Page 25 of Echoes of Sin

“Yes, and she even joined us for breakfast on Sunday morning,” Mauve revealed, her attention diverted slightly as well after she realized that someone was standing in front of the large bulletin board. She frowned a bit, but she made no move to check on her guest. “Luna and another hiker were talking about the trails, which was why I was able to let the sheriff know which one she’d chosen to hike that morning.”

“You wouldn’t happen to remember the name of the hiker, would you?”

For the first time since Brook had started to question Mauve, the older woman hesitated to respond. She pursed her lips and laced her fingers together in uncertainty over giving names to an investigator.

“Mauve, Luna Breen was abducted, dragged through the mountains, and killed in an extremely brutal manner.” Brook’s words hit her target. “I’d like to be able to let her mother and sister know that the person responsible will never be able to hurt another soul. I can’t do that without ruling out those who Luna interacted with in the days leading up to her death.”

“A lot of my guests are regulars who have been coming here for years,” Mauve explained after she’d given Brook’s compassionate speech some thought. “They’re good people.”

“I’m sure they are, which is why it’s important to rule them out. The sheriff already sent over your guest list for the weekend that Luna stayed here, but I’d like your insight.” Brook paused, giving Mauve some time to think over the request. “Did anyone seem to show Luna any special interest? The other way around, maybe?”

“Luna was talking to Ryan Atley about the trails, but he’s been a regular for years. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. His family are regulars, too.”

“And did Ryan return to the inn on Sunday evening?”

“Yes. He and his fiancé, Becky, left here to return to Charlotte around eight o’clock that night.” Mauve once again turned her focus to the male subject in front of the bulletin board. “Lance, is there something that I can help you with? I believe Kirk is helping another guest right now.”

“No, thank you,” Lance called out, not really looking their way. “I’m just killing time, waiting for my fiancé.”

Brook didn’t recall seeing the name Kirk in any section of the missing persons report sent over by Otto. Seeing as Mauve was rather protective of her guests, Brook figured such defense mechanisms would only be tenfold for employees. There was a way around such a strong reaction, though.

“Speaking of Kirk, would you mind if I speak with him while I’m here?” Brook asked, continuing without pause so that Mauve wouldn’t be upset by the request. “It sounds as if he often socializes with the guests, and I’m hoping that he might have some insight on Luna’s conduct while she was here.”

“Of course,” Mauve said as she stood from the couch. “Will you be speaking with Mrs. Breen, too? She and her daughter came back around lunchtime, and they’ve been in their room ever since.”

“I spoke with Mrs. Breen and her daughter earlier today,” Brook said right as she noticed Lance peering up to the second level. The wooden railing of the staircase wrapped around so that the entrances to the rooms were visible from the front door. The spindles were made of thick natural wood and matched the rest of the exposed beams throughout the inn. Had someone been listening in from above? “It’s been an emotional two days for them, and I think it’s best to give them some privacy right now.”

“Of course, of course.” Mauve made her way around the counter. She was in the midst of reaching for the phone when her lips spread into a smile. “Kirk. I was just going to call you. I thought you were around back with those folks from Utah. Do you have a moment to speak with Agent Sloane?”

Brook didn’t bother to correct Mauve about the assigned title. Most people assumed that she and her team were federal agents, and it was pointless to get into a lengthy explanation of how a consulting relationship worked between the Bureau and her firm. What wasn’t futile was this visit. Otherwise, Brook never would have known about Kirk.

Why hadn’t his name been listed in the missing persons report?

“Kirk, I won’t keep you long,” Brook said as the man finally made his way down the wide staircase. It was only after they shook hands that she pressed for a bit more information. “I apologize for being so informal. I wasn’t given your surname.”

“Sampson.” Kirk appeared to be in his early thirties. He was tan, lean, athletic, and there were calluses on his hands. The flannel shirt he wore was only half-buttoned, but Mauve didn’t seem to mind his casual appearance. “I’m not sure what I can tell you that would help your investigation. Luna arrived on a Friday. She seemed like a nice enough girl, but she was an experienced hiker. We didn’t talk much.”

“Why was that?”

“Mauve keeps me around to help the beginners,” Kirk said before flashing a smile Mauve’s way. “She cares about her guests, and these mountains can be dangerous. They should be treated with respect.”

“Was there anything unusual that you noticed about Luna?” Brook paused when the front door opened and revealed a young woman. She lifted her sunglasses and zeroed in on Lance, though she seemed to hesitate before greeting him with an embrace. “Did Luna seem upset to you at any time? Did you witness anyone bother her?”

“No,” Kirk replied with a shake of his head. He crossed his arms without giving the couple near the front a second glance. “Mauve’s business slows down in the month of October. The weather changes can be pretty dramatic up here, especially late in the month. Fifty-degree temps can plummet in hours. We’ve even been known to have a snowstorm or two this time of year. Rare, but it’s happened before. What I’m getting at is there were only a handful of guests last weekend. Everyone ate their meals, talked about the trails, and then went their separate ways.”

“I appreciate your time.” Brook saw no reason to keep Kirk any longer. Both he and Mauve agreed that Luna hadn’t been distressed in any way, and there were only so many ways to ask the same question over and over again. “I won’t keep you.”

Kirk merely nodded without saying a word as he walked away. He didn’t retrace his steps back up the staircase, but instead strolled over to have a discussion with Lance and his fiancé. Brook found it odd that there wasn’t a ring on her left hand.

“Mauve, I’d like to see Luna’s room now that forensics has finished processing the scene. I’d also like to know the names of the guests who were staying in the rooms on either side of her on the off chance they might have heard something,” Brook requested right as the sound of her ringtone indicated that she was receiving an incoming call. “If you’ll excuse me a moment.”

Mauve nodded as she turned to reach for the appropriate key. Brook stepped away from the counter as she pulled her cell phone out from the side pocket of her purse. She wasn’t surprised by the name on the lighted display.

“What have you got for me, Bit?”

“Confirmation that your profile was spot on,” Bit said, his tone a mixture of triumph and remorse. “Sylvie and Riggs discovered a cabin where a lot of blood was spilled in the middle of the floor. At least, according to the luminol spray. Someone went to a lot of trouble to clean up. No body, though.”

“Alert forensics,” Brook said as Helen Beckham and Carissa Norman’s faces came to mind. Would the DNA of the second crime scene match one of the two women? “See if the team can’t get up there tonight. The faster we process that cabin, the quicker we have results. I’ll be back in a half hour.”

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