Page 35 of Murder By the Millions

Bates slipped on latex gloves and crossed to Jason. He felt for a pulse, as the emergency technician had. “Definitely dead,” he said.

Hadn’t he believed the EMT?

Zach slipped on a pair of gloves. “Go on, Allie.”

My throat felt thick, like I’d swallowed talcum powder. “Then I heard someone moan, so I entered and found Jason like—” I shot out a hand.

Darcy yowled, reminding me he was in his carrier. I cooed to him that everything was okay, even though it wasn’t, and said to Zach, “Jason … he wasn’t facedown when I entered. He was on his side. And he was still alive. I bent to help him. But he pitched forward, and I saw the spear. Actually, it’s a spearpoint.”

“A Clovis spearpoint, to be exact.” Bates rose and continued speaking while making his way around the foyer, snapping pictures with a cell phone, as I had. “It’s presumed Clovis points were first used over thirteen thousand years ago in Chatham County, outside of Raleigh.”

“And you know this how?” Zach asked.

“History buff.” In addition to reading thrillers and suspense, Bates was an avid nonfiction reader. Like Tegan, the more time I spent at Feast for the Eyes, the more I learned about the readinghabits of the bookshop’s customers. “The Clovis culture hunted big game. They fancied crystal quartz.”

“Um, Zach—” A chill cut through me. “I touched the spearpoint.”

“You what?”

“I’m sorry, but Jason was alive. I thought if I pulled it out, I could roll him on his back and give him mouth-to-mouth, but then I remembered I shouldn’t remove it. He’d bleed out. My fingerprints—”

“Are on it.”

I felt my cheeks warm with embarrassment. “One other thing. The spearpoint. It looks like one from the plaque in my living room.” I explained how I’d inherited it.

Zach mumbled under his breath as he bent to study the weapon.

“Of course, it could be from the history museum,” I went on, “and I’m sure others in town have some. They are collectibles. I haven’t paid attention to my collection in ages.” Although my gaze had grazed over the array when I’d told my house I loved it. Had the spearpoint been missing then? “If the weapon—” Saying the word made me gag. Jason had been killed. Murdered! “If it is mine, someone stole it from me.”

“How? Aren’t you locking your door, even after what happened?”

“I do lock it. All the time.” I wasn’t stupid. In April somebody had entered the house without my knowledge and swiped a spare key to Dream Cuisine. Since then, I’d been diligent.

“Allie’s right,” Bates said. “It could be anyone’s. Amassing ancient relics like spearpoints from the area is a common hobby for North Carolinians. I have a few at my place.” He circled the area to document the scene.

“Zach …” My voice trailed off because my insides were quivering with anxiety.C’mon, Allie. Buck up.“Jason saidsomething before he died. He said, ‘Duh,’ and he added the wordshe.He was engaged once. They broke up, and she married someone else. Apparently, he was heartbroken.”

“What’s her name?”

“Delilah Brenneman. She lives in California. Do you think he wanted me to call her for him? He was reaching for his cell phone, but it was too far away.” I motioned to where it rested on the floor.

“We’ll never know.”

“I got here as fast as I could after he texted. I didn’t see anyone on foot or driving away, but there’s plenty of property out back where someone might have escaped.”

The other homes near the Sugarbaker estate were sizable, but their perimeters bled into one another.

Bates said, “Uh, Zach, I think you should see this.” He held something gold and shiny in the palm of his hand. “I found it by a leg of the foyer table.”

I couldn’t make it out from this distance and wondered if the picture I snapped had captured it.

Zach took the item from his partner and said. “Go outside. Call for backup.”

Bates followed the directive.

Zach regarded me, his mouth screwed up in an unappealing way. “Why would you say yes to catering a party for Jason Gardner?”

“I’m sorry. I’m not following.”