Page 114 of Nash Falls
“Any idea where he would go?”
“None. I mean, all of this is really unthinkable.”
They both turned their heads when someone rang the doorbell.
Judith opened the door to reveal Detective Ramos standing there.
“Have you found out anything?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Is Mr. Temple here?”
“Rhett? Yes. He brought dinner. Please come in.”
She showed Ramos into the dining room, where he sat down opposite Rhett.
“Would you mind if I had a few minutes alone with Mr. Temple? I’m also handling the matter of his father’s death.”
“Of course not. I’ll just take things through to the kitchen.”
After she left Rhett said, “What is it, Detective?”
“We’ve just gotten the preliminary pathology report back. The bottom line is there are some issues with your father’s death.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“The medical examiner would not rule it a suicide.”
“Excuse me?” said Rhett. “Why not?”
“I’m not at liberty to say. But for right now we’re treating it as a homicide.”
Rhett pretended incredulity. “Someonekilledmy father? But why?”
“I don’t know, sir. That’s why we’re investigating.”
“How did you even know I was here?”
“Your office, they told us you were coming here,” answered Ramos.
“What do you need from me?”
“Well, for starters, and this is just routine, where were you when your father died?”
“What time are we talking about?” asked the quick-thinking Rhett.
“Between midnight and two the night before he was found.”
Rhett said, “Well, the fact is I was with a woman, downtown. I was there all night.”
“Do you have her contact information?”
“I do, yes. Her name is Laurel Burke.” He provided the information to the detective.
“Thank you, Mr. Temple. This is just routine stuff, I hope you can understand. We checked the video footage at your father’s estate. No cars came in during that time, so someone must have gained access another way. Unfortunately, the road is isolated and there are no cameras.”
“If my father was killed I want to know who did it, Detective. That’s all that matters.”
“Understood.” He looked around. “And how is Mrs. Nash doing?”
