Page 144 of D for Dead

It wasn’t a question. Wagner understood.

Jake smiled tightly. ‘I couldn’t sleep so I took a drive out to Virginia Martin’s place.’

Wagner nodded. ‘You think there’s a connection?’

‘Troy Cunningham was friendly with her nephew, Cap?’

‘That’d be right.’

‘The place is supposed to be empty. Deputy Benson said there have been no tenants for at least six months.’

Wagner laced his fingers and looked Jake squarely in the eye. ‘Where’s this going, detective?’

‘Someone has been there recently. There’s oil on the drive.’

‘Okay. There could be a simple explanation.’

‘There could, but given everything that’s happened and knowing who Virginia Martin’s nephew is, don’t you think it’s worth checking out?’

Wagner was silent for a moment, considering the question. Before he had a chance to answer they were interrupted.

‘Sheriff Wagner, Detective Sullivan.’

Deputy Benson stood in the doorway. She was out of uniform, her dark hair loose around her shoulders.

‘What’s up, Emily?’ Wagner asked, for the moment ignoring Jake’s question.

Benson dropped into the chair facing Jake, her eyes bright, her expression eager. She had found something.

‘What is it?’ he asked.

‘It’s Cap,’ she said a little breathlessly. ‘I figured it out.’

* * *

Declan finished dressing, slipped on his shoes.

Sullivan had been shocked he’d been prepared to get some sleep, given that Amy and Boaz were missing. Quite what the man expected them to do about it while stuck in a small pissant town like Melford, Declan didn’t know; he had tried to point that out to Sullivan, but succeeded only in flaring his temper. So Sullivan had gone off to brood and Declan had retired to his room. He could hear Sullivan through the wall, making calls, heard him leave his room and disappear off in the car.

Where had he gone?

Feeling restless, Declan tore a sheet of paper out of his new notebook and scribbled a brief message.

Couldn’t sleep. Gone for a walk. I’ll head out into the woods in case there’s any sign of Johnson or Gavin.

Before leaving the room he slipped the notebook into his suitcase, padlocked it and pocketed the key. He was still irritated he’d left his other notebooks in Juniper. The information he had documented in them was important and he only hoped he wouldn’t need to refer to his case notes.

He locked the door behind him, folded the message he’d written for Sullivan and slipped it under his door before setting off down the road towards the woods.

* * *

Amy rolled onto her side as Troy reached for her, attempting to get away.

She knew he had been a suspect, but hadn’t honestly believed it could be him, especially after Nadine had been murdered.

He force-fed his girlfriend acid. What is he going to do to you?

She squealed and wriggled as he caught hold of her shoulder, butting him in the belly with her head, and he momentarily let go, clutching at his stomach. He looked in pain. Did he have an injury she could attack?