A quick glance around the house revealed no family pictures or memorabilia, only two black and white framed photos of the mountains and a lake. But then Barnes wouldn’t need photos of the past when he was still living in it.
“I’m actually a police consultant, Mrs. Barnes, and Brinley is a civilian. I just want to thank you for speaking with us today. I’m sure talking about the past is not something you want to do.”
Wendell Barnes sniffed in disapproval. “No, it is not. I’d appreciate it if you would ask your questions so we can be done with this.” He patted his wife on the hand. “You can ask anything in front of Lynn. She knows the whole story.”
“Let’s start there then. What do you remember from that night, Mr. Barnes?”
Jason deliberately kept his question open-ended. Guilty suspects tended to start where they felt the most vulnerable instead of at the beginning of the story.
Barnes sat up straight and crossed his arms over his chest, a huge body language give away that he didn’t feel like being open and honest. “I suppose you want to know why I was at the lake that night. Well, I’ll tell you. Linda and I had an argument and I went for a drive. That’s it. Nothing dramatic. Just an ordinary marital spat.”
“That’s not what you told the police that night,” Jason countered, watching the man’s expression closely. “You said you were fishing.”
Barnes’s lips twisted in derision. “I’m no fisherman and the cops knew it. I just knew that if I told them the truth they’d think I’d done it. Hell, they thought it anyway so I needn’t have bothered. But I didn’t shoot Linda. I loved her.”
He loved her so much he’d married her a second time, but with another woman.
“What else do you remember?” Jason prodded. Interesting the first thing Barnes mentioned was his shaky alibi.
“It was an evening like any other.” Barnes shrugged carelessly. “We watched some television and that’s when we argued. I went out for a drive. I pulled over because I was tired and fell asleep. That’s where the police found me. That’s all I remember. I told your father I wouldn’t be much help.”
“You’re helping more than you know. Do you have any idea what happened to the gun you owned? It’s never been found.”
“I hated that gun.” The man had a look of distaste that appeared genuine. “I only bought it because we’d been robbed. As for what happened to it, who knows? We had people in and out of the house all the time. Our friends. Workmen. Damian’s friends too.”
Jason had been able to find out very little about Barnes’s progeny. “Your son had friends over quite a bit?”
“All the time. Pretty much every day. You know how kids are.”
He sure did and that’s why he wanted to talk to Damian Barnes.
“I’d like to talk to him. Do you have a contact number for him?”
“I can get it but he doesn’t know anything. He was out that night.” The older man hung his head. “That’s my biggest regret. That he found Linda. If I’d come home first it would have been me.”
He murmured something to his wife and the woman stood and went into the kitchen for a moment before returning with a business card.
“Here’s Damian’s contact information. He runs a software company in Billings.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I appreciate your help.”
Jason tucked the card away in his breast pocket. The police report contained little information from Damian Barnes but there would be no one better to know the true dynamics between Linda and Wendell.
“I doubt he has anything to tell you,” Barnes said gruffly. “He was just a boy at the time.”
“I’m simply trying to be thorough. I’m planning to speak to your sister-in-law as well.”
Barnes laughed humorlessly. “I wasn’t Gail’s favorite person so I can only imagine what she has to say.”
“What is she going to tell me?”
Barnes leaned forward, a grim look on his face. “That Linda and I had a bad marriage which wasn’t true at all. All married couples fight. Gail didn’t understand that. Last time I saw her she was on her second divorce and counting. She did nothing but complain. Nothing was ever good enough for her. More, more, more. That’s all she cared about. She hated our house, our car, our life and she made sure I knew it every time I saw her. Bitch.”
Gail or Linda? Was Barnes conflating the two women? Because it sounded an awful lot like what they’d been told about Wendell’s wife.
“One more question. Did you or your wife have any enemies, Mr. Barnes? Someone who might want to hurt your wife or maybe you?”
A sickly grin crossed the man’s face and even Lynn Barnes seemed to stiffen in reaction.
“When a man makes money he also makes enemies, although I never took the time to catalog them. Perhaps I should have. Linda might be alive today. As for her, she could be direct and honest which ruffled a few feathers here and there, but no, I don’t know of any enemies that would want to hurt her. I’m not sure why the police can’t admit that it was a robbery gone bad. That’s all. We were supposed to go to a party that night but cancelled at the last minute.” Wendell Barnes stood, indicating that the interview was done. “I’m tired of answering the same questions over and over. There was never any evidence that I was guilty. I want to live my life in peace.”
In his lookalike house with his doppelgänger wife.
“I’m sorry to have troubled you.” Jason and Brinley stood as well. “I hope we don’t have to trouble you for another twenty years, Mr. Barnes.”
They walked to the front door and Wendell gave them an odd look. “I’m not sure what all the interest is in this now. I told the same thing I told you to that young man.”
Jason stopped in his tracks, and pulled his hand from the doorknob. “Young man? Do you remember his name by any chance?”
“Of course I do,” Barnes answered briskly. “Roger Gaines. He came here about a month ago asking the very same questions plus a few more. Nosy fellow. He wanted to talk to Damian too.”
Barnes knew that Roger was on the trail of his wife’s killer. That was motive.
Son of a bitch.
Chapter Twenty
‡
Brinley rubbed the goosebumps on her arm as they drove away from Wendell Barnes’s home. She’d stayed quiet during the interview just as Jason had requested which gave her a front row seat to the myriad of expressions that had crossed his features as he’d answered each question.
The man appeared guilty about his son finding Linda’s body but talked about her murder as if discussing the weather. His offhand manner had been shocking to say the least despite the twenty years since the incident. Brinley couldn’t help but think that if something happened to Jason talking about it years later would still upset her.
And they weren’t even in love. At least she didn’t think they were. Her emotions were all mixed up these days and just being near Jason made it hard to think.
“That was one of the creepiest things I’ve ever seen,” she declared, shivering at the memory of Wendell and Lynn Barnes. “She looks just like Linda. They could be sisters.”
“Or mother and daughter. I wonder when he met Lynn. I’ll have Jared check out her background. If he met her before Linda was shot then that would be another motive, besides money and unhappiness.”
“Isn’t that enough?”
“It never hurts to see why a criminal is highly motivated to do what they do. Love is a powerful motivator. Honestly, I’m more interested in the fact that he’d met Roger Gaines. He knew he was being investigated again by someone with nothing but free time. Maybe Gaines was getting too close.”
“So you think Wendell Barnes is our guy?” The man was weird but Brinley wasn’t sure he was a killer, but then she didn’t think she’d ever met one.
“He’s the best suspect we’ve got. Right now Jared is digging deep into this guy’s finances.”
“He didn’t have to tell us about Roger Gaines but he did,” Brinley poin
ted out. “There’s also the possibility that whomever shot Roger knew all about this investigation. It sounds like he wasn’t keeping anything a secret. And the murderer could be using this old case to hide what they’ve done.”
Jared chuckled and pulled into the parking lot of a barbecue joint, putting the truck in park. “You’re starting to sound like a cop. So I’ll ask you this, Officer Snow. What is your gut telling you?”
Good question. She rooted around in her psyche for a strong feeling one way or the other but couldn’t find one. Mostly she was plain confused.
“Right now, nothing. There are too many people that could have shot Roger. His brother, his sister-in-law, even his friend Brad. Could Wendell Barnes have done it? Yes, he gave off a slimy vibe that makes me want to take a shower but that doesn’t mean he’s a double murderer – triple if you count the attempt on Anita’s life. So I pretty much have no idea who killed Linda Barnes. Do you know?”
“No, and I wish I did. But my gut is telling me there’s still plenty we don’t know and that means we continue to dig for information.”
“Where to next?”
The only way to get her life back to normal was to solve this case. Failure? Not an option.
“We’re going to have lunch.” Jason swung out of the truck and came around to her side to help her down. “Did I mention that Gail was joining us?”
Just once she’d like to be one step ahead of Jason but it was proving impossible. He had some sort of law enforcement mojo that kept him moving forward, plowing through the evidence and uncovering truths.
“You know you didn’t.” He linked her arm with his and escorted her through the entrance. “I have to admit I’d like to meet her though. She did live in my house for twenty years. I wonder if she’d approve of the changes.”
His green eyes were twinkling as he waved to an older woman with silver hair and sensible shoes sitting in a booth about halfway down. “She probably would. Just a word about Gail before you meet her. She’s just as Barnes described her – blunt and honest. But what he didn’t say was she was a sweet woman who fully embraced life. I think she’s a real sweetheart.”
“She baked you cookies or something, didn’t she?” Brinley asked suspiciously when Jason slid his hand under her elbow to escort her to the table. “You’re a sucker for food.”
“Gail doesn’t bake cookies, I can assure you. She may not even know what the oven is for.”
That explained the pristine condition of the old-fashioned double oven that Brinley adored. It looked like it had barely been used.
The older woman stood and hugged Jason before being introduced to Brinley and shaking her hand. Gail’s eyes had lit up when Jason told her that Brinley was the new owner of the house. That had earned Brinley her own hug.
For a woman who had moved into an assisted living apartment Gail looked pretty spry. The hug hadn’t been some wimpy, weak thing. She still had some arm strength even at sixty-five. They slid into the booth across from Gail who was drinking an iced tea.
“I hope we haven’t kept you waiting. Actually we talked to your brother-in-law this morning.”
Jason ordered sodas for himself and Brinley. She flipped open the menu, keeping one eye on the woman who had lived in the house. She’d never met Gail and had only dealt with a broker for the transaction, but this vital woman didn’t look much like the house she’d left which had been a haven for cabbage rose wallpaper and chintz draperies.
Gail made a sour face. “Last time I talked to Dell was nineteen and a half years ago when I moved into their old home. He said the place had too many bad memories and he needed a new start.”
And then he recreated the entire thing right down to the woman by his side.
“He said you wouldn’t have much good to say about him,” Brinley responded. “Did you and he not get along?”
“Not in the least,” the older woman said bluntly. “He was a miserly, petty, vindictive son of a bitch then and I doubt he’s any better now. Richer than God but too cheap to spend a dime of it. He held onto his money with both fists unless it was for that son of his. And that boy was a narcissistic, whiny brat thanks to his father. I told Linda not to marry Dell but she was in love, and you can’t reason with that.”
“They argued?” Brinley asked, fascinated by the history of her home. “Did it ever get violent?”
Gail snorted as the waitress slid two sodas onto the table. “He didn’t have the guts. Never did.”
They quickly ordered and the waitress bustled to the next table. Jason leaned forward, his gaze intent on their guest.
“So you don’t think Wendell killed Gail?”
“As much as I didn’t like the selfish little weasel I don’t think he murdered her. He needed her to keep up the fiction of a happy family to the outside world.” Gail’s lips twisted in distaste. “My fear is that my sister’s own actions got her killed. You see, Linda was known to do stupid, harebrained things. God made her pretty but he didn’t make her smart.”
Brinley wasn’t sure how to take that statement. “I’m not sure what you mean, Mrs. Denton.”
“Call me Gail.” The woman waved her hand. “What I mean is that Linda had the looks but was dumb as a rock. Is that plain enough for you? She was my sister and I loved her, but I was not unaware of her shortcomings and I’m sure she could have cataloged all of mine as well. Linda lacked common sense and often had to be rescued from situations. That’s how she met Wendell. Do you have family like that?”
A picture of Dawn floated through Brinley’s mind but she dashed it away quickly. Dawn wasn’t stupid, just a trifle self-absorbed. Oblivious to what went on outside her bubble of a world. But she had a loving heart and cared about her family and friends even if she didn’t always notice what was going on in their lives.
“I’m afraid I don’t. What kind of situations are you talking about?”
“Men. Lots of them.” Gail took a sip of her iced tea and then slapped down the glass. “Linda was constantly leading men on and then shocked when they expected something. I imagine that’s what ended her life.”
“A disgruntled suitor?” Jason queried. “Did you tell the police this?”
Gail rolled her eyes. “Yes, but they were only interested in Wendell.”
It was a telling point that despite Gail’s animosity toward her ex-brother-in-law that she didn’t think him capable of murder.
“Do you have any names?” Jason reached into his breast pocket for his small notebook and pencil but Gail was shaking her head. “I’m afraid not. At that point we weren’t spending much time together since I didn’t get along with Dell.”
More hopes dashed away. Jason was right when he said they’d take two steps forward and one step back constantly during an investigation. Being a cop had to be full of frustration.
“But he gave you the house,” Brinley pointed out. “If you two didn’t like each other why would he do that?”
“I was in the process of divorcing my second husband and I think Dell was afraid I’d try and claim some of Linda’s property. She wasn’t destitute when she met Dell and she had jewelry and money of her own. He wanted to keep it and I needed a place to live so he offered me the house. I only took it to spite him but found that I liked living there. Until recently, of course. I hope you’re enjoying it.”
“It didn’t bother you that your sister had been murdered there?” Brinley asked. No one on the planet could convince her to live in a house where her sister had been shot and killed.
“No, but I’m a practical person who needed a place to live. I concentrated on making it my own rather than thinking about how Linda had lived and died there. Are you making changes to the house? I expect you want to update it quite a bit.”
Oh yes.
“I’ve pulled down all the wallpaper and tore up the carpeting. I finished painting the walls and the cabinets last week. Next are new floors. I’m hoping I can get away with just refinishing them but I think some spots are going to nee
d to be replaced.” Brinley bit her lip in worry. “Does it bother you to hear about changes being made in your home?”
“As I said I’m not that sentimental.” Gail shook her head and reached across the table to pat Brinley’s hand. “Not to worry, dear. It’s your home now and you should do whatever you wish. I’m just sorry we didn’t meet before, but then the real estate agent handled the sale for me.”
“Me too.”
Although Brinley didn’t completely understand the older woman she did like her. Her blunt, no nonsense attitude was a nice change from so many people that Brinley had met in her life.
“I have one more question, Gail, if you don’t mind. Did you ever suspect Wendell of cheating?” Jason asked. “Specifically, was there a woman named Lynn? Someone who looked very much like Linda?”
“No, why do you ask?”
“When we talked to Wendell we found he had remarried. The woman’s name was Lynn and she could have been Linda’s sister. The house also looked exactly the same,” Brinley explained, glancing at Jason.
Gail was frowning, her brow scrunched in thought. “I’m not surprised he remarried, if only for the sake of the boy. As for things looking exactly the same, well, Dell was always an odd bird. But you don’t understand things if you think he was trying to recreate his life with Linda. He didn’t love her like that. He married my sister because she looked like his first wife, Donna. But of course Linda wasn’t and he never forgave her for that.”
One more reason for Wendell Barnes to be guilty as hell.
Chapter Twenty-One
‡
“So you think Barnes did it?” Logan asked when they were all together again that evening. Brinley and Jason had picked up pizza on the way home and they were all sharing what they’d learned that day while relaxing at Jason’s dinner table.
“His alibi sucks,” Jason said bluntly. “If he resented Linda for not being his first wife and their marital problems were real then he has the most motive.”
Damsel in Danger (Danger Incorporated Book 1) Page 14