“Understood.” Glenn pushed up from the desk, heading for the door. “I want that report finished no later than end of day Monday, or I’m taking over the investigation myself.”
Zeus grumbled, almost as if on cue, and dropped back against his bed. Probably because Glenn hadn’t come in with a treat as he so often did. But it did give the men a reason to chuckle, breaking through the icy tension. They’d made a solid team these past five years. Chase didn’t want this investigation to insert ripples. A divided chief and deputy chief didn’t bode well for the department.
“There’s one thing that I thought was especially odd,” Chase added before Glenn could disappear down the hall.
“What’s that?”
“Granger won’t tell me what the claim amount is. He seemed secretive about it.”
Glenn shrugged. “On that old shack, I doubt it was more than the replacement cost of an outbuilding. Ten, twenty grand at most?”
“Then why doesn’t he just tell me that?”
Glenn looked about to answer when his attention was pulled down the hallway Chase couldn’t see from his seat. “Police Chief Grant, to what do we owe the pleasure?” Glenn leaned forward, extending his hand before Ryder came into view. It was likely Ryder was here to talk about fishing or something unrelated to the case, but Chase could ask for his help with a couple of things while he was around.
“I’m not here to arrest anyone.” Glenn cackled at some inside joke the two of them shared. “Just wanted to drop by and let you know the state patrol picked up a female hitchhiker near Girdwood. She admitted to being this far south andseeingthe fire. Said she couldn’t call it in because she doesn’t own a phone. But that’s all they could get out of her. She claims she wasn’t even on the property, just walking up the highway.”
Glenn turned a stern, knowing look to Chase. “What do you know about that?”
“Catching a hitchhiker isn’t evidence,” Chase argued.
“You’re still convinced there’s something shady going on?” Ryder asked, coming into the office to greet an eager Zeus. The dog sniffed his pant legs, no doubt detecting hisgirlfriend, Rowdy. The pup would be over the moon at seeing her tomorrow at Ava’s birthday cookout. One that was now being hosted inhisbackyard according to his sister’s earlier text. He suspected Laurel was behind it, but didn’t have time to think too much about all that right now.
No matter how strongly her kisses buzzed on his lips.
“I have some errands to run,” Glenn said, dismissing himself.
“That fishing invite is still open,” Ryder called after him. “Kings are biting. Just say when.”
“Think you can do me a favor?” Chase asked once he heard the door between the offices and the bay close. “Think you can find out how much the insurance claim is on that Jack Rabbit Creek Road property? The adjuster is being extra secretive with me about it.”
“Maybe he doesn’t want to influence your findings,” Ryder suggested.
Chase stared at the coffee pot, considering pouring himself a cup. But there wasn’t enough sugar to make it taste half decent even if he was desperate enough to drink it. He’d tossed and turned last night over both the case and Laurel, but preferred an energy drink over too-strong coffee. “Have you ever known an adjuster who didn’t try to poke holes? An accidental fire means they have to pay out the claim in full, right?”
“I’ll see what I can find out,” Ryder finally relented.
“Thanks.” It didn’t feel like a win. Usually, he and Ryder were on the same wavelength when it came to these things, and when they weren’t, it was Ryder who was convinced foul play was at hand and Chase trying—and failing—to convince him he was looking too hard at something simple.
Your gut’s never wrong.
Laurel’s confidence in him was the only reason he hadn’t signed off on that report to please everyone else. Once Ryder left, he’d reexamine the photos.Somethinghad to stand out. If he could just find one shred of evidence to support his theory, Glenn would back off. Maybe Ryder would believe him.
“Thought I might take the boat up north this weekend,” Ryder said. “Kings are biting, and my freezer is empty. Interested?”
For the first time in longer than he could remember, salmon fishing held almost no appeal to Chase. Leaving town this weekend meant he’d lose valuable time with Laurel. Not that he was doing a stellar job so far.Except all that kissing.That was progress, right?
“What’s that smirk about?” Ryder accused.
“I can’t go this weekend. I’ve got a wife to win back.”
“Oh, right, the ticking clock and all that.” Ryder’s phone chimed in his shirt pocket. Judging by his smile, it was Kinley. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m late for a lunch break.”
“The insurance claim,” Chase called out to him when Ryder stepped into the hall. “Just need a dollar amount.”
“I’ll get you your number.”
Chase barely navigated to the folder on his computer that held the photos from the scene when Zeus popped to his feet, whining eagerly. Before Chase could soothe the dog, he darted out the door.Unusual. He waited several seconds, unsure where the dog could get off to with all the doors closed, including the one to the bay.
