Page 91 of High Frequency

“Tell me you kept the spray can?”

Twenty-Six

Sloane

“I think it’s better if I talk to her alone.”

I smile at Jason as I get out of the sheriff’s cruiser.

SAC Bellinger was on the phone at the stroke of seven this morning. He’d seen my emails, both the one I sent before Jeff’s call, and the one I followed it up with after I talked to Dan. He wanted me to go interview Shelby, see what I could find out about her ex without giving her too much information on why we’re looking into him. He suggested I could always use the vandalism on Dan’s home as my excuse for questioning her.

Ewing called shortly after. He’d also spoken with the special agent in charge, and insisted on sending over a deputy to pick me up and drive me to the feedstore. I was a little worried I might’ve been saddled with Frank Schmidt’s miserable mug, but it was Jason who showed up. He’d been at the end of his shift, and kindly volunteered, which was a relief. I had him quickly stop at the office so I could drop off the spray-paint can for the sheriff to dust for prints.

“Sure thing.”

I know she recognizes me when I walk in the door. Her mouth narrows into an angry slit as she watches my approach.

“Shelby Vandermeer? My name is Detective Sloane Eckhart with the Lincoln Sheriff’s Office. I wonder if I could ask you a few questions?”

“What is this about?”

If she’s intimidated or even surprised I’m here in an official capacity, she doesn’t show it. She’s oozing defiance.

“Actually, it’s about Michael Cedric.”

I watch her closely when I mention his name, and she seems surprised.

“Mike? What about him?”

“Michael is your husband, isn’t that right?”

“Ex,” she corrects me. “I divorced his sorry ass last year.”

“Very well, ex-husband. Your ex owns a company I believe?” I flip through an almost empty notebook. “Yes, Cedric Transport.”

She snorts. “Some company, it’s just a stupid delivery truck he drives himself.”

“Did you ever work for him? Take phone calls, schedule deliveries, things like that?”

“No. He did that himself. I had a job, at Watson’s Market in Eureka.” She tilts her head and narrows her eyes on me. “What the hell did he do?”

Hmm. I’m starting to wonder if her ex had anything to do with spraying Dan’s place. She was surprised I brought him up, and so I can’t detect any deception.

I ignore her question and change direction.

“When was the last time you were in contact with your ex?”

She scoffs at that. “That would’ve been the last time he split my lip in the parking lot outside the courthouse in Eureka after the divorce was final.”

I feel a pang of sympathy for the woman. Now I understand a little better why she’d been so eager to hook herself to a good man like Dan.

“Did you report it?”

“Hell no,” she responds instantly. “It would’ve meant another thing to tie me to that man. Nah, I figured it was a small price to pay for being rid of him once and for all.”

“So he never called, never bothered you here?”

Her eyes drift over my shoulder and I see her lips press together. Then she lowers her gaze and straightens a stack of brochures. “No.”

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