaned forward. When neither replied, he shook his head. “I’ve been working here for months, and I never—” He stopped, eyes widening. “Wait. That explains so much. The weird drafts. Lights flickering when there’s no electrical issue.”

“We’ve just seen part of one passage,” Jenna said. “Is there anyone else who might know more about them?”

Nolan thought for a moment, then his eyes widened. “Ray Pruitt,” he said. “He has to know. His company handled most of the renovation work—everything from plumbing to electrical. If there are secret passages, there’s no way he could have done that job without finding them.”

Jenna felt a jolt of recognition. Ray Pruitt—the local contractor with a reputation for cutting corners and a history of run-ins with law enforcement. She'd personally cited him twice for code violations at different job sites. She'd also personally put him under arrest for drunkenness and had treated him as a suspect in a case of vandalism and sabotage against rival contractors.

“Pruitt Restoration,” she confirmed.

“He was here almost daily during the renovation. And he’s got a temper—yelled at his guys for taking too long when they were just trying to get something done right.”

Jenna filed this away, already mentally mapping her next steps. She needed to talk to Ray Pruitt—but she had to keep Nolan secure while they checked out his alibi.

“We’ll need you to stay here for now,” she told him, moving toward the door. “Officer Hutson will keep you company.”

“Am I under arrest?” Nolan asked, a note of defiance creeping into his voice.

“Not yet,” Jenna replied. “Consider yourself a material witness for now. We’ll know more once we verify your story.”

She stepped into the hallway, Jake following close behind. As they emerged, Dr. Stark’s team passed by, pushing a gurney with Boyd Calloway’s covered body. The sheet had been pulled up to conceal his face, but one arm had slipped free, dangling limply at the side.

Once the procession had moved on, Jenna turned to Jake. “What do you think?” she asked quietly.

Jake considered for a moment. “His surprise about the passages seemed genuine,” he admitted. “But that doesn’t mean he’s not involved. He could have known about them and been putting on a show.”

“But why come back if he’s guilty? Why not stay away until things cool down?”

“To check if we’re onto him?” Jake suggested. “Or maybe he thought acting innocent was his best defense.”

Before Jenna could respond, Jake’s phone rang. He answered with a quick “Hawkins,” listened for a moment, then thanked the caller and hung up.

“That was Officer Fairmont,” he said. “She called both the Trentville Inn and Aaron Hopper. Nolan’s story checks out. He was at the Centaur’s Den until about 1:30, then checked into the inn. Aaron says he took Nolan’s keys and walked him there. The night manager remembers him coming in—said he was ‘chatty but coherent.’ She didn’t see him again until morning. And Aaron confirmed that Nolan’s car was still at the Den until he came back for it this morning.”

Jenna felt relieved over the verifications. A good alibi meant Nolan wasn’t their killer—but it also meant they were back to square one.

“We’ve got to start exploring new options,” she commented.

“What about the feud?” Jake ventured, lowering his voice. “The old one between the Shannons and Calloways. Given the history of this place, could the murders have something to do with that?”

“How so?”

"Well, maybe a descendant of Pete Shannon is behind this."

Jenna considered the possibility. The historical rivalry was well-documented, but she’d assumed it was just that—history. “It’s worth looking into.”