Page 60 of Lost Hours
“Hayden’s looking into them both,” she said. “Has he been in touch with you?”
Abe nodded. “He’s struck out so far on the phone records, so I told him about the warrants. He said he had the finances well in hand. I figured I’d concentrate on the phones.”
“Yes, he called to tell us that he’s been able to get into the mayor’s finances.” She explained what Hayden had learned.
“Maybe Dylan can help figure out what he’s been selling,” Nolan said.
“Dylan?” Abe stared at him as if he were an alien.
“The Veritas Center’s IT person.” Nolan explained about Dylan agreeing to help search for information that afternoon.
Abe’s expression turned testy. “Anything he gets won’t be legal. Same thing with your Hayden guy.”
“That’s not necessarily true,” Nolan said. “But even if it is, the information they provide will move us along faster. Then you can produce the documents we need for any future trial.”
Abe crossed his arms. “That’s not how it’s done, and you know it. A good defense lawyer will call into question how you could act on information before we even had it in hand.”
“I’ll instruct Dylan on the subject,” Mina said. “Which I don’t think he’ll need as he does forensic information searches for investigations all the time.”
Abe rocked his chair forward and planted his feet on the floor. “If it comes back to bite us, it’s all on you.”
“That’s right,” Mina glared right back at him, though she shouldn’t let him get to her. “I’m the sheriff. If I get ousted for using unusual methods to find a killer, then you can step into the role you’ve wanted since you lost the election.”
Abe whipped back in his chair as if he’d been slapped.
“I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.” Mina said right away. “I let the stress of two major investigations get to me, and I took it out on you. I hope you’ll accept my apology and not let this interfere with your work on the investigation.”
He gave a sharp nod. “What specifically do you want me to do?”
“Paisley will come in to complete the sketches for the man who the mayor had lunch with yesterday and also the woman,” Mina said. “When they’re finished, be sure you send a copy to me. Then I want you to put out an alert for both of them and get it circulating around Lost Lake. Maybe someone has seen them or knows them. Wouldn’t hurt to have it distributed to law enforcement in nearby counties as well. Let me know the minute anyone identifies them.”
“I’ll distribute them everywhere.” Abe sat stone-faced.
She couldn’t tell if he was holding her outburst against her or not. Not something she could waste any bandwidth on now. “I’ll be sure to check my emails when they come in, and let you know if there’s a problem.”
“And when I’m done with that?”
“I’ll give you a list of people who saw Daisy in the office during the time of the mayor’s murder. I need you to follow up with them to confirm her alibi.”
“I can do that in my sleep.” Abe frowned. “Is there something more challenging you want me to do?”
“Interview the mayor of Seaside Harbor. See if he and Mayor Sutton simply had a friendly rivalry or if there was more to it. Be sure to get his alibi for the time of death.” She took a deep breath. He wouldn’t like this one. “You’re more familiar with deputies who worked here in the past. Since it seems like we’re looking for someone with weapons experience, we might be looking at someone in our own office. Especially someone who was let go and has an interest in guns. Maybe a grudge against the mayor.”
Abe shot forward in his seat. “You can’t seriously think it’s one of us.”
“I don’t, but we have to keep an open mind. You’ll need to forget you’re looking at people you know, or might’ve known, and be thorough.”
He shook his head. “It’s a waste of time if you ask me. We have more viable suspects we should be looking into.”
She opened her mouth to respond but thought better of it to keep from getting into an argument. “I imagine you don’t yet have any updates on the trophies, caterer, or phone Smythe listed on the contract, but thought I’d ask.”
“Phone is a burner,” he said, his tone sharp. “I’m trying for the records, but have to wait. I’ll let you know when I know more on any of these things.”
“Thank you,” she said and meant it. “Lastly, can you check into Harmony Vance. See if there’s a hidden connection between her and the mayor, giving her a motive to want to kill him.”
“Finally, something interesting.” Abe jotted some notes on the legal pad on his desk.
Her phone rang, and seeing the Veritas Center’s name flash on her screen, she quickly answered the call. “I’m with my team and am putting you on speaker.”
