Page 100 of The Killing Plains

“Gotta be the killer, right?”

Colly’s head was throbbing. She rubbed her temples. “Probably.”

“Why smash an ant farm, though?”

Because threatening me directly didn’t work, Colly thought.God, I dread telling Satchel. “Who knows?” she said aloud.

“Bright side—this proves Hoyer’s not the guy. He’s in jail.”

Colly looked at her. “You’re right, that’s something.” She pulled herself together with effort. “Tell me about Salton Road.”

Avery eagerly recounted her morning’s work. None of the Salton Road farmers remembered seeing anything unusual Monday afternoon, when the baseball cap was taken, other than the police activity around the fireworks stand. There’d been no sightings of suspicious characters or unfamiliar vehicles in the vicinity.

“So that’s a wash, unless someone has a sudden brainstorm,” Avery said. But when she’d questioned them about the day Denny was killed, the results had been more intriguing. One farmer reported that he and his wife had seen an older woman heading south on Salton Road that afternoon.

Avery paused. “The lady was on foot, dressed up in church clothes and carrying a giant purse over her arm. Road dead-ends north of their house, so either they missed her when she came up from the south, or she cut across the fields from the direction of the fireworks stand. They figured she was a neighbor’s relative, since their dogs didn’t bark at her.”

“There’s no mention of this in the case file,” Colly said sharply.

“I know. They left for Colorado to visit their daughter a couple days after the murder, so the Rangers must’ve missed them in the canvass. By the time they came home, the investigation was focused on Willis.” Avery chewed her lip. “What do you think?”

“Denny was a big kid. I doubt an old woman could kill him.”

“Maybe she’s connected to the killer somehow. He might’ve dropped her there when he put Denny’s bike behind the fireworks stand.”

“Leaving her toddling through the pastures for anyone to spot?”

“Maybe they argued. Or maybe he didn’t want her seeing where he dumped the body.”

“Whoever she is, we need to talk to her. Let’s track her down if we can,” Colly said. “Anything else?”

Avery’s face clouded. “Nothing solid. But I got a weird vibe from Dave Carroway. He was evasive, practically slammed the door in my face.”

“He was never a suspect?”

Avery shook her head. “The Rangers checked him out because of his history with the Newlands. But his alibi was good.”

“Think he’s upset we’re looking into the case? Willis molested him when he was little—makes sense he wouldn’t want Willis’s name cleared.”

“Maybe.” Avery sounded unconvinced.

“We’ll let him stew a couple days and try again.”

Avery asked about Colly’s interview with Lowell at the plant. Colly told her the story and was wondering how much, if anything, to mention about the talk with Russ, when they heard tires on gravel. Russ’s SUV was coming up the drive. He parked behind the squad car and jumped out.

“Earla’s on her way. Y’all all right?” His question was inclusive, but he was looking at Colly.

“We’re fine,” she said. “Nothing stolen, as far as I can tell. Only the window and ant farm were damaged. But there’s something twisted about it.”

She described their search of the house. Russ was still asking questions when Earla arrived on her motorcycle, accompanied byFat Boy in the sidecar. Colly and Avery were obliged to go over the story again while Earla unloaded her kit and donned coveralls, gloves, and shoe covers.

“Y’all wait here,” she said. “Stay, Fat Boy.” When she disappeared into the house carrying her evidence kit and camera, the dog flopped down on the porch with a groan.

The wait was awkward. Colly wanted nothing to do with Russ, but since she wasn’t prepared to explain the situation to Avery, she was forced to act like nothing was wrong. Russ tactfully asked no questions about the case, though the break-in at the house made it impossible to avoid the subject entirely.

It was nearly five o’clock when Brenda called. She’d been in session all afternoon and had just seen Colly’s text.

Colly was surprised. “You weren’t with Satchel that whole time, were you?”

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