Spoils of the Dead by Dana Stabenow

Author:Dana Stabenow [Stabenow, Dana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788549141
Publisher: Head of Zeus

Thirteen

Wednesday, September 4

BY THIS TIME HIS TRUCK COULD HAVE driven itself to its destination, but for the black bear and three cubs who charged out in front of it with suicidal intent. He slammed on the brakes and got honked at by the pickup in back of him for his pains. The bears, unconcerned, disappeared into the brush. They were as adept at the vanishing act as the moose.

The gate had been left open. He parked and knocked at the door. McGuire opened it almost immediately. “Coffee?”

“Sure.”

McGuire pointed at the kitchen and Liam helped himself. They sat down on opposite couches in the living room, McGuire facing the view as was only due the homeowner.

“Do you live here alone?”

McGuire looked around. “What, too much room for one guy?” He sounded defensive.

Liam shook his head. “You’re an actor. And you’re a box office star. Where’s the entourage?”

McGuire grimaced, and Liam admitted that it was very odd indeed to watch a face he’d seen often on his own television screen make human expressions sitting right across from him. Liam was generally good at spotting liars and their tells but this guy was a professional actor, the first and only of Liam’s acquaintance. How to know what was real?

McGuire looked back at Liam, and something of his thoughts must have shown because—was it an expression of disgust—flashed across his face. He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “There’s a cabin out back. Len lives there. A housekeeper comes once a week. The rest of the time it’s just me.”

“Was Len at the party?” A nod. “I’d like to talk to him, too.”

“Want me to call him over?”

“No, I’ll pay a visit afterward.” He wanted to talk to the witnesses individually if at all possible.

“Right,” McGuire said. He picked up a sheet of paper from the coffee table. “I printed it out. Easier to read than my handwriting.” He fidgeted with it. “I don’t mean to intrude on your investigation but these people were my guests, in my home by my invitation. I don’t want to hang them out to dry.” He looked up to meet Liam’s eyes.

“I appreciate your feelings,” Liam said. “My on-the-scene estimate indicates that Erik Berglund was killed late Monday or early Tuesday morning. That estimate is not official and may be contradicted by the findings of the medical examiner, but if it’s close then you and your party guests will have been the last to see him alive.”

“Other than the murderer,” McGuire said. “Who wasn’t necessarily here.”

Liam nodded his totally deniable agreement. You never got the best out of a witness by antagonizing them right out of the chute. “Did everyone you invited come?”

“Yes.” McGuire handed over the sheet of paper. Erik Berglund’s name was at the top of the list. Next were Allan and Cynthia Reese and Grace and Greg Kinnison. “Kyle and Logan’s parents?”

McGuire nodded.

Aiden and Shirley Donohoe. Domenica Garland. Hilary Houten. Blue Jay Jefferson. Jeff and Marcy Ninkasi. Allison Levy. Jake and Lily Hansen. Paula Pederson. Alexei and Kimberley Petroff.

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