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“The judge’s house is built on a dead-end street. It will be packed with emergency vehicles, not to mention half the town wanting to discover what’s happened. This will be the easiest way to get close.”
He nodded as they neared the large, built-in pool that was covered with a tarp and the patio edged with an outdoor kitchen, complete with a brick pizza oven. It looked like a home you would find in Hollywood, not Pike, Wisconsin. His attention, however, appeared to be on the pristine blanket of snow that covered everything in sight.
“No one’s been back here,” he said.
“Not since it snowed,” she agreed.
“Does the judge live alone?”
“Yes. As far as I know, he never married.” She paused. “And I don’t remember him dating anyone from around here. Which is kind of weird.” Until that moment, Lia had never realized how secretive the judge was about his private life.
“Is he retired?”
“Just recently.” The entire town had furtively celebrated when Judge Armstrong stepped down from the bench. “Unfortunately, he’s still the president of the Chamber of Commerce for Pike.”
“A man with some influence.”
“And good buddies with the mayor.”
“Interesting.”
“Kaden.”
Without thought, she reached out to grab his arm, nodding toward the paramedics she could see pushing a gurney toward the ambulance that was parked at the side of the house. Even from a distance she could see the body was zipped in a bag. That could only mean one thing.
“He’s dead.” Kaden spoke the words out loud.
“Looks that way.”
He gently tugged his arm out of her clinging grip, his expression grim. “I’m going to try to get closer. If you want to wait in the Jeep—”
“No,” she interrupted. “I’m going with you.”
He looked like he wanted to argue. Instead, he shrugged as he glanced back at the house.
“Fair warning. I have no idea what I’m hoping to find.”
“Me either.”
Together, they waded their way past the pool and stepped onto the patio. Then, circling around the massive, built-in BBQ and pizza oven, they at last had a clear view of the back of the garage.
“Yikes.” Lia’s eyes widened at the sight of the busted wall and bricks smashed on the ground. The front of the Cadillac was peeking through the carnage, revealing the shattered windshield and crumpled bumper.
“Damn.” Kaden looked shocked at the gaping hole in the garage. “He must have had his foot fully on the gas to cause that kind of damage.”
Lia had to admit it was a lot worse than she was expecting. Dozens of people in town had fender benders during the winter. It was impossible not to occasionally slide on the ice. But this was a violent collision that had taken a lot of force. She struggled to imagine what could possibly have happened.
“If the snow drifted across his driveway, he might have gotten stuck and gunned the engine to get out,” she offered at last. It was a lame explanation, but it was the only one she had.
“Possibly.” He looked dubious. Lia didn’t blame him. “Let’s take a look out front.”
Kaden walked toward the corner of the house, where the ambulance was backing out. He paused, as if waiting for the vehicle to disappear before he continued. It wasn’t until Lia was standing next to him that she realized he was watching the two men who appeared from the front of the house.
Anthony was in his deputy’s uniform and Tate Erickson was in an expensive wool trench coat and fur cap. The mayor had a hold of Anthony’s arm as he pulled the younger man to a spot out of sight of the gathered crowd.
Kaden sent her a quick glance, waiting for her to nod in understanding, before they crept forward to hide behind a fir tree loaded with Christmas lights. It was close enough to overhear the conversation between the men.
“Stop arguing, Anthony,” Tate was saying, his voice edgy and his narrow face flushed. “Just write the report like I told you.”
