Page 82 of Montana Manhunt

“Perhaps he feared a neighbor heard something the night he killed Violet’s sister and came back later to trash the place.”

“So why come back and double the risk of someone noticing him loitering around the apartment?”

“To make sure he left nothing behind.”

“But returned to damage everything?” Ellis looked skeptical.

Noah didn’t blame him. “If Camilla was murdered by a serial killer, he might want a souvenir of his kill.”

The detective scowled. “There’s no proof this is a serial killer’s work.”

“Have you looked for murders in and around your county with a similar MO?”

“There aren’t any.”

Noah and Grant exchanged glances. Holy smoke. Was Ellis simply spouting the party line from Chief Hanson, or did he really believe Camilla was murdered by a stranger passing through town? The odds of that being true were low.

He turned back to the detective. “Did you look?”

Ellis’s face reddened. “I’m not an idiot,” he snapped.

“Didn’t say you were.” Noah stared hard at the detective. “I know how it is to deal with pressure from those above you in rank.”

“Is that why you quit the force?” he sneered.

That stung. Noah lowered his voice. “Good cops follow leads. Do your job, Detective.”

Freeman and Casey returned with the journals. The detective handed copies to his partner.

Noah stood and held out his hand to Violet. “We’re finished, Casey. If Freeman and Ellis need more information, they can wait until we’ve slept a few hours.”

“Don’t leave the area,” Freeman said as Grant tugged Rayne to her feet and led her toward the hall.

“You know how to contact us.” Noah paused in the doorway. “We have a funeral to plan.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

NOAH SIPPED HIScoffee on the balcony as he waited for the rest of his team. He watched early morning traffic snake along the road at a sedate pace. That would change soon as workers rushed to their jobs.

His lips curved. Carterville’s version of rush hour was tame compared to the traffic around Nashville. Wall to wall vehicles all day and all night. No matter where you drove in Davidson County, you were guaranteed to hit a traffic jam somewhere along the route.

A twinge of pain in his thigh reminded him to take more pain medication. Good thing Violet restocked her mike bag on the jet.

Noah dug the packet of pain meds from his pocket and swallowed one capsule with a sip of his coffee. Hopefully, the medicine would kick in before they interviewed the two women who accused Bradley Melton of sexual assault.

One of the French doors opened. Violet stepped onto the balcony with a mug in her hands and sat on the outdoor couch beside him. “Rayne and Grant will be ready in ten minutes.” The medic sipped her tea, watching him.

He waited for the inevitable question and was surprised when she remained silent. “You aren’t going to ask me how I feel?”

She laughed. “Annoying you is not at the top of my priority list.”

Noah leaned closer and kissed her. “Thanks for that.”

“But since you brought it up, how do you feel?”

He chuckled. Although he’d love to tell Violet he felt great, she needed the truth as the team medic. Still rankled to admit he hurt this much. He needed to do something physical to get rid of the soreness wracking his body. “I just took pain meds if that tells you anything. Before you ask, I swallowed a dose of antibiotics as soon as my feet hit the floor.”

“Good. Noah, you need to stay off your feet as much as possible today.” She held up a hand. “I know. We have several things on our schedule that are time sensitive. I know you’re sore. Just do me a favor and don’t go for a run, all right? You need to give yourself time to heal.”

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