Page 70 of Forever Gone

Selena stood. “We may need to speak with you again.”

“Am I cleared?”

“We haven’t verified your account yet.”

Boyd glanced toward his sleeping mother. “Don’t tell people about Trina.”

“We won’t discuss it outside the investigation,” Selena said.

At the door, Mrs. Cutler stirred.

“Oh,” she called. “Tell Robert I was asking for him. A real looker he is.”

Selena paused with one hand near the frame. “I will.”

Outside, the light had begun to fade behind the ridge. The yard lay in cool shadow while the treetops still caught the sun.

Selena stopped beside the sedan and dialed Trina’s number from the case phone. Kelly stood close enough to hear when a woman answered.

“Hello?”

“Ms. Vale, my name is Special Agent Selena Raven with the FBI. I need to verify some information concerning Boyd Cutler.”

A wary silence followed. “What’s he done?”

“At this stage, we’re confirming his whereabouts on the night a woman by the name of Karen Sloane was killed. Boyd says he was with you at the Pine Ridge Motel from around three-thirty until after two.”

Trina sighed. “Is this about that woman who got killed?”

“We can’t discuss the investigation. Can you confirm the times?”

“Yeah. He was there. Got there a little after three-thirty and didn’t leave till two-fifteen, maybe two-thirty.”

“Was he with you continuously?”

“Yes.”

“Did either of you leave the room?”

“I went to the vending machine once. He stayed.”

“Did Boyd have access to another vehicle?”

“Not unless he hid it under the bed.”

Selena ignored the remark. “Do you have anything that supports the timing? Calls, messages, a receipt?”

“I texted him when I got there. Took a picture in the room, too. The clock’s in the background.”

“Keep the original files. Don’t alter or delete anything. An agent will contact you to arrange copies.”

Trina’s voice hardened. “My name doesn’t go in the newspaper.”

“It won’t be released by us unless legal proceedings require it.”

“All right.”

Selena ended the call and entered a note into the case phone.