June leaned into Millie. “Oh no. He lives and practices law in Charleston. I know he comes home every once in a while, but I was surprised to see him last night at the bar.”
“Tell me about his brother, Silas.” Scott tried to form a complete picture in his head.
“He runs the outfitting business,” Millie said. “They’re located a few miles down the river from us. There are two other brothers. Lonnie works at the business and Glen is living in Richmond, I think.”
Maybe the murder had to do with a family squabble over the business. “So, we have two brothers here.” Scott pictured different scenarios. “And Clay, who often visits. Does Glen visit?”
“Not very often,” June said. “I think they had some sort of falling-out and he went on his way.”
“Hey, Millie?” a deep voice bellowed.
Scott partially turned to see a square-shaped bald man poke his head out from the kitchen. He wore a chef’s apron and had a knife in his hand.
“Hey, Bob,” Millie called out. “Smells great in here.”
“Good. I just wanted to make sure you knew that I borrowed your fishing knife. The one with all the gadgets in it,” Bob said.
Scott leaned his head back. These townspeople were going to be the end of him. “The same one that was used to murder Clay Baker?”
“Probably,” Bob said, smiling and revealing a cracked tooth. “In fact, I think Mart might’ve borrowed it as well. When we get right down to it, most of the fishermen in town have tried that knife at one time or another.”
“Thanks, Bob,” Millie said weakly.
Scott shook his head.
She grimaced. “I know. I’ll spread the word about telling the truth. The last time I saw that knife, it was in one of our fishing boats. It’s true anybody could’ve gotten their hands on it.”
That actually was good news.
Maybe Scott was on the right track. Anticipation at solving a mystery, a new feeling for him these days, rushed through his veins. He typed into his phone.
“Don’t tell me, more background checks?” Millie murmured.
“Yeah, more background checks.” He sighed. “We need to find Verna and Valerie.”
June pulled a phone from her pocket. “I’ll text them. Hopefully they can head down soon, and I’ll sweeten the pot with free pie.”
Scott smiled. “Thanks, June.”
Something flashed in Millie’s eyes and her chin lifted. Was that jealousy? Then they went blank.
Interesting. Very.
Chapter Six
Millie jumped out of Scott’s fancy SUV in the dirt parking lot of Snarky’s and walked up to the green metal door. With its weathered, wooden siding bearing murals of various fish, the bar had served as the main watering hole in the small town for generations. She knocked on the door.
Scott stalked up to her side, protecting her from the blustering wind. March was always chilly in West Virginia, and she should have brought a heavier coat. Instead, she’d just worn jeans, cowboy boots, and a green sweater that matched the streaks in her hair.
No sound came from within the establishment.
“It looks like they’re closed,” Scott said.
Millie rapped harder against the metal. “Oh, he’s here.”
“Let me.” Scott leaned over her and pounded on the door, much louder and harder than she had. His scent of coffee and freshly cut oak washed over her skin. She’d recognize him anywhere without having to look. In fact, the first time they’d met, she’d dreamed of coffee for a week. Her abdomen rolled over slowly, and for a brief second, she thought about turning into his heat.
“Geez, what’s the noise?” an irritated voice bellowed right before the door swung out.
