Page 64 of Every Deadly Suspicion

Jared stood with his hands on hips and watched the fishermen.

“What’s got your attention, Hodges?” Stokes asked. He was the one with the radio in case they had to head back fast for a call.

“Those guys; they hooked something.”

One of the men jumped off the rock into the water. It was about knee-deep. He appeared to be struggling mightily with a large object.

“Maybe a boat that sunk?” Paul guessed.

“I don’t think so. Let’s go help.” Jared turned to Paul. He did not look as if he were curious at all.

“Go ahead. I’ll give you five minutes.”

Bryce joined Jared, and together they jogged toward the fishermen. The exposed bottom had hardened in the unrelenting sun so it was not a difficult path.

By the time Jared and Bryce reached the men, they were both in the water struggling with what looked like a large metal drum.

“You guys need some help?” Jared asked.

He got an affirmative answer, so he and Bryce waded in.

It was an oil drum, old and rusted. Water drained out of several holes as the men dragged it along, and it lightened a bit. As they got it out of the lake, more water drained out.

It smelled musty, moldy, and old.

“Let’s open it,” the first fisherman said.

“It’s old and rotted,” Bryce noted. “Shouldn’t be difficult to open.”

Jared felt the hair rise on the back of his neck. He wasn’t certainhe wanted to see what was inside the barrel. Before he could voice disagreement, the fisherman jerked the top rim and it gave way, splitting off the top with a metallic groan.

The pungent smell of death wafted from the barrel. Jared peered in, then stepped back, shocked. “I think it’s a body.”

“No, no, it’s not,” the fisherman protested. “It’s just rocks—”

He was about to reach in but Jared stopped him. “That’s a skull, not a rock. Look at the eye socket.”

Bryce stepped forward and peered in.

Jared caught his gaze and knew his coworker saw the same thing. There was no question—it was a human skeleton.

“Oh, wow, you’re right,” the fisherman agreed. “What have we found?” He stepped back, a mystified expression on his face.

CHAPTER 35

“HE SAID THAT HE DIDN’T KNOW?”

“That’s what he said.” Hanna had managed to meet Nathan for breakfast. “Not ‘I can’t remember’ but‘I don’t know.’How could he not know?”

“That is odd. Did he say any more?”

“No. He started coughing and the hospice aide said he’d talked enough for the day.”

“Poor Mandy.”

“She handled it well, but she was disappointed,” Hanna said. “I’m going to ask him again tonight.”

Nathan sipped his coffee, and Hanna had the distinct impression that something was on his mind. Was it just the investigation or something else?

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