Page 12 of Husband Missing

Turner’s fingers tapped against his thigh. “You normally have kids sneaking into your construction sites and dying?”

EIGHT

Josie’s skin heated again but this time from anger. This was a new level of douchebaggery, even for him, provoking the family member of a homicide victim. “Turner!” Josie growled in warning.

Tilly sighed.

“No,” Mace said through gritted teeth. “This was a first. We have people to ensure the safety of every site—for our own people and the surrounding communities. We abide by all local rules and regulations and we’re OSHA-compliant. My dad just thinks?—”

Tilly touched Mace’s forearm, silencing him. “That’s enough.”

An awkward silence ensued, filled only with Clint’s sniffles. Finally, Josie said, “Do you know why Gina was outside the site?”

Mace shook his head. “Not really, no. I was with her until lunchtime, taking her around. Then I left her to do her own thing. She mentioned wanting to install lights and cameras all along the perimeter fencing. Maybe she was out there to see where they could go.”

Clint touched his wife’s shoulder again. “Till.”

“Not now,” she told him.

Josie continued questioning Mace. “Did you go to lunch with her?”

“No.”

“Do you know where her car is parked?”

Lines creased Mace’s forehead. “Gina’s car? Right outside. It’s not there?”

“We have units searching for it,” said Josie. “Is there somewhere else she might have parked when she returned from lunch? If the spots outside were full?”

“Oh, well I guess out back but…”

“Do you have cameras inside here?” asked Turner. “Inside the site?”

“No,” said Mace. “Although now maybe we should get some.”

Josie recalled meeting Shirley at the rear entrance. “Do you have any cameras in the back to monitor who comes and goes from that entrance?”

“Not yet,” said Mace. “Those were going to be installed this week.”

“How about a security guard?” asked Turner.

Again, Tilly looked at her son expectantly.

Mace ignored her hard stare, but Josie could tell by the muscle twitching in his jaw that he knew she was boring a hole right into the side of his face. “We had two guys out back, but I had given instructions that as soon as the protestors arrive each day, they’re to go to the front and wait just inside in case a fight breaks out.”

That was why the additional two guards had emerged from the entrance so quickly.

“Your security guards,” Josie said. “Did you contract with a company for their services or are they Phelan Construction employees?”

“They work for us,” Mace answered. “All security is handled in-house.”

“When we interview your guys, we’ll see if anyone saw Gina exit the site,” said Turner. “And if they remember what time.”

Clint clutched Tilly’s shoulder again. “I want to see my girl, Till. I need to see her.”

“You can’t see her right now, Dad,” Mace snapped.

Red suffused Clint’s face. “I’m not talking to you. You’re the reason she’s dead?—”