Once Pined by Blake Pierce

Author:Blake Pierce [Pierce, Blake]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blake Pierce
Published: 2016-12-13T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

Mount Rainier was never out of sight as Bill drove them to Amanda Somers’ home. Riley gazed out the car window at the snow-covered peak, so beautiful in the sunshine. It seemed a picture of majestic tranquility—not what it actually was, an active volcano that might erupt at any moment.

It struck Riley as a fitting image.

Just like this case, Riley thought. Ready to explode.

Of course, if Mount Rainier were to erupt, it could easily destroy a large part of the city. A series of murders seemed paltry by comparison, but murders were the one thing that she could put a stop to.

Riley was glad that she and Bill had commandeered an FBI vehicle of their own today, instead of riding along with Wingert and Havens. She was sure that the two local agents were just as glad to be rid of them.

As Bill wended their way past several waterfront communities, she saw houseboats of various types and sizes clustered closely together along shared docks. They were colorful and lively looking, with people bustling about obviously engrossed in everyday matters. Farther out in the water, small sailboats took to the breeze.

Soon they arrived at the gate for the community where Amanda Somers lived. Bill braked to a stop, and the gatekeeper stepped out of his comfortable-looking shack. As he walked over to the car, Bill opened the window.

“You must be from the FBI,” the man said.

Bill and Riley introduced themselves and showed their badges. He was a tall, lanky man with a good-natured face. Riley guessed that he was about her own age.

“Come right on through,” the gatekeeper said. “You can park just inside.”

The man opened the gate, and Bill drove past it and parked in the private lot. The man was standing nearby when they got out of the car and he shook hands with each of them.

“I’m Evan Highland,” he said. “I was working here yesterday afternoon, and—”

He stopped short and slouched awkwardly. Riley could tell that he was having trouble processing what had happened.

She’d recognized his name right away. The local police had interviewed him shortly after the discovery of Amanda Somers’ body. He hadn’t been on duty when the body was found, but he had been here when the visitor had arrived.

Before leaving the hospital, Riley had read a transcript of his description of the woman. He was an observant man, and his description was very nicely detailed.

Even so, Riley wanted to ask him just a few more questions.

“I wonder if you could tell anything more about the visitor you buzzed in yesterday,” she said.

A pained look crossed Highland’s face.

“Do you think she might have been the killer?”

Riley was sorry to have to bring it up. She didn’t want to tell him that he might have let a murderer into Amanda Somers’ home. Besides, Prisha Shankar had expressed her doubts. According to her, it was likely that Amanda Somers had been poisoned before the visitor arrived.

“We really don’t have any idea yet, Mr. Highland,” Riley said.

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