Page 32 of Home Town Knight

“I did. I’m sorry for your loss.” He sounded so sincere that all the smugness drained out of me, and I was left feeling empty. Same way I usually felt when I thought about my dad.

“Thanks. Is that all you came to say?”

“I thought you might appreciate an update on the investigation.”

“Is that a courtesy you often extend to witnesses?”

A smirk pulled at the edge of his mouth. “Not always. But I was thinking about your offer to consult. I might take you up on that.”

I opened my mouth, not sure what was going to come out. Then Jessi walked up with our drinks. I took a fortifying gulp of the table red. After she was gone, I said, “You keep surprising me, Tex. That’s the last thing I thought you’d say.”

He chuckled. “You seemed to have a good brain for thiswhen we talked earlier. I’d like to bounce some theories off you. See what you think.”

“You want to declare some kind of ceasefire? A truce?”

“I’m willing if you are. We could start over.”

Quite the change of heart. I swirled the wine in my glass. I still couldn’t get a solid read on this man. But I didn’twantto dislike him. My instincts kept on drawing me toward him instead of away.

“Is this on or off the record?” I asked.

He frowned. “Very much off.”

“Okay, relax. I was mostly kidding.” Sort of. “Go ahead.”

He eyed me, then started talking. “The murder victim’s name was Ace Tucker. He and his buddies went to college together. Their trip to Hartley was a reunion of sorts. They came to hunt, as their camo gear suggested when we saw them in the bar last night.”

“Did you ask for their hunting licenses?”

“I did. They got squirrelly. Turned out they didn’t have a proper license to hunt the elk they were after.”

I huffed. “Figures.”

“I let it slide with a warning, since it’s a misdemeanor anyway. Two of them were grateful enough to answer the rest of my questions. But the third, Josh Ellis, was far less helpful. He was the one fighting with Tucker in the hotel bar last night.”

“Guy with the stringy mustache?” I recalled.

Owen pointed at me. “That’s him. Not sure I believehisstory at all.”

“Do tell.” I put my elbows on the table as I took another sip of wine. Owen mirrored my position, leaning forward so he could lower his voice.

“Apparently, on their first day out, the foursome wasn’t having any luck bagging an elk where they started out. The next morning, they decided to split up. Ellis and Tucker werea pair. Still no luck for any of them on the hunt. But later that afternoon, the four friends met up at the Alpine Hotel. And Tucker suddenly had a pile of cash with no explanation for where it had come from.”

“Any of your citizens report a theft?”

He shook his head. “According to the other two hunters, Ellis and Tucker fought over the money in the bar. Ellis was angry that Tucker wasn’t sharing. Seemed to think he should get half. But Tucker wouldn’t pony up.”

“That should make Ellis your top suspect. Except he wasn’t the killer I saw.”

“Exactly. Also, Keira downloaded the Alpine’s surveillance footage a few hours ago. Thanks to your reminder.” He lifted his fingers, as if tipping his hat toward me, though it wasn’t on his head. “It showed Tucker leaving the hotel. Ellis and the other two hunters didn’t leave their rooms untilafterthe shot was fired and CSP responded.”

“What about the killer? Did the camera record him?”

“His face wasn’t visible in the frame.”

I bit back my disappointment. I was still the sole witness to the killer’s face. I’d helped the sketch artist with an image, but that wasn’t the same as my testimony giving a positive ID. Which meant I could still be a target.

“I’m guessing Ellis refused to tell you about the money?” I asked.

---