Page 32 of A Song for the Dead

“So the names Freya Richardson and Daisy Lyon don’t ring a bell?” Jo eyed him speculatively. “You ever hang out at the pizzeria on Saturday nights?”

“I prefer Aunt Betty’s Café, but yeah, I have been there, and yeah, I do recall the names. Hard not to as they’ve been all over the news this week. As it happens, I did speak to Daisy one night in the line for takeout at the pizzeria.” Warner leaned casually against the back of the truck and folded his arms across his chest. “I didn’t realize it was her until I watched the news.”

Nodding, Carter made a few notes. He had no need to. It was just a ploy to make Warner believe it was a routine questioning, but he fit the profile, moved around, and carried heavy bags. “When was this and do you recall the conversation?”

“Let me see.” Warner stared into space. “I did buy pizza last Saturday night. Maybe it was that week, maybe it was during the week. I’m not sure. We spoke about the weather, I think, and the crazy Halloween displays.”

“Was she alone or with a friend?” Jo lifted her chin.

“Alone, I believe.” Warner cleared his throat. “I was just being neighborly, is all. Making small talk in a lineup to pass the time. Everyone does it. It’s a friendly town. I recalled seeing her only when her photograph came on the TV. I don’t know her or the other woman.”

Lifting his pen, Carter nodded. “You still live on Stanton?”

“Yeah.” Warner rolled his eyes. “We nearly done here. I have a truck to unload.”

“Just a few more questions.” Jo smiled. “We won’t keep you long.”

Carter straightened. “Where were you between the hours of six and midnight Saturday night?”

“At home, relaxing.” Warner rubbed his chin. “I get up at four most mornings, so I go to bed early.”

“No wife or girlfriend to corroborate that?” Jo stared at him.

“Not yet.” Warner laughed. “I date but the hours I work make it hard for romance.” His gaze moved up and down Jo and he smiled. “I don’t see a wedding band on you either. Maybe we should get together for a drink sometime? Two lonely people looking for companionship.”

“That’s very kind of you.” Jo lowered her lashes. “But I prefer being single.”

“Truthfully, so do I.” Warner smiled at her. “Some women can be a pain in the ass.”

Incredulous, Carter stared from one to the other, Jo was more of the “Do you know the consequences of hitting on a federal agent?” kind of gal. He cleared his throat. “Same question, where were you on Saturday night between the hours of six and midnight?”

“Like I said, I dropped by the pizzeria and took a pie home.” Warner narrowed his gaze. “They have a CCTV camera there. You’ll see me waiting. I didn’t speak to anyone as far as I recall. The place was crowded.”

“What about Saturday afternoon?” Jo was expressionless. “You don’t work Saturday afternoon, do you?”

“Some days I do, but not last Saturday. It depends on what the clients need. Sometimes they want an extra pickup.” Warner sighed. “Last Saturday afternoon, I went into the forest and collected firewood and pinecones. If you recall, there was a service announcement for everyone to help clear the dead branches over fall and winter to prevent wildfires next summer.” He looked from one to the other. “As the forest is just across the road, I collect as much as I can and saw it into logs for winter. It sure beats buying fuel.”

“Yeah, it would.” Jo handed him her card. “If you remember anything else, like if you saw anyone else speaking to either of the women, please call me.”

“I will.” Warner gave her a long look and pushed the card into his top pocket and patted it.

A man came out from the back of the bay and stood staring at them hands on hips.

“How much longer, Duane? We’re waiting to process your load.”

“Got to go.” Warner nodded to Jo and climbed back inside the back of his van.

Carter folded his notebook and stared after him. He turned to Jo as they walked back to the cruiser. “He fits the profile.”

“So does he.” Jo indicated a gardener out front of the hotel, pushing twigs and branches into a large bag. “His truck is full of bags. He’s six feet tall, strong, and drives a vehicle that is invisible to most people. We’re pulling at straws trying to fit these crimes to the suspects. I looked at Warner’s hands. If he’d been out digging graves, he’d likely have soil under his nails or rougher hands from using a shovel. I didn’t see that. Strong, slightly calloused hands, but they’re clean. Neat nails. Yeah, he hit on me, but sometimes that can be a way to deflect attention from themselves. Unless we find more evidence, I can’t see Warner as a solid suspect. The evidence we have is circumstantial at best. Just how many people were in the pizzeria last Saturday night? How many people visit the beauty parlor or the general store? My main concern still lies with Frank Stark. He was seen speaking to Freya and was watching her. He followed her and then a white vehicle was seen driving fast along Stanton away from the scene of the crime.”

Carter pulled open the door of the cruiser and slid inside. “Yeah, he’ll be on the top of Jenna’s list. We’re done for now. I need to give Zorro a run in the park. Do you want me to drop you by the office?”

“No, thanks. I’ll come with you.” Jo smiled. “I need the exercise, followed by a coffee and a slice of pie at Aunt Betty’s Café.”

Carter grinned. “Kane’s bad habits are rubbing off on you.” He snorted. “What happened back there? You usually bite off the heads of guys who ask you out.”

“Not all the guys.” Jo giggled. “Just those who might be serial killers.” She raised both eyebrows. “With Warner, I was just testing his reaction. Often serial killers like to make friends with investigators, mainly to discover what they know about the case. The way I handled him, I left crumbs behind. He was expecting a rebuff and he was given a gentle refusal. He thinks he has me on his side.”

---