Buried Bones (Widow's Island Novella)

by Melinda Leigh

  “That shouldn’t take long,” Logan said. “I’ll meet you at your office in a few minutes.”

  Tessa picked him up at the station, where he’d left his vehicle. Then she drove along the edge of Widow’s Bay to Harlot Harbor. She parked at the marina. Both of Widow’s whale-watching tour companies had small booths at the docks in front of their boat slips.

  Widow’s Whale Watching was first in line. Tessa turned her face to the water and enjoyed the salty tang of the air.

  At her side, Logan inhaled. “The smell of the sea never gets old.”

  “No, it doesn’t.” Tessa headed for the kiosk.

  A pretty brunette of nineteen or twenty was writing on a clipboard. She looked up and smiled when they approached. “Can I help you?”

  Behind her, Tessa could see a muscular man hosing down the upper deck of the boat. She gave the girl a nod. “How long have you worked here?”

  “Four weeks,” the girl said.

  “We need to speak with your boss.”

  The girl turned around and shouted, “Chad!”

  The man on the deck looked over. He wasn’t close enough for Tessa to read his facial expression, but his posture stiffened.

  He turned away and set down the hose sprayer before descending a ladder. He crossed the lower deck, gangplank, and dock. He nudged the girl. “Go finish rinsing the deck, then clean the windows.”

  She ambled away, checking her phone as she walked.

  “I’m Chad Nickelson.” Chad offered his hand.

  Tessa and Logan accepted his handshake, and Tessa introduced them. “Do you own this boat?”

  “I do.” Chad glanced back at the vessel. “Well, me and the bank.”

  “Did you employ Aurora Franklin?” Tessa pulled Aurora’s driver’s license photo from her pocket and showed it to him.

  Chad’s brows dropped into a hard line. “I did.” His mouth tightened. “She showed up for work for a few days, then disappeared.”

  “Did you think that was odd?” Tessa pocketed the photo.

  Chad shrugged. “Not really. She was flaky. The days she did come to work, she was late.” He rolled his eyes at his employee’s retreating back. “All of these kids are a pain in my ass. They don’t show up on time. Can’t keep them off their phones. No attention span.” He lifted a shoulder. “But I need summer help, and I can’t afford to pay a lot, so what can I do?”

  “Do you have Aurora’s local address?” Tessa asked.

  “Her application will be in the office.” He turned back to the boat and yelled, “I’ll be right back. Keep working.”

  The girl waved and picked up the hose. Tessa didn’t agree with Chad’s generalization about college kids, but his current employee was definitely not hustling.

  “The body that was found yesterday . . .” Chad started down the dock. “That was her, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes,” Tessa answered.

  “Shit.” Chad crossed the marina parking lot to a row of touristy shops. His office was located on the second floor, above the bait-and-tackle shop. He unlocked the door and led them into a small room. A metal desk and a few filing cabinets cluttered the cramped space. Through an open door, Tessa could see a toilet and sink.

  Chad stood behind the desk and fired up an ancient laptop. A few minutes later, a printer on top of a filing cabinet chugged and spit out two papers. Chad crossed the room, collected them, and handed them to Tessa. “Here’s her application.”

  Tessa read the page. Aurora had listed two addresses: her permanent residence on the mainland and a local summer rental in the Seaside Cottage Resort. She scanned the rest of the application, noting Aurora had listed Sky’s mother as a reference. “What was the last day she showed up for work?”

  Chad tapped on his keyboard. “May twenty-fourth. She was scheduled to work on the twenty-fifth but didn’t show.”

  “Do you remember anything specific about Aurora?” Logan asked.

  “She only worked for me for a short time.” Chad stared out the window. “I didn’t have the chance to get to know her very well.”

  “But you didn’t think to make sure she was all right when she didn’t report to work?” Logan’s body tensed, and an undercurrent of anger seeped into his tone.

  Tessa shifted closer and pressed her arm against Logan’s until he visibly relaxed. She was angry too, but she didn’t want Chad to get defensive. She wanted him to talk.

  Chad took a small step backward. His gaze dropped to study his boat shoes. “I guess I should have. At the time, I thought she’d just left.” His voice lacked conviction, and he refused to make eye contact.

  Tessa wondered if Chad was Hot Bod. “What did you do when she didn’t show up?”

  Chad shifted his weight. “I hired someone else.”

  “Were you angry?” Tessa pressed.

  “I was annoyed.” Chad folded his arms, and his posture stiffened. “But it’s not like it was the first time it’s happened.”

  “Why did you think Aurora might have stopped coming to work?” Tessa asked.

  His gaze finally met Tessa’s as he said, “I have a business to run. I don’t have time to coddle lazy college kids.” For most people, lying wasn’t easy. They often avoided direct answers. Chad’s evasive answer made her wonder what he could be hiding. “I gave you her application. Is there anything else you want? I need to get back to work.”

  “Of course,” Tessa said. “Just one more question. Did Aurora have any local friends? Did you see her talking to anyone?”

  “Not really.” Chad scratched his chin. “But a guy showed up at the dock asking about her a few weeks ago. I don’t know who he was.”

  “He didn’t give his name?” Tessa asked.

  “No.” Chad shook his head. “I said I hadn’t seen her, and he left.”

  “Can you describe him?” Logan asked.

  “Early twenties, dark hair. Average looking.” Chad shrugged. “These college kids all look alike, and I wasn’t really paying attention.”

  Tessa smelled a lie, but what was he lying about, and why? She turned toward the door. Logan didn’t budge. He was still squared off facing Chad.

  “Are you married, Chad?” Logan asked.

  “Divorced,” Chad said.

  “Why did you break up?” Logan pressed.

  “My ex is crazy.” Chad sighed.

  “Crazy how?” Tessa asked.

  Chad shook his head. “We were married for three years. The whole time she wanted to move to the mainland, but I couldn’t do that. My business is here. She didn’t even move after the divorce. Like I said, she’s crazy.”

  “Thanks for your help, Chad.” Tessa set a business card on Chad’s desk. Then she nudged Logan until he followed her out of the office and down the steps.

  “His young female employee disappears, and he doesn’t bother to check on her? What an asshole.”

  “I agree. We need to find out more about Chad.”

  “Let’s grab lunch first.” Logan led the way to a deli in the middle of the row of shops. Ten minutes later, they carried their takeout to the SUV.

  Tessa scarfed down her turkey sandwich in a few bites, then started the engine. She called Bruce and asked him to locate Chad’s ex-wife.

  After she’d finished with the call, Logan asked, “Do you think the man asking about Aurora even existed?”

  “I don’t know, but I also didn’t like his answer when I pressed him on why Aurora might have quit.” Tessa drove out of the lot, heading for the Seaside Cottage Resort. “He was either holding back information or downright lying.”

  4

  The Seaside Cottage Resort was just down the road from the marina. Logan scanned the entrance. In his opinion, calling the small cluster of one- and two-bedroom units a resort was a stretch. Also, the sea was more than two blocks away. Maybe you could see the water if you stood on a roof. But despite the misleading name, the place was popular among college kids and families on a tight budget.

  Tessa turned at a
sign that read SUMMER RENTALS. The very first cottage was marked OFFICE. They got out of the car, and Logan took stock. Tourists crowded the grounds. About half the cottages had a vehicle parked in the assigned space. In the rear of the complex, Logan could see a pool surrounded by a fence. Kids splashed in the water while adults watched from lounge chairs. A sign with an arrow directed guests toward a path leading to the harbor.

  A bell mounted on the door jingled as Tessa and Logan went inside.

  The tall hairy man behind the registration desk looked up from a computer. He eyed their uniforms with a raised bushy eyebrow. “Can I help you?”

  “I’m Deputy Black, and this is Ranger Wilde.” She gestured to Logan. “Are you the manager?”

  “I’m Earl Byrd.” He hiked up his jeans. He carried plenty of muscle as well as a small paunch that rode above the waistband of his pants. “I own the place.”

  Tessa nodded. “You rented a unit to Aurora Franklin.”

  Earl tapped on his keyboard and read the screen. “Yes. She’s renting unit twenty-one for the summer.”

  “When was the last time you saw Ms. Franklin?” Tessa pulled out her notepad and pen.

  Earl scratched his chest. A thick mat of hair spilled through the V-neck of his T-shirt. “I don’t know. Why do you want to know?”

  Tessa ignored his question. “Don’t you need to collect rent?”

  Earl said, “She paid up front for the summer.”

  “Is that typical?” Tessa asked.

  “Yeah. We’ve been screwed too many times. Our season is limited, and we need to book our units ahead of time. We can’t afford to have them sit empty. Now, what’s this all about?” Earl demanded.

  “When was the last time you saw Ms. Franklin?” Tessa enunciated each word clearly.

  A bead of sweat formed on Earl’s upper lip. “I don’t know. Not recently,” he hedged. “Look, she didn’t complain about anything. No one complained about her. Therefore, no reason to talk to her.” Earl’s gaze darted warily from Tessa to Logan. “Why are you asking about her?”

  Tessa didn’t hesitate. “Ms. Franklin’s body was found in Bishop State Park yesterday.”

  Earl’s head jerked backward. “What?” Realization dawned in his eyes. “The one on Crone Mountain? I assumed that was a lost tourist.”

  “No. It was Ms. Franklin. Please think again about the last time you saw her,” Tessa said.

  “I’m sorry.” Earl threw up his hands. “I really have no idea.”

  “Do you live on the premises?” Logan asked.

  “Yeah.”

  Logan shot him an incredulous look. “And you don’t notice when a guest who rented a unit here for the whole summer disappears?”

  Earl turned up an indifferent palm. “I’m crazy busy in tourist season.”

  The bell rang, and a family of five burst in. Three kids ranging in age from about seven to twelve chattered. The two youngest pushed each other. The oldest rolled her eyes. The mother separated the squabblers and redirected them to a rack of brochures in the corner. The father walked up to the counter. He cast a concerned look at Tessa and Logan.

  Earl smiled at the father and stepped sideways to address him. “Can I help you?”

  “We want to rent some kayaks. Is there somewhere we can go that’s safe for the kids?” He gestured toward his family, clustered around the brochure rack.

  Earl pointed toward the brochures. “I’d recommend Travis’s Kayak Tours. He’ll send you out with a guide to make sure you stay in calm waters.”

  The mother plucked a leaflet from the rack. “Got it.”

  “Thank you.” The father tapped the counter, turned, and herded his family out the door.

  “Who checked Aurora in at the beginning of the summer?” Tessa pressed, getting right back to business.

  Earl looked down at his computer screen. “Wanda.”

  “Who is Wanda?” Tessa pulled out her notepad and pen.

  “Wanda Simms is my girlfriend.” Earl wiped a bead of sweat from his upper lip. “She helps me run this place.”

  “We’d like to speak with her.” Tessa made a note. “We would also like a key to Ms. Franklin’s unit.”

  “Yeah. Sure,” Earl said.

  Before he could move, the bell rang again, and a young couple in their midtwenties walked in, holding hands. Earl stepped aside to assist them.

  “Can you recommend a boat tour?” the woman asked.

  Earl gave them directions, and they left. “See?” he said to Tessa. “It’s like this all day.”

  “You were getting us the keys to Aurora’s unit,” Tessa reminded him.

  “Right.” He opened a drawer and fished through its contents. He pulled out a set of keys, removed one from the ring, and handed it to Tessa.

  “Also, we wanted to speak with Wanda,” Logan prompted.

  Earl picked up a cell phone from the registration counter. “Let me get her.”

  A couple of minutes after he’d sent a text, a small woman entered the office. About fifty years old, she was curvy but fit looking and clearly a Disney fan. She wore a vintage Mickey Mouse T-shirt. Tiny castles dangled from her earlobes, and her necklace was a silver slipper. Even her tennis shoes sported mouse-ear logos.

  She eyed Logan and Tessa with confusion. “Is something wrong?”

  Tessa introduced them. “We’re here to search Aurora Franklin’s unit and ask you a few questions about her.”

  Wanda’s mouth opened, then closed, like she was connecting some pieces of information. “Is that who was found on the mountain?”

  “Yes,” Tessa said.

  Wanda propped her hands on her hips. “I didn’t have that on my bingo card this summer.”

  “When was the last time you saw or spoke with Ms. Franklin?” Tessa asked.

  Wanda looked at the ceiling, as if concentrating. “I don’t know. It’s been a while.”

  Tessa raised a brow. “But you weren’t concerned?”

  Wanda shrugged. “Some guests are a pain in the ass. Others keep to themselves. I don’t have time to do roll call every day. If a guest wants to keep to herself, we’re frankly pretty happy about that.”

  Earl nodded at his girlfriend. “We have a few part-time employees, but Wanda and I do most of the work.”

  “Do you offer maid service?” Logan asked.

  “Not on a daily basis.” Earl shook his head. “Units are only cleaned between guests. We don’t do room service either.”

  So they had no reason to go into Ms. Franklin’s unit at all.

  “We’re going to search the cottage now.” Tessa turned toward the door. “We might have questions afterward.” Tessa took their contact information. Earl and Wanda lived together in one of the cottages.

  “We’ll be around.” Wanda headed for the registration desk.

  “Where is the unit?” Logan asked.

  Earl picked up a folded brochure from the counter and opened it to a map of the grounds. He used a pen to circle a cottage near the pool. “This is number twenty-one.”

  “Thanks.” Logan pocketed the brochure and followed Tessa out the door. They drove through the property and parked in front of number twenty-one.

  Before entering, they walked the perimeter of the tiny cottage. An old Ford Escape was parked in the alley behind the unit. A bike rack was mounted on the trailer hitch.

  Logan cupped his hands and looked inside the vehicle. A half dozen takeout coffee cups lay on the floor on the passenger side. “She liked coffee.”

  Tessa knocked on the front door and announced “Sheriff’s department” twice before unlocking and opening the door. They stepped into a cramped space that smelled sour and musty. Logan left the door open for fresh air. Just inside the entry, a mountain bike leaned against the wall.

  The cottage had three rooms: a combination kitchen and living area, a bedroom, and a bath. Tessa handed him a pair of gloves. There was no kitchen table, just a breakfast bar and two stools.

  Logan stopped and stared
at the small purse and cell phone on the counter. “Girls don’t go out without their purse and phone.”

  “No, they don’t,” Tessa agreed. She picked up the phone. “Battery is dead.”

  Logan pointed to a charger plugged into the wall on the other side of the room.

  Tessa carried the phone across the kitchen and plugged it in. “It’ll need some charge before it’ll turn on.”

  A few dirty dishes and empty cups sat on the coffee table, but the living room was otherwise empty.

  “I’ll take the bedroom.” Tessa headed through the doorway.

  Logan went into the kitchen. There was no dishwasher. The sink was empty. A few dishes dried in the drainboard. Canned soup, cereal, and some other basics occupied the cabinets. The fridge contained moldy carrots, sour oat milk, and yogurt. Nothing stood out. He dropped his gaze. Something glinted on the floor at the base of the cabinet. He crouched to get a closer look. A piece of broken glass lay on the tile. He made a mental note.

  Tessa appeared in the doorway. “Everything seems very normal. She wasn’t a neat freak or a slob. I didn’t see anything out of place. No prescription medication.” Tessa glanced around. “Her suitcase is in the closet, and her cosmetic bag is in the bathroom.”

  “Doesn’t look like she was planning to leave anytime soon.”

  “No.” Tessa pulled a small flashlight from her pocket and shone it around the room. “I don’t see any blood or other sign of a struggle.”

  Logan pointed out the broken glass. “What about this?”

  “One piece of glass isn’t much of a sign of a struggle.” She produced an evidence bag, photographed the glass shard, and bagged it. “But you never know.”

  Logan remembered another kitchen that had turned out to be a crime scene in a past case. “If someone killed her here, they had plenty of time to clean up. Will you call the county forensic techs and have them bring luminol out here?”

  “Not at this time,” Tessa said. “The ME thinks Aurora was strangled. There might not have been any blood loss. Unfortunately, we have to keep the budget in mind and focus on more likely forms of evidence.”