The Humpback Rocks Murder by Patrick Kelly

Author:Patrick Kelly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Patrick Kelly

THIRTY-TWO

Chance was silent as the forensics team worked. It soon became apparent there was no more to learn from the gravesite, and Chance said he would return to the picnic area. Bill asked if he could bum a ride. Chance didn’t say much on the forty-minute hike back. The young ranger had a lot on his mind; instead of resolving a search mission, he had acquired a murder investigation.

When they reached the picnic area, Bill said, “What’s your plan, Chance?”

“Call my supervisor and wait for the special agents to show up. I’m not a homicide investigator.”

“I’m not trying to toot my own horn, but I’ve worked hundreds of homicide cases.”

Chance waved his hand toward the hill they had just come down. “She’s been lying there for years. One more day won’t make any difference.”

Bill grimaced, then gestured to a nearby picnic table. “Let’s sit and chat for a minute, okay?”

Once seated, Bill explained the basic terms of the trust governing Janet Evans’s estate. When Carrie Evans died, hundreds of millions of inheritance value shifted from Carrie to her four cousins: Sarah Anderson, Samantha Cucci, Kevin Quintrell, and Roddy Evans. Whoever killed Carrie buried her on the mountain and staged her disappearance. The murderer knew the terms of the trust. If they remained free and unsuspected, when Janet Evans died, they would inherit a vast fortune.

“It might have been a stranger murder,” said Chance. “All this trust stuff could be coincidental.”

Bill shook his head. “It’s fifty million dollars. This murder is not a coincidence.”

Chance fidgeted. “What do you propose?”

“Ordinarily, I would suggest you wait for the investigators to arrive tomorrow. But here’s the thing—this little reunion is almost over. Everyone’s going home tomorrow. Getting them together after today will be hard, if not impossible. I suggest you have a brief conversation with each of them to learn what happened on that hike seven years ago.”

“And you want to sit in on those conversations?”

“Frankly, yes, but I have my reasons. I know the players now, at least casually. You conduct the interviews and allow me to ask one or two questions at the end.”

Chance shook his head. “My boss won’t like that plan.”

Bill said he had a friend in the FBI. Chance’s boss could call Skip Forrester—a special agent Bill had worked with on several cases—for a reference.

From his expression, Chance remained unconvinced.

“In any case,” said Bill, “you have to tell these folks a body was found and that you believe the body is their cousin Carrie. At the same time, you can ask to see them in person.”

“What about the search for Samantha Cucci?”

“It will continue, but I have a feeling we may find her soon.”

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