“Hardly.”Arnold dragged a chair toward the other desk and sat.“Connor’s been a right grump since you left.”
Selena’s fingers paused over the keyboard.
The comment slipped into the room and stayed there.
Arnold seemed to realize what he’d said a second too late.He looked down and started shuffling papers with needless urgency.
Selena did not chase it.
“What statements do you have?”she asked.
“Tom Reeder, who found Warren, and two members of the hunting group who showed up angry because we shut the place.I spoke with Sandra, but only for a couple of minutes when we first broke the news.”
“Start with Tom.”
“Got it.”
Arnold booted up the desktop computer, muttering about old keyboards and county budgets.
Selena took out her phone and called Washington.
Tanya answered on the third ring.“Washington D.C.Field Office.Tanya Bell speaking, keeper of forms, tracker of signatures, destroyer of lunch breaks.”
“It’s Selena.”
“I know, I saw on caller ID,” she laughed.“How is it down there?”
“Hot and humid.”
“Is that because of that hunky sheriff?”Tanya laughed.
“No,” Selena sighed.“Just the usual Kentucky summer.”
“Beats here.It’s been raining since you left.”
“I like the rain.”
“You would.It’s emotionally unavailable weather.”
Selena smiled despite herself.“I need background checks.”
“Sure thing,” she answered.“Names?”
"Sandra Holt and Warren Holt.Also Mary, their niece.Anything you can find on them, especially Warren's business dealings, if anything is in the public record.We'll need a warrant to check his financials.Ask Meg if she's able to get that for you."
“Got it.”Keyboard clicks came through the phone.“Any dates of birth?”
"I'll email you the dates once I have them in the deputy's report."She winked at Arnold. "Warren's fifty-one.Sandra late fifties.Mary is mid-twenties."
“It’s been boring around here.You think I might find something fun?”Tanya asked.
“I don’t know.I’m looking for anything useful.Criminal history, civil actions, bankruptcies, liens, name changes, old addresses, business connections, protective orders, restraining orders, weapons permits.Anything tied to real estate disputes.”
“That’s a lot of anything.”
“I’ll buy you dinner when I’m back.How about steak?”Selena laughed.
“Very funny,” Tanya said.“I’m still hurting about that.”
