Page 53 of Wild Escape

Curiosity got the best of me. "Were you servicing Mrs. Caldwell?"

His face twisted like the notion was absurd. "No. She's not my type.” He paused. “What are you trying to suggest?”

I shrugged innocently. "I'm suggesting that you had ample opportunity to case the place. With your brother’s expertise, perhaps the two of you decided to help yourselves to some of Mr. Caldwell's property.”

His face twisted. "You're out of your mind. I told you, I was at home last night."

"Can anybody verify that?”

His lips tightened. "No. I was alone."

"Is there any reason why your fingerprints would be on the window of the guest bedroom downstairs?"

Concern filled his eyes. "No. I unclogged the sink in the master bedroom and snaked it out. On the call before that, I think I fixed their dispose-all. I can't recall what I did the other two times. If you call my former employer, I'm sure they can look at the ticket and tell you exactly what work was performed."

"We already talked to your former employer," I said.

LJ frowned.

"Why was your phone off the grid last night?" I asked.

His brow knitted. "How do you know if my phone was on or off last night?"

I shrugged. The information Isabella had given me wasn't exactly legal.

"I forgot to put it on the charger. It must have died. Look, I didn't rip off the place. My brother didn't rip off the place. I certainly didn't shoot Mr. Caldwell.”

"It just strikes me a little odd that both yours and your brother’s cell phones went dark last night.”

"That doesn't prove anything."

“It would have been easy for you to leave a window unlocked or tamper with the alarm sensor while you were in the house.”

He glared at me. "I was there doing a job. I didn't have time for any of that nonsense."

“Seems like you find time for a lot of nonsense.”

He scowled at me.

Through the bars of the gate, I handed him a card. "In case there's anything you want to get off your chest."

He took the card and tossed it to the ground. "I want you guys off my back.”

I smiled. "We'll see you around, Lawrence."

JD and I left and ambled back down the driveway.

"I don't know about you, but that guy’s pretty high on my suspect list," Jack said.

I didn't disagree.

As we reached the end of the driveway, a black convertible BMW pulled in. A handsome man in his mid-40s climbed out. He wore a suit and tie and looked well put together. He stared at us with confusion. "Is there something I can help you, gentlemen, with?"

I displayed my badge. "No. We just had a few questions for the plumber."

Concern tightened his face. "Is he in some kind of trouble?”

I shrugged. "Depends on how fast you can get into the house."