Rocco sat down in the chair next to him, his long legs out, then came back as if he was stretching them, his keys jingling on his belt.
Rory wasn’t sure why he noticed the sound other than Gale explained everything that happened the day she was told about her car leaking.
“Being the only child, I feel the guilt to care for her,” Rocco said. “I’m sure you do too.”
“I didn’t used to be an only child,” he said, frowning.
“I know. I hadn’t realized who you were until Jared said something. I mean, Kane was talking about it, but I didn’t piece it together that Rene was your sister.”
“She was,” he said.
“You know some of this land was where the old Abdell cabin used to be. The one she was drawing, right? Or taking pictures of?”
“I do,” he said. “I didn’t know until I came back. I’ve been by the spot her body was found a few times.”
“I remember hearing about it all,” Rocco said.
“You weren’t here then?” he asked, frowning.
“I was in college around that time. My mother kept me informed about it all. She was scared. Lots of people were. Kane and Daniel kept telling her it was fine and there was no reason to be.”
“She knew them?” Gale had told him Rocco confessed his mother had worked for Daniel, but he’d play dumb just the same.
“She worked for Daniel for years and retired about five years ago. I’m just waiting for her to say she’s had enough of the area and we’ll move somewhere together. Nothing is tying us here.”
“You’ve got no family here?” he asked. “Sorry. I’m used to asking questions and it annoys people.”
“It’s fine,” Rocco said, standing up. “Need to get off my feet. I’m too young for my legs and back to hurt, but that happens when you’re standing all the time or lifting and moving shit.”
“I bet,” he said.
“Anyway, I doubt it’s going to help you any, but there is an old shed I could show you on the edge of the property that was kept here when the condos were built. It was on the original land and was moved. We use it for storage now. Daniel likes to spend money and then other times he’s cheaper than shit and holds onto stupid things. Or maybe it was Kane who wanted to keep the shed. No clue why.”
“What could be in there that I could use?” Rory asked.
“There were things from the old cabins they wanted kept. From all the properties that were bought to make these condos. I’m not sure the reason. Maybe there are some treasures in there they wanted to hold on to.”
Rory wasn’t going to turn down any chance to look at anything that might have been around at the time of Rene’s murder.
“I’d like to see it if it’s okay. Do you have to run it by Kane or something? Maybe Daniel?”
Rocco rolled his eyes. “No. I’ve got keys to everything around here. The condos are mine to monitor. I’ve got a bunch of shit to do, but if you’re around later, I can come by and get you.”
“Works for me,” he said. “You know where I’m at, right?”
“I do. Probably around five or so when I get done with work. Or is that when Gale is coming home?”
“I’m not sure when she’ll be home,” he said, shrugging. “We don’t keep tabs on each other.”
Rocco let out a quick laugh. Strange dude, but being helpful in a way.
The fact that there was a shed kept made his mind go toward trophies. Like it was a slap in the face they got this land for their expansion at whatever cost it took.
For sure the previous owners were strong-armed at some point. There were enough whispers about that.
He drafted the conversation with Rocco in an email, highlighted what was said, then sent it to Gale.
An hour later his phone rang and it was Gale. “Hi.”
