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“That’s correct. If it helps, I did see a man snooping around the Blancos’ house. I started to ask him who he was, but I didn’t. The place has been abandoned a long time, and this is no longer my jurisdiction.”
“When was this?” Duke asked.
Tropical scowled again. “A week and a half ago. Now, that’s all I have to say.”
Tropical slammed the door, and a lock clicked into place.
Craig, Andi realized.
He’d been out at the Blancos’ house. Had he discovered something?
Was it the missing piece of evidence that led him to find the killer?
And, if so, was that what had gotten him killed?
* * *
Thirty minutes later, the group pulled back up to the trading post, and Simmy greeted them at the door. “Anything?”
Duke shook his head, wishing he had more information to offer. “No, not really. Someone was in the church playing hymns on the piano. He tried to kill me.”
“What?” she gasped.
He shrugged. “But after all of that, we still don’t have any real answers.”
Her shoulders visibly sank. “I was hoping . . .”
“We all were.” Duke glanced around. “Anything new here?”
She shook her head. “I’m afraid not. But maybe that’s a good thing. I haven’t been able to get up with Lloyd so he doesn’t know about any of this yet, and I can’t imagine that he’s going to be happy.”
“When’s he due back?” Andi moved closer.
“Any day now. He went ice fishing with some friends. Does it every year.”
“There is one other thing.” Andi leaned against the counter. “We stopped to talk to Ben Tropical.”
“The former village law enforcement officer?”
“That’s right. We were hoping he might have something new to offer. But he didn’t seem to know anything about this new investigation.”
A knot formed between Simmy’s eyes. “What do you mean he didn’t know anything?”
“That’s what he said.” Andi nodded in confirmation.
Simmy shook her head. “That’s not true.”
“What do you mean?” Duke’s voice hardened.
“I mean, Craig specifically told me he talked to Ben.”
Andi’s breath caught. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. He told me the man wasn’t helpful. He found it all a little suspicious.”
Andi glanced at Duke, and he knew exactly what she was thinking.
Why would Ben Tropical lie . . . unless he was hiding something?
