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“OK, thanks, Mrs. Koehler. Now, switching gears for a moment. We’ve heard that you and Grant had a rather public argument in the Coyote Grill a couple of months ago. Is that true, and if so, what topic did you discuss?”
“I resent this line of questioning, deputy. You can’t possibly believe that I had something to do with my husband’s death. I’m insulted, and maybe you should speak with my lawyer.”
“Please calm down, ma'am. One of the parts of a thorough investigation is to look at everything so you can rule people out. Don’t take it personally. I’m just doing my due diligence.”
“Well, I don’t know what somebody thinks they heard that afternoon. We did discuss our daughter Julie that day. If you have children, you should know there are many stresses in raising them.”
“So what did the two of you disagree about?”
“Julie has been living in Manhattan for over a year. She secured an internship at the very exclusive “House of Cheval” fashion design studio. It’s an unpaid internship for 12 months that can translate into a permanent position if she impresses the lead designers. She is also enrolled in the Manhattan School of Fashion Design in the evenings to enhance her skills and build her network. Her dream is to establish a career in the fashion design industry. Have you ever heard of the TV show “Design Star?”
“No, I can’t say that I have.”
“It’s a show where new designers try to impress judges with their fashion creations. The winner gets notoriety and guaranteed employment as a designer at a major fashion house in New York.” Julie has been trying to break into the business and has had an audition for a future season of that show.”
“So what’s the disagreement with your husband about?”
“New York City, particularly Manhattan, is an incredibly expensive place to live. Grant and I’ve supported Julie for over a year while she pursues her dream. I’ll admit it is very expensive to pay for school and lodging in Manhattan. Grant wanted to start cutting her off since her career had yet to take off. He felt she needed to start supporting herself like he had to do at a young age. Grant exploded when he heard her internship would be unpaid for an entire year. He went on a rant saying he might try to get his welder trainees to work for free their first year while learning the trade.”
“I take it you feel differently?”
“Yes, I do. Grant didn’t realize that breaking into fashion design is very hard and takes time. It boils down to building relationships and getting exposure. Do you realize how many people have the same dream? It’s very competitive, and she’s my daughter. I told him we need to stick by her and keep supporting her until she makes it.”
“We heard there were harsh words spoken in the bar, including you saying something about “over your dead body” to Grant. What did you mean by that?”
“I have no recollection of saying that. Look, arguments happen. Every family has them. I’ll bet you do, too, if you have a wife and kids.”
“One more question Mrs. Koehler, Do you know where Grant kept his flask before going hunting?”
“Well, I assume in our basement, in a tote, with all his other hunting gear. I don’t usually go down there to rummage through that stuff. Now at this point, I think I’ve answered your silly questions. I hope you move on and focus on finding Grant’s real killer.”
“Thanks for your time, Mrs. Koehler.”
After hanging up, Stassin reflected on the conversation. She sure seemed a bit defensive about answering questions. He’d tried to be as delicate as possible with her. She’s the estate’s sole beneficiary, but that’s not unusual for the wife. He didn’t think she killed her husband, although there could be a possible motive with the daughter. In addition, Sarah initially refused the autopsy requested by the medical examiner. She could also have had access to the flask kept in their basement. Stassin kept returning to the old investigative advice to “follow the money.” This critical advice solved many cases over the years for law enforcement. If you follow the money in Grant’s case, it leads directly to Sarah Koehler.
Chapter twenty-four
A couple of days passed since Jeff’s visit from Deputy Stassin. He decided to head out to camp to check in with the crew still there. Chet, Mooch, and Frenchie were still at the camp, and had resumed hunting evenings after work. Elk had gone home because she lacked any desire to continue hunting. She found it extremely uncomfortable at camp, knowing that Grant had just died on the property. The news of Grant’s poisoning had spread like wildfire throughout the small community. Everyone at Roads End had been interviewed by Deputy Stassin in the last couple of days. They found it hard to think about anything but Grant.
The four men at the camp were sitting around the fire when a car pulled in with Cyrus, his wife Martha, and a man with a child that none of the guys initially recognized. Cyrus Campbell opened the camp door, and all entered the cabin. “Hey, Jeff, Mooch, Chet, and Frenchie, you know my wife, Martha. This is my son Vince and his daughter Ashley. We just got back from our cruise and wanted to stop by to offer our condolences.” The guys greeted them and thanked them for the visit.
Jeff recognized Vince and said, “Vince, it’s great to see you. I haven’t seen you since you were in high school.”
“It’s been a long while, Jeff. Nice to see you again too.”
“It’s always good to see you, Cyrus and Martha. I thought you two would still be on your cruise,” Jeff added.
“I only scheduled a short four-day cruise, but Martha felt ill. We decided to cut our intended stay in Ft Lauderdale short and come home. We were terribly shocked when we heard Grant had died. Vince and Ashley were staying at our home while we were away. Vince called me and said he had heard about Grant’s heart attack. We were stunned when we returned here and heard foul play may have been involved. Is there any news on who might have done it?”
“No, nothing yet, Cyrus. We can’t think of anyone who would have wanted Grant dead. The police are investigating, but so far, I don’t think they have a clue either.”
“Well, I hope they get the bastard who did it. Grant could be a little rough sometimes, but a good man like Grant deserved much better. How are his wife and daughter taking it?”
“I’ve spoken to Sarah several times, and they’re doing their best. They’re devastated like the rest of us and just want the police to get to the bottom of it.”
At that point, Jeff realized he’d been ignoring Vince and Ashley, who had hardly said a word in the entire conversation. “So Vince, where do you live now?”
“I live in Norton Shores in a home we bought a few years ago on five acres. We really love it there.”
