Whisper of Bones (Widow's Island #3)(17)

“Did Jason have a crew, or did he do all the work himself?” Logan asked.

“He used a crew for the heavy work, but he did the carpentry himself.” Roger grimaced. “But he got into an argument with his crew leader last month, and the men walked out, leaving Jason to do everything. Luckily, the structural changes were complete, but it was taking him forever to complete the finish work by himself.”

“He could be difficult to work with?” Logan asked.

Roger met his gaze. “He could be an ass.”

Tessa jumped in. “But you put up with him.”

“Do you know how hard it is to get workers on this island?” Roger’s voice rose. “If I wanted to bring in a contractor from the mainland, it would cost me double. Plus I would have had to wait for months. Jason was the only available contractor in town at the time I needed one.”

“Other people have said Jason was a bully,” Tessa said. “Was he nasty to you?”

“Occasionally,” Roger admitted. “He had a mean streak.” He paused for breath. “I didn’t like the man, but I needed him. This place is my dream. Jason wasn’t holding up his end of our contract. I told him if he wasn’t going to finish in a timely manner, I wasn’t going to pay the invoice due at the end of the month. He threatened to sue me.” Roger swept a hand over his head. “We’ve been having this same argument for months. I was tired of it.”

“How much work is left?” Logan asked.

Roger sighed. “Mostly trim work and painting in the cabins. I’ll have to find someone else to rebuild the boathouse.”

Logan scanned the interior. The fixtures and floors looked new. “Will you have the cabins done in time?”

“I think so.” Roger frowned at his injury. “But this isn’t going to help.”

“Where were you Monday afternoon?” Tessa added more gauze to the stack and squeezed.

Roger winced. Sweat beaded on his forehead. “Mostly here. Though I went back and forth to the hardware store a few times.”

“Do you have receipts?” Tessa asked.

“Yes.” With his free hand, Roger dug his wallet out of the pocket of his overalls. He dropped the billfold in his lap to open it one handed. He thumbed through a stack of store receipts and handed Tessa three of them. “I’ll need those back for taxes.”

“Of course.” Tessa unwrapped a roll of gauze and wound it securely around the base of Roger’s thumb and hand. She dug through the first aid kit. “Do you have scissors?”

Roger reached into his back pocket and pulled out a Swiss Army knife with a dozen little tools folded into its handle. “Here.”

Tessa unfolded the tiny scissors tool, cut the gauze down the middle, and tied it off. Then she tugged off the gloves, gathered the wrappers, and tossed everything in a trash can by the door. “It’s still bleeding, but that should hold you until you get to Dr. Powers for some stitches.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course.” Tessa read the receipts, then dropped them into an evidence-collection envelope she took from her pocket. “When was the last time you were at Jason’s office?”

“Never,” Roger said. “Jason always came here.”

Logan scanned the man’s pale face. “Do you need a ride to the doctor?”

Roger took his phone from his pocket and sent a text. His phone buzzed with a reply almost immediately. “Emma will take me.”

He rose from his seat. His knees wobbled, and Logan steadied him with a hand on his elbow. They walked toward the door. Logan stayed close in case Roger got woozy again.

Emma pulled up in a Subaru, and Roger slid into the passenger seat. Abby waved to Logan and Tessa from the back seat as they drove away.

“What do you think?” Tessa asked as they headed for her vehicle.

“I’m not sure.” Logan watched the Subaru turn onto the main road. “It was hard to read him after he almost sliced off his thumb.”

They stepped into Tessa’s vehicle.

“Agreed.” Tessa fastened her seat belt. She handed Logan the evidence envelope. “The times on these receipts don’t give Roger much of an alibi.”

Logan read the time stamps. “He made three trips to the hardware store: ten thirty in the morning, just after noon, and around three p.m.”

“Roger had plenty of time to go to Jason’s house. Maybe they argued, and it got out of hand.” At the end of the driveway, Tessa turned toward North Sound.

“That’s possible,” Logan said. “Roger and Jason were involved in a dispute for months. Roger’s frustration must have been building up.”

“Renovations are never finished on time. If people killed their contractors over delays, it would be open season.”

“Plus Roger still needed Jason. The inn isn’t finished.” Logan returned the receipts to the envelope. “So we have three suspects now? Sarah, Heather, and Roger.”

“Four.” Tessa pulled out her phone. “Kurt sent background information on Peter Evans, the man Jason fired. Would you read it?”

Logan scanned the email. “He’s twenty-eight, married, and has a record. One assault conviction five years ago.”

“Did he serve time?”