Page 94 of All You Want
Off she goes into the bathroom, and Rosalie borrows a key to another room so she can shower and change.
Once I’m alone, I take out my chart and wonder.
Who else might know about the tunnel?
Evan, most likely. He supervised the construction.
Dillon and Diana who used to play in the ruins when the property belonged to their grandmother.
Any of Dillon’s friends? Possibly, except Todd didn’t know, and he used to share a paper route with Dillon. But could the Drunk Tank guys know? It’s possible they hid in the mineshafts to drink and do drugs.
Molly and Randy would fit the profile, and then there were the older generation.
Might Walt, Donnie, Johnson, and Corny know Diana’s grandmother?
Vinnie. He’s the groundskeeper, and his family owned the Sixty Miners before Todd’s uncle bought it. But that means Chip Colson might also be acquainted with the underground tunnels.
My head hurts.
There’s a knock on the suite door, and Todd ambles in, smiling.
“Any updates from the search warrant?” I ask him.
He dots a kiss on my lips, and then pulls a chair and straddles it backward. “Got her costume. It’s got dirt, grime, and oily stains on it, but no soot. Not the same amount your friends got on their costumes.”
“Are you saying she didn’t go through the coal bin?”
“She could have changed into something else and dumped it,” he says. “The pickaxe is still missing, and she denies taking it. She still claims she spent the night with my uncle.”
“So, she’s talking?”
“A little, but she won’t answer my questions. Says we’re still in danger because the real murderer is out there.” He gives me a meaningful look. “I’m going to have to send a team through the coal bin to look for evidence, assuming your friends didn’t mess it all up.”
I raise my hands. “Hey, don’t blame me. You didn’t mark it as a crime scene.”
“That’s because I didn’t think anyone could fit through it other than the cat.”
“Randy’s thin enough.” I pick up the paper and study my chart. “He wasn’t seen at the ghost hunt, the fireworks, or after the body was found.”
Todd looks over my shoulder. “Nice chart. Anyone else have no alibis?”
“Diana, which we knew already. Vinnie, but he wasn’t supposed to work. Chad, who was knocked out, and Donnie.”
“I caught up with Donnie today. His knees were bothering him, so he went home. He’s sorry he missed all the excitement.”
“Well, I didn’t really think one of the old guys crawled through the tunnel.”
“I’ll send Shane with Randy and Dillon.” Todd wears a self-satisfied smirk.
“But what if Randy’s the murderer?”
“They won’t be armed, not even with nightsticks, and I’ll have Shane wear a body cam to record their movements. See if they know anything,” Todd says. “I’m not as dense as you think.”
“I never said you were dense.” I wrap my arms around him and give him a kiss. “Well, maybe your muscles are very dense.”
“Oh, I have a nightstick that’s even denser, especially when you’re around.” His voice lowers to a seductive drawl.
“I’d love to play with your nightstick.” I let my tongue explore his mouth as he swivels around until I’m in his lap.
