Page 27 of Forever Gone

“No.” He shook his head. “Absolutely not.”

“Did police ever come to the house?” Connor asked.

“Not really...”

“We can check, so you best be honest.” Connor’s voice remained firm but fair.

Gerry shook his head again and looked down at his hands. “Once. A neighbor called because we were shouting. Nothing happened.”

Connor made a note. “Which department?”

“Loyall police, I guess. Look… It was nothing. But she left and that was the end of it, except for this stupid storage business. I wouldn’t touch her stuff.”

Selena said, “Do you know anyone else who wanted to harm Karen?”

“No.”

“Did she have disputes at work?”

“I don’t know. She drove me mad, could have gotten underneath someone else’s skin, I guess.”

Selena considered him for a moment. “What about friends of hers? You get on with them?”

“I don’t know who she talked to anymore!” he said. “I was long out of that scene.”

“Did she ever mention going to a place called the Montgomery property?” Selena now asked.

“No. She only said she was moving. Wouldn’t tell me where. I don’t even know where that is.”

“That was where she was found,” Selena said, pointedly.

Gerry’s anger faded as quickly as it had risen. He stared at the water cup.

“God,” he said. “Is she really gone?”

Connor’s voice softened. “I’m afraid so.”

Gerry lowered his head into both hands and began to sob again. This time he made no effort to restrain it. “I would never have hurt her… I’d have killed anyone who ever touched a hair on her head...”

Selena waited until his breathing eased. “I think that’s all for now, Mr. Tomes. Is there someone who can come get you?”

“Yeah. I can call a friend.”

“Do that,” Connor said. “And we’re sorry for your loss.”

Selena took a card from her jacket and slid it across the table. “My direct number is there. If you remember anything Karen said about the storage-unit break-in, the stolen property, or anyone she feared, call the sheriff’s department or me at the Harlan County field office.”

Gerry picked up the card. His hand trembled.

“Okay.”

Connor stood. “We’ll give you privacy to make the call. Don’t leave the building without telling Cheryl at the desk.”

“I won’t.”

Selena stopped the recording and followed Connor into the corridor.

The interview-room door closed behind them.