Selena softened her tone.“Connor, if the killer came back, there’s a reason.Either evidence, a personal object, or something they thought Warren had.We need to treat this place as if it still has value to them.Get one of your deputies to photograph and write down every item.We can then give it to some of the people who know the lodge best, in case there’s something that shouldn’t be here, or something that’s missing that might be a clue.”
“Understood.”
“We’ll need someone to go over the lodge again, inside and out.Who’s handling forensics?Matt Price or Dr.Blethan?”
“Price.”
“Good.”
Connor’s brow lifted.“Good?”
“Last time, Blethan chewed me out like an outsider, remember?”
“He chews everyone out.”
Selena looked to the rafters for a moment.“That doesn’t improve the experience.”
“Matt’s easier, that’s for sure.”
“He seemed competent last time.”
“Very.Blethan hasn’t been well the last few days in any case.”
“Then get Matt back here.New prints on this window first.Exterior sill, interior sill, frame, nearby floor.Then expand.I want prints run across the lodge where practical, especially the table, kitchen threshold, doors, cabinet handles, anything the break-in may have touched.”
Connor took out his phone and began making notes.“Most of the lodge?”
“Yes.”
“That’ll make Matt’s day when he’s already done this once.”
“Tell him I asked nicely.”
Connor typed that, too.
Selena gave him a look.“Don’t actually write that.”
“Too late.”
Despite herself, she smiled.
For a moment, the lodge seemed to hold both versions of them.The ones standing beside dried blood, and the ones who had once camped not far from here and laughed at terrible guitar playing.The overlap was brief and uncomfortable.
Connor put the phone away.“I’ll get Arnold to start the catalog and Matt to process the break-in.”
“Great.”
Selena turned toward the table one more time.
Warren Holt had driven here with a deer in his truck and a reason he had not shared.Someone had brought him to this room.Someone had given him a blank page, and fired before he understood the message.
Or after he did.
“Who’s next of kin?”she asked.
Connor’s expression changed.“The widow.Sandra Holt.She’s a sweet lady.We’ve done some preliminary questioning, if you want to look at the notes, but nothing in depth.She was too upset yesterday.”
Selena looked toward the broken window, then back at the blood-darkened table.
