Page 11 of Let Her Hide

"Exactly," Fiona confirmed.

As they stood by the edge of the field, Jake looked at Fiona and nodded. "We need to talk to the families of the victims, starting with Craig Tozer's ex-wife. Maybe we can find a connection between Craig and Carrie."

Fiona nodded, and Jake was grateful to know she was still with him. It had been weeks since their last case together, and although things were still tense between them, he hoped they could see this one through.

***

Mel Tozer's home was a two-story, white-clapboard house with a wraparound porch and lush green lawn. The windows were trimmed with bright red shutters, and the front door was a deep hunter green. In the driveway, two cars were parked, one a late model SUV and the other a small hatchback. The house was nestled in the trees on the outskirts of Portland, surrounded by lush greenery and peaceful silence.

Jake pulled the car up out front and took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation ahead. He couldn't help but feel a sense of dread, knowing that they were about to ask painful questions to someone who had already suffered enough.

"Ready?" Fiona asked, her eyes meeting Jake's.

"As ready as I'll ever be," he murmured, offering her a tight smile before stepping out of the car.

They walked up the driveway, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the quiet afternoon air. A dog barked in the distance, its frantic yelps adding to the growing unease that gnawed at Jake's insides. He glanced at Fiona, her jaw set with resolve. There was something different about her--something more determined than before. It seemed she'd been doing just fine without him for the past few weeks.

Standing on the doorstep, Jake rang the doorbell. Moments later, the door opened, revealing a middle-aged woman with tired eyes and a weary expression. Her gaze seemed to weigh heavily on them.

"Good afternoon, ma'am," Jake said, flashing his FBI badge. "I'm Agent Jake Tucker, and this is my partner, Fiona Red. We'd like to discuss your ex-husband, Craig Tozer."

Mel's eyes flicked between the two agents before she nodded. "I don't know how much help I can be, but come in."

"Thank you," Fiona replied as they stepped inside.

As Jake followed Fiona into Mel's home. Inside, he could feel the absence of Craig--there were photos of Mel with her two children all over the walls, but no sign of Craig anywhere, as though he had never even been part of the family. As they walked deeper into the house, Jake took note of the immaculate living room; the furniture was well-arranged, the shelves displaying carefully chosen knickknacks. His gaze was drawn to a wall filled with framed photographs - more images of Mel with her children, still none of Craig.

"How long have you been divorced from Craig?" Jake asked, breaking the silence.

"Seven years now," Mel answered, her voice wavering just slightly. "Craig left us a long time ago." There was a bitter edge to her words, as if time had done little to dull the pain of abandonment.

"I understand this must be difficult for you," Fiona interjected, her empathy shining through. "We're trying to find out what happened to him, and any information you can provide could be helpful."

"I see," Mel said. "I'm not happy he's dead," Mel admitted, her fingers brushing against one of the photo frames, "I can't help but feel numb to it. He abandoned our children and left me to pick up the pieces." Her eyes lingered on the smiling faces of her children, and Jake felt for her. It must have been painful to have someone walk out like that.

"Did Craig have any enemies? Anyone who might want to hurt him?" Jake inquired, his mind racing with the possibilities. Every detail mattered; every piece of information could lead them closer to the truth.

"Enemies? I don't know," Mel sighed, her gaze distant. "He was a different man when he left. I barely knew him anymore."

“Why did you two break up?” Jake asked.

Mel hesitated, her eyes downcast. "He was cheating on me," she whispered, the words barely audible. "I found out, and I couldn't stay with him anymore."

Jake exchanged a glance with Fiona, both of them noting the tension that hung in the air. It was a familiar story, one they had heard all too often in their line of work. But there was something about the way Mel said it that made Jake wonder if there was more to the story.

"Did you ever find out who he was cheating with?" Fiona asked gently, her tone soft and non-judgmental.

Mel shook her head. "He was always so secretive. I never knew who the other woman was."

Jake could feel frustration bubbling inside him. They were hitting a dead end, and he couldn't shake the feeling that they were missing something important.

"Mel, can you tell us anything about Craig's bee allergy?" Fiona asked. "Was he ever concerned about it?"

"Concerned?" Mel scoffed, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. "Craig was never one to worry about his own well-being. He barely carried an EpiPen, if that tells you anything."

"Didn't that ever worry you?" Fiona pressed her brow furrowing. Jake could imagine the risks Craig had taken with his life.

"Of course it did," Mel admitted, her voice strained. "But after a while, I realized there was no point in trying to protect someone who didn't care about themselves." She paused, looking out the window before letting out a heavy sigh. "As much as it pained me, I had to let him go. But I have to say, it's ironic bees were what killed him in the end. Why is the FBI looking into this, anyway?"

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