Page 51 of Montana Manhunt

As soon as Grant closed the door, Noah murmured, “Violet, you and Rayne stay here while Grant and I check the SUV.”

“Learn anything while Noah and I were with Bradley?”

“Carol thinks the sun rises and sets on her boss, and he can do no wrong. She also loved your sister and thought she was the best social worker this city had ever seen.”

After circling the SUV, the men raised the hood of the vehicle and peered down. A minute later, Grant lowered the hood. “We’re clear.”

“Come on.” Rayne said. “Let’s get out of here.”

Suited her. Violet was eager to move ahead in the investigation. She had a feeling time was running out to find the culprit. The longer he was free, the greater the chance he would destroy evidence.

CHAPTER NINE

NOAH HELPED VIOLETinto the front passenger seat, closed the door, and circled the hood to climb behind the wheel. He cranked the engine and looked at Violet. “Where does your aunt live?”

She flinched. “Are you sure that’s wise? My aunt basically washed her hands of us as soon as my sister and I turned eighteen.”

“Did your sister keep in touch with her?”

A nod.

“We need to talk to her.”

Violet sighed and spouted off directions to the house. “She won’t be happy to see me.”

“No one was happy to see me when I carried a badge.” He threaded his fingers through hers. “We need to find out what she knows. She might be helpful.”

“Fat chance,” she muttered, then fell silent for the rest of the drive to Rosalie Trevelyan’s home.

The attractive ranch-style home had a large yard filled with beautiful landscaping and extensive flower beds prepped and ready for spring planting in a few months. “Is this where you grew up?” He parked at the curb.

She snorted. “Are you kidding? We lived in an apartment on the outskirts of town. As soon as she kicked us out, Aunt Rosalie bought this place.”

Yet the other woman claimed she didn’t have any money. If that was true, where did she come up with the down payment for the house? Another reason to have Zane dig into the woman’s background. Something wasn’t right.

“What do you want us to do?” Grant asked.

Noah thought about that for a beat, then said, “Come with us.”

“Copy that.”

Noah and Grant exited the SUV and helped the women to the sidewalk. “How do you want to play this, Violet?” Noah asked.

“Doesn’t matter. Aunt Rosalie will be as cold as ice to me and charming to the rest of you.”

“Well, this ought to be fun,” Rayne murmured. “Let’s see what the lady can dish out.”

They walked to the porch, and Noah pressed the doorbell. He wrapped his arm around Violet’s waist.

A moment later, a blonde-haired, brown-eyed woman in her late fifties opened the door and stared at Violet. Her pleasant expression morphed into a glare. “What are you doing here?”

“I needed to see you, Aunt Rosalie. May we come inside to talk?”

Rosalie’s gaze shifted from Violet to the rest of them. The glare changed yet again into one of welcome and curiosity.

Exactly what Noah had hoped would happen. He held out his hand. “I’m Noah, Violet’s boyfriend. This is Grant and Rayne, our friends. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Trevelyan.” He released her hand after squeezing it briefly.

“Please, come in and have a seat. I have a few minutes before I have to leave for the country club.”

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