Page 45 of Forever Gone

Kelly studied the photographs of the door, windows, desk, and broken machine. “Then the killer probably wore gloves. With the weapon, the mutilation, and the effort to avoid prints, this sounds planned.”

“It does,” Selena said.

Kelly noted the clipped reply. Selena had asked her to help, but approval would not be handed out for saying the obvious.

Arnold set down his cup. “I caught up with Hinkel. He backed Gerry’s alibi. Says they started drinking around seven and kept going past midnight.”

“Did you verify they stayed at the house?” Kelly asked.

“Pizza was delivered at nine twelve,” Arnold said. “The driver remembers both men answering together because they were arguing over who had the cash. Phone-location records are being requested.”

Chuck opened the folder in front of him. “Sheriff had me search the databases. Nothing significant on Hinkel or Tomes. Gerry has a DUI from six years ago. No felonies, no domestic-violence convictions, and no active protective orders.”

“Loyall police attended one argument during the marriage,” Connor added. “No arrest. Karen told the officer Gerry threw a plate and broke a cabinet door. Gerry admitted damaging property during our interview, but said he never laid a hand on his ex-wife.”

Kelly turned toward him. “Any other next of kin?”

“Her parents live in Florida,” Connor said. “They’ve been notified in person. No siblings and no children.”

“Close friends?”

“We’re still building the list.”

Kelly examined the board again. “For the moment, the ex-husband is less likely, but his alibi starts at seven, and Karen’s death window begins earlier. We still need his phone and vehicle records before we reduce his priority.”

“Agreed,” Connor said. “Dr. Blethan’s autopsy may give us something new, so you have that to look forward to.”

Kelly’s attention returned to the photograph of the broken word processor. Pieces of yellowed casing lay across the floor. Several keys had separated from the board.

“Was Karen already a writer? Published anywhere?”

“A budding one,” Selena said. “According to Hannah Montgomery, she rented the cabin to finish her first novel.”

Kelly thought for a moment. “What about local writing groups? Workshops, library meetings, online critique circles? Someone there might know what she was working on or whether she’d mentioned the storage break-in. Writers like to share their setups and writing holes, so it’s possible she mentioned to another writer or to a group that she would be at the cabin. The broken word processor could be from jealousy or a rival.”

Arnold nodded. “That’s a good idea.”

“Thanks.”

Selena’s response came without warmth or resistance. “Kelly, check that and her social-media accounts. Find every group she joined, every page she followed, and anyone she contacted about writing. We need her email too, once the warrant clears.”

“I’ll start now.”

A knock sounded at the door.

Cheryl entered carrying a sheet of paper.

Connor turned. “What is it, Cheryl?”

“I just received a call from a man named Phil Mercer. He reported his wife missing. I figured with what happened to Karen Sloane, you’d want to know straightaway.”

Connor accepted the page and read it.

“How long has she been gone?”

“Since yesterday afternoon. Her name’s Linda Mercer. Phil says she left their house after an argument and never came back. Her car’s missing, too.”

Selena moved beside him. “Any contact since?”