Page 57 of Present Danger (Rocky Mountain Courage 1)

TWENTY-SIX

The local police had locked down the crime scene and established the perimeter, as well as the path of contamination at Neva’s house, before Jack and Terra returned. They’d needed to sign the crime-scene security log. The county sheriff’s office would take the lead on the case since Neva’s murder was likely connected to Jack’s investigation.

Terra and Jack had donned sterile crime-scene garb, and she stared down at Neva Bolz’s body on the wood parquet as they waited for the deputy coroner—Emmett Hildebrand—to arrive from the other side of the county.

This felt all too familiar—Terra waiting with Jack for the coroner.

Additional deputies and local police officers continued to search the woods and national forest on foot and by helicopter while the local police assisted in tracking down Neva’s next of kin.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Terra released a slow breath. Jim Raymond, what did you get yourself into?

When two techs entered the space, she stepped away from Neva’s body. Neva’s murder could be connected to the stolen archaeological items, and it was time for Terra to conduct a search of her own.

Terra kept to the path of contamination marked by tape. Jack spoke with the police detective, and they compared notes. Relieved to be away from yet another body, she drew in a few breaths but failed to calm her nerves. Grief and heartache for the loss of life throbbed in her chest.

She found herself standing in Neva’s cream-colored living room. Cream carpet. Cream walls. Cream chairs. And nothing more. Jack approached and stood next to her but said nothing as he peered at his notebook. She hadn’t seen him with it at Pauline’s house. She had an investigations notebook in her bag but often entered information later.

Popping the notebook closed, he looked at her, catching her staring at him. He held her gaze a few moments longer than necessary.

“I can’t help but notice this house is completely devoid of personality,” she said. “I can’t get a sense of who Neva was.”

Jack stuck the notebook under his arm. “I thought Erin was the psychologist.”

Terra shook her head. “You know as well as I do that getting to the bottom of any crime calls for understanding human nature. Who was Neva that someone would murder her? There are no pictures on these walls. No photographs of children or a husband.”

He rubbed his chin. “Maybe she traveled for her job and wasn’t home much.”

“Maybe. But usually when someone travels that much, they live near a bigger airport.”

“You’re assuming she left the state. I was thinking she drove, sticking closer to home.”

Terra shrugged. “I guess you need to find out what she did for Star Oil Company.”

“She was a consultant,” he said.

“What does that even mean?” Consultants could be hired for numerous reasons, including under-the-table kinds of reasons.

Jack sidled up to her. “If we’re going to look around, we’d better get to it.”

“Did the detective have any information for you?”

“Just preliminary pictures, to establish the scene, and main evidence areas, which include only the kitchen and her bedroom. I’ll follow you through the house to look for clues, and then we’ll get out of the way so the evidence techs can find the invisible-to-the-naked-eye kinds of things.”

“Right. You’re right.” Terra had a feeling that at some point other agencies might want a piece of this investigation. This could quickly outgrow Jack’s county and her national forest. But they weren’t there yet.

She led the way down the hall and stopped at a coat closet. With a gloved hand, she opened the door and peered inside. Interestingly empty. Then into each bedroom. Only one room had an actual bed, and it was covered in a beautiful teal-colored duvet. The color instantly brought to mind the colorful Native American headdress they’d discovered in Jim’s cabin. A suitcase lay opened on the bed, revealing a few of Neva’s neatly folded clothes. Slacks and blouses suitable for a business trip.

“Well, either she was just getting home from a trip, or she was heading out,” Terra said.

“Or maybe she was running scared.”

Terra opened the closet door to find a few business clothes, along with pumps. “We have a picture of her in the woods near that cabin with Jim. We should find hiking boots in here, or at least something besides pumps. She didn’t hike up that trail in heels.” Terra turned to find Jack staring at her. “What do you think?”

“That we’ve only scratched the surface.”

“If that.” She shared a look with Jack, and together they finished walking through the home.

“What do you see?” Jack asked.