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“My guess is the bench was moved because the cleaners had to move it and failed to put it back exactly as they found it,” she said.
He tipped his head. “Or they did put it back where they found it…and it was moved before they got here.”
Her eyes widened.
Together, she and Tripp lurched forward. They knelt near the wall and Tripp hooked a finger under the carpet. Sure enough, the side was detached from the carpet tack strips that held it securely down. When he pulled it back to reveal a bloodstain, she sucked in a gasp and he went completely stone still.
Several long heartbeats passed. She watched his Adam’s apple bob in his throat and catch at the top as though he couldn’t force himself to swallow.
His words came out very slowly. “The light in the kitchen caught the attention of the killer.”
She almost fell over from her crouched position. “What!”
He looked at her, eyes cold. “You heard me. What if Caden didn’t kill her at all? What if the makeup snack brought someone else in the house first? Then when Caden came in the house, he interrupted the murder?”
He pulled back the carpet even further.
Alexia cried out.
A knife lay hidden in a place that most people would never think to look. Not even the cleanup crew.
Could Tripp really know more than he was letting on?
“Goddammit.” He flipped the carpet back down, hiding the knife again. “You can pick that up later. Or photograph it. Whatever you need to do.” He straightened and walked out of the room.
Stunned, Alexia watched him go for a moment.
Then she shoved to her feet and rushed after him. “Where are you going?”
He continued to the front of the house. “To the woods. I’m pretty sure the boyfriend is dead.”
“And you know this how?”
He yanked the door open with enough force to rip it off the hinges. It slammed off the inner wall with abangthat made Alexia jump.
Without a word, he strode outside and hit the snow-covered yard.
“Dammit!” She quickly shut the door and ran after Tripp.
He stopped dead in his tracks and looked around. She didn’t slam into him this time and moved up next to him. His fists were clenched as he swung his head to look around. The day was overcast and the mountains and trees made it even dimmer.
“What would happen if I came across my girlfriend being murdered?” He raised a hand and pointed. “There. The neighbor’s light.”
“You think Caden interrupted the murderer and ran for help?”
Tripp’s gritty tone carried an edge of fury that raised a shudder in her. “I hope you’re wearing your boots, Alexia, because we’re going for a trek through the woods.”
A shiver blasted through her that had nothing to do with the cold temperature and everything to do with hiking through the dense, dim woods in search of a body.
Not that she was squeamish. But she wasn’t the first responder on crime scenes. She only came in after the blood had been cleared away, and that she only saw in photographs after the case hit a dead end.
“Uhh…can it wait until morning? It’s so dark and the woods are thick.”
He pivoted to look at her. His eyes blazed. “Either we do this now or we spend another night and come back at peak daylight hours. That means getting another hotel room.”
Her stomach bottomed out. Another night in a hotel room with Bryson sounded like a very bad idea. Even in separate beds, she’d be far too aware of every move and noise he made.
“Fine. Let’s take a look around. I’ll get the flashlights out of the Humvee.” When she turned, the toe of her boot snagged on something. She pitched forward. The ground came rushing at her face.
