Whisper of Bones (Widow's Island #3)(13)

They went into the hotel lobby and passed the registration desk on their way to the Breakneck Taproom, where heat poured from the fireplace. Tessa paused to spread her hands in front of the flames for a few seconds as she glanced around. Three leather barstools were occupied.

Tessa nodded toward a man dressed in a suit, tie, and vest combo. “There’s the manager, Victor Cobb.”

She’d collected a few drunken tourists from the Taproom over the past year and a half. Victor had always been appreciative of her help. She crossed to the bar and called his name.

Slightly stodgy and in his late forties, Victor fit the old tavern well. He walked over and faced her from behind the bar. “What can I do for you, Deputy?”

Tessa introduced Logan. “We’re looking for Heather McCoy.”

His eyes grew troubled. “Heather is my sister. You’re here about Jason’s death, then?” Victor kept his voice low.

Tessa nodded.

Victor raised the hinged partition and walked out from behind the bar. “I’ll get her for you. You can talk to her in the back room.”

“Thank you.” Tessa turned to Logan, leaning close to his ear. “Would you talk to Victor while I interview Heather?”

“Sure,” Logan said.

A door swung open next to the bar. A woman came through carrying a tray of food. She was in her early fifties. Seeing Tessa, she stopped short.

“There she is.” Victor went to his sister and took the tray from her. “Deputy Black wants to talk to you. I’ll cover.”

Heather’s gaze flickered to Tessa, then back to her brother, and she nodded. “These go to table six.” She turned to Tessa. “Please come with me.” Heather escorted Tessa through a doorway into a small room. A long table covered with dishes, folded linens, and glassware had been pushed against one wall. Boxes were stacked in a corner.

Jason’s first wife was the polar opposite of his second. Heather had dark hair cut in a pixie style, and her makeup was limited to a little mascara and soft mauve-colored lipstick.

Tessa pulled out a chair. “Why don’t we sit down?”

But Heather walked a few paces away, then whirled. “I assume you’re here about the Dick?”

Caught off guard, Tessa paused halfway into the chair. “Your ex-husband, Jason?”

“Yep. That’s him. The Dick.”

“You’ve heard about Jason’s death, then?” Tessa eased into the seat.

Heather interlaced her fingers. “Yes.”

Tessa pulled out her notepad and pen. “How long have you been divorced?”

“The papers were signed two years ago, but we split up a year before that.” Heather pivoted and began pacing. “I’ll save you the math. Jason remarried before the ink was dry.”

Tessa said nothing.

“He was sleeping with the Dumbass while he was still married to me. For your records, the Dumbass is wife number two, Sarah.”

“Noted.”

Heather snorted, then resumed talking. “I won’t pretend to forgive him. Jason was a selfish, self-important man. As soon as I started looking less than perfect, he dumped me for a younger model.” She paused. “I don’t hold it against Sarah. She wasn’t my spouse. She didn’t promise to love and honor me. He did. She’s barely older than our children. But she’s a fool if she thought he’d be a good husband. Jason slept with her while he was married to me. What made her think he wouldn’t cheat on her? Once a cheater, always a cheater.”

“Did he cheat on her?”

“I don’t know.” Heather’s brow furrowed. “If he did, it wouldn’t be that hard to find out. It’s impossible to keep a secret on this island.”

“When was the last time you saw Jason?” Tessa asked.

“He had lunch here yesterday.” Heather’s face turned bitter.

“Did you say—”

“Yes. Jason ate here once a week. He enjoyed making me serve him.”

Tessa straightened. This case was getting more bizarre. “What time was that?”

“He came in around noon and left around one thirty.”

Jason was alive Monday at one thirty p.m.

“Do you remember what he ate?” Tessa asked.

“He always orders a rare steak and potatoes.” Heather raised both hands. “Look, I know I’m coming off as angry, but I’m glad we got a divorce. Despite the financial hardships, I’m happier without him than I ever was with him.”

“You didn’t get alimony in the divorce?”

“I signed a prenup.” Heather frowned. “Jason had all his ducks in a row. I thought he loved me, and it didn’t matter. I was the dumbass at the time.”

“You and Jason have children together.”

“We do.” Heather’s face lit up with pride. “Two sons. Twenty-four and twenty-six. They both live in Seattle.”

“What is their relationship with their father?”

“I don’t talk about Jason when I’m with the kids. As angry as I was at Jason, I refused to bad-mouth him in front of our boys. Not that it mattered. They’re not close to him. Neither one of them wanted to take over the business. Jason has been angry about that for years, and the boys know it. They see him on holidays.”