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“Only you didn’t have it,” Benson said.
“No.”
The pieces were slowly falling into place, but Benson needed more information. “It’s possible that Samantha’s death was a message to you.”
The blood in Trent’s face seemed to drain out. “Why kill her? Why not me? I was the one who owed the money. Not Sam.”
“For starters, criminals don’t care who they hurt.”
Trent dropped his face into his hands. After several long breaths, he looked up. “What else do you need to know?”
* * *
Once Benson left the prison, he headed to his uncle’s office. There wasn’t enough tangible proof to go to the judge at the moment, but hopefully there would be soon.
Hopefully, his Uncle Adam would be able to find out where Hammer Schmidt was the night of Samantha’s murder, as well as learn if Dave Franklin had an alibi, but his uncle would have to ask the sheriff of Midvale to do the legwork. The problem was those questions might put Sheriff Hanson in the werewolves’ crosshairs—not that he probably hadn’t been there many times before.
If Hammer had been the muscle the first time, he probably was the one who killed Samantha.
Before Benson went in to speak with Uncle Adam, he forwarded the image of Hammer to Preston, Ariel, Liam, and Alex. They all needed to be on the lookout for this man.
Elana was at the reception desk speaking with someone on the phone when he entered the department. She motioned with her head that Benson should go back. Obviously, she understood that the only reason he’d be in the sheriff’s office was to speak with his uncle.
Benson knocked and then entered.
“Have a seat and tell me what you’ve been up to.”
“I trust Mason sent you the photo of Hammer Schmidt?” Benson asked.
“He did. I forwarded his picture to Sheriff Hanson and asked him to tell me what he knew about the man.”
“And?”
“Hammer has been arrested a few times, but so far no charges have stuck.”
That wasn’t surprising. The Franklins had people in high places and would make sure their kind wasn’t convicted.
“I spoke with Trent.”
His uncle leaned forward. “What did he say?”
Benson told him that Trent owed ten thousand dollars to Dave Franklin. “Seems to me it’s not a coincidence that it’s the same amount the kidnapper is asking for Anna’s release.”
Uncle Adam stroked his chin. “You’re right. So far, it appears as if Trent is telling the truth. My guess would be that when Trent lost his bet and couldn’t pay, someone wanted to send him a message by killing his girlfriend. Too bad I have no proof of that theory.”
“That was my thought too. I know we are focusing on this being a revenge killing, but did you follow up with Walter Winston?”
“Yes. To say he was upset about the paternity results would be an understatement.”
“What reason did he give for his concern?”
His uncle leaned back. “He didn’t want Peggy to find out.”
“Do you think he had anything to do with Samantha’s death?”
“No. He had an alibi.”
Everyone claimed to have an alibi. “Which was?”
