Page 50 of Investigate Away
“We don’t know,” Jenna said. “We believe her name is Holly Whalen and that our victim just met her a couple of weeks ago.”
“Was she already on the island?”
“According to the owners of the glamping site, when Barbara checked in, she said her new girlfriend was coming from the mainland. Hanson is still interviewing everyone. Barbara was quite friendly and spent some time at the tiki bar with a bottle of wine. One of the guests said she was pretty tipsy when she went to bed at midnight.”
Jag arched a brow. “And what did she have to say about her new girlfriend and her ETA? The ferry only runs until one in the morning.”
“Same guest said Holly finally texted back stating something came up and she’d call in the morning.”
“Ouch,” Jag said as he knelt by the body, snapping on a pair of gloves. He took a pen and lifted up a thick clump of hair. “The victim has bruises and a cut on her cheek. Looks like maybe a scratch from a fingernail.”
“That’s what I was thinking. There are some on her wrist as well,” Jenna said.
“If she fought back, how the hell did no one hear?” he mumbled.
“The couple in the tent next door heard something. They don’t know what woke them up. They said they heard a thud, like something falling.”
“Or a body hitting the ground.”
“Yeah. But, Chief, I don’t think she was killed here.”
“Why do you say that?”
“They heard that at about two and went back to sleep. The husband then heard a rustling noise and the sound of a zipper. He said he saw a shadow race out of the tent. A few minutes later he heard the sound of an engine down the road. He decided to check things out, and he found Barbara on the floor. That was at four twelve.”
“So, you think the killer came into the tent, they left, fought, and then the killer murdered our victim somewhere else and dragged the body back here.”
“I do. Look at the back of the tent,” Jenna said.
Jag lifted his gaze. The flaps were pulled down, and the screen wasn’t zipped all the way up.
“It’s freezing at night out here. You don’t leave those suckers down and turn the space heaters too low. You won’t stay warm. I know this from experience. My husband and I stay here every time he’s back from a deployment. I was too lazy one night after using the outhouse, and my husband cussed me out something good when I made him get his sorry naked ass out of bed to both zip it up and turn the heaters on full blast.”
Jag chuckled. Knowing her husband, he could only imagine what came out of that sailor’s mouth. Of course, Jenna gave as good as she got. “Any blood?”
“There is some on the floor and on the bed,” Jenna said. “But if you look under her body, there is very little. Another reason why I don’t think she was killed here.”
“She could have gotten up to use the bathroom and was taken out there,” Jag said. “It didn’t have to originate here, and I don’t see signs of a struggle inside the tent.”
“Good point.”
Jag turned his attention to the left hand and the trinket.
A raven.
Rose gold.
Placed in the palm.
“Oh fuck,” he mumbled.
“What is it?” Jenna asked, standing behind him.
“It’s a mood ring on her left finger.”
* * *
Jag took a step back while the medical examiner zipped up the body bag and placed it on the gurney. He followed Albert out of the tent and toward the kitchen area.
