Page 33 of Criminology of a Character

“True, but he’s nothing like the men from my hometown.”

“Neither is Eamon.” Bel smirked as she remembered Giselle’s expression when he brushed past her.

“Eamon isn’t like anyone from anywhere,” Olivia said. “Sometimes I wonder if he’s human. I mean, how does a man even grow that tall and handsome… and scary?”

Bel froze before the front door. Had Griffin said something to her partner? Had Eamon? Was Olivia catching on to the unnatural occurrences surrounding Bajka’s reclusive millionaire?

“Oh, I’m sorry, that came out wrong.” Olivia grabbed her hand. “It was a joke. I just meant that he would definitely surprise your family. Ewan would too, but they’re both unique individuals.”

“You’re fine,” Bel said, relieved her partner was merely joking about their love lives. If only she knew the reasons Ewan and Eamon were so striking. “Was your Thanksgiving fun?” she asked as they broke open the crime scene seal and entered the damaged farmhouse.

“It was,” Olivia sighed. “It was relaxing being with my family, so I was bummed when Griffin called. We can’t have nice things in this town, can we?” she laughed.

“This is what we get for poking into Anne Blaubart because we were bored.”

“Stop.” Olivia’s laugh escaped like a squawk as she shoved her partner.

“Next time we’re bored, we should join a book club instead.” Bel bumped her back with her hip. “But until then, we have a body in a wall to keep us busy.” She gave Gold a quick rundown of what they’d learned so far.

“I noticed bulkhead doors when we walked in,” Olivia said as the duo stood before the collapse. “That would be a smart place to hide a body while the killer remodeled.”

“But the corpse was mummified. Cellars are usually damp.”

“Not if you use fans, a dehumidifier, and a heater. An old house like this? Those items were probably already on hand.”

“Where was it?” Bel ventured back out into the wind.

“Right side.” Olivia pointed, and the women circled the house until bulkhead doors came into view.

“It’s locked.” Bel nudged the thick chain with her boot.

“Deputy Rollo might have bolt cutters,” Olivia said. Griffin had ordered the department’s newest hire to accompany them, and while Bel didn’t expect trouble, she appreciated her boss’ concern. Both detectives had a knack for finding danger in the least expected places.

Olivia jogged over to where the officer sat in his car, and seconds later, they both returned, a bolt cutter in the attractive deputy’s fist.

“Will that be all?” Rollo asked as he snapped the lock with ease.

“That’s it, thanks,” Bel said. “It’s cold out. You might as well wait in your car. We’ll call if we need help.”

“Detectives.” He nodded before returning to his vehicle.

“Gosh, he’s handsome,” Olivia said.

“Are we back on that?” Bel asked as she pulled the cellar doors open.

“I introduced him to Violet at The Espresso Shot while you were on vacation,” Olivia said as she followed her partner into the darkness. “He definitely thought she was cute. I’m notsure how she felt, but she was in a rush. She and Ewan have that commission they’re working on, so she might’ve just been preoccupied.”

“I think you missed your calling as a matchmaker.” Bel rolled her eyes as she found a string connected to a single bulb, and tugging it, she scanned the cellar. “I was expecting a dirt room, but this looks sealed.” She ran her fingers over the concrete floors. “Depending on what time of year Walker was killed, leaving the doors open slightly would allow for decent airflow. Put large fans and heaters in the corner, and this would've become an oven. I think you’re right. This might be where the killer mummified Walker.”

“Did he mummify him on purpose?” Olivia asked. “Or was he just trying to stop the stench while he rebuilt the wall?”

“I don’t know,” Bel said as they climbed the stairs to the yard. The cellar was bare, and while forensics would want to do a sweep, she doubted anything remained after all these years. “It depends on if Walker’s death was an accident or premeditated, I guess. Did the killer arrive here prepared, or was he scrambling after the fact? I’m leaning towards an accident because I think the killer cared for Walker. Why else bury him so close to where he’d spend most of his waking hours?”

“Uff.” Olivia shuddered. “It freaks me out thinking about human remains watching over me. This case is bizarre. He kills someone just to live in his house?”

“Maybe.” Bel climbed the porch steps and held the door open for her partner, shrugging as Gold passed her. “Maybe not. Which is why I want to look around. There’s a truck outside, but no dead grass below it, which means someone has been driving it.”

“Or at least changing its parking spot,” Olivia said.

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