Whisper of Bones (Widow's Island #3)(25)

“Let’s find out.” Tessa led the way back to her SUV, where she used the dashboard computer to access Roger’s car registration. “He drives a purple Porsche Cayenne.”

Logan used his smartphone to google the Porsche. “I’ll be damned. The Cayenne is available in Purpurite Metallic.”

“That bastard.” Tessa’s eyes narrowed. “Metallic purple is a rare color for a car. We’ll sample the paint on the rock and send it to the lab for testing. They should be able to match it to the exact color Porsche uses on the Cayenne.”

“Can you arrest him now?”

“I don’t want to rush into it before I have enough evidence to make the charge stick.” Tessa tilted her head. “We know Roger argued with Jason shortly before he was murdered. Roger said he’s never been to Jason’s office, but we have evidence that suggests he was lying. We also have the real and fake soil reports for Roger’s property hidden in Jason’s office. I’d like to find the murder weapon or drops of Jason’s blood on Roger’s clothes or in his vehicle.”

“What next?”

She turned and strode for her SUV. “We’re going to bring Roger into the station for questioning and get a search warrant for his property. The murder scene was messy. Cross your fingers that Roger brought home some of Jason’s blood.”





9


Tessa pulled up in front of the Smuggler’s Inn and scanned the property in the waning light. “I wish we had more daylight left.”

It was just after four o’clock, nearly sunset in December.

“Do you see his Porsche anywhere?” she asked.

“No.” Logan pointed through the windshield. “There’s a four-bay garage behind the house. Maybe it’s in there.”

On the way to the inn, Tessa had stopped at the station to call the sheriff and fill out the paperwork for the search warrant. Her goal was to question Roger right up until the warrant was issued, which shouldn’t take too long on a weekday. She wanted to take Roger by surprise. At this point, he had no clue they were focused on him as Jason’s killer, and she wanted to keep it that way. She didn’t want to give Roger time to destroy any evidence. She wanted him sitting pretty, thinking he’d gotten away with the murder.

She had called the ferry station. No Porsche Cayenne had boarded the ferry that morning. She’d given the operators Roger’s description and instructed them to be on the lookout for him. They would not leave port with him on the boat.

“Are you going to question him here or take him to the station?” Logan asked.

“We’ll take him to the station and make him sweat.” Tessa put the vehicle in park.

They got out of the car just as the sun disappeared below the horizon. Her phone beeped with a text. She read the screen. “Bruce says Marybeth is unconscious but still fighting. The doctors won’t give odds on her chances of survival.”

“Still alive is a good sign.”

The temperature dropped. Tessa shivered and zipped her jacket higher as they walked to the front door. Standing to one side, Tessa motioned for Logan to stand away from the center of the doorstep. Then Tessa knocked, but the house remained quiet. She rapped louder. As if in answer, the sound of a nail gun firing drifted across the yard.

Tessa turned and left the step. She and Logan followed the noise to the same cabin Roger had been working in the day before.

“The cabin has a rear exit,” Tessa said in a low voice. “Would you go around back in case Roger bolts?”

“Of course.” Logan headed around the small building.

The front door was propped open. Tessa peered through the doorway. Roger stood on the top rung of a four-step ladder, using a nail gun to put up crown molding. A bandage on his hand made his grip on the wood awkward, but he was managing.

He could have bashed Marybeth over the head with little difficulty.

Tessa knocked on the doorframe. Roger glanced over his shoulder and bobbled the wood. The ladder tipped, and he put a hand on the wall to steady himself.

“I didn’t mean to startle you,” Tessa said from the doorway. “I have some follow-up questions.”

Roger blinked, and his response was one heartbeat too late. “All right.”

Tessa stepped over the threshold. She positioned herself between Roger and the front door.

He descended the ladder and stood with his back against the wall, clutching the nail gun in front of him. “How can I help you?”

“Please put down the nail gun,” Tessa said.

“Why?” Roger’s eyes darted to the door. Was he contemplating rushing her?

Tessa’s voice became more serious. “Because accidents happen.”

Roger hesitated, and when he finally set down the nail gun on the top rung of the ladder, it remained within reach.

“Step away from the nail gun,” Tessa said.

Sweat broke out on Roger’s brow, but he remained where he was. His gaze met Tessa’s and went cold.

He knows.

“What do you want to know?” he asked.

“Move away from the nail gun.” Tessa’s voice shifted from request to command.

Roger’s gaze darted to the door again. “Why don’t you ask your questions?”

“Move away from the nail gun.” Tessa’s hand hovered over her weapon.