Page 37 of Lost Lake
She rested her hands on her hips. “No wallet or any other form of identification. The missing wallet could mean we’re looking at a simple robbery.”
“Or the killer might be trying to hide his identification. Howard Mason owns this property. I ran him in DMV. No Howard Mason with this as his primary address, but I did find one where the photo is a match. At least, best I can tell with the decomp. His address is listed as Seaside Harbor.”
Faye’s brow furrowed. “Then we could be looking at Howard Mason. I’ll run his prints and investigate further before you notify next of kin.”
“What about cause of death?”
“Stabbing’s obvious, but I can’t confirm this caused his death until the autopsy. Also, I’ve preliminarily placed time of death between four to six days. I’ll do my best to narrow it down.”
“Stabbing to the chest looks clear-cut to me, but I know you uncover surprises all the time.”
“We do. Of note. Insufficient blood near the body for the stabbing to have occurred there.”
“So he was killed elsewhere and dumped in the boathouse.” El let that sink in. “I didn’t see any blood trails near the boathouse.”
“The tarp is covered with grass stains. If the stains are fresh, the killer probably rolled him up in it and dragged him over.”
“He was smart enough to avoid a trail outside, then dump Mason in the boathouse, probably hoping no one would check inside and discover his body.”
Faye tilted her head. “Do we have a murder spree going on in the county or is this incident related to your other investigation?”
El explained Mason’s boat and his potential involvement, either willingly or involuntarily. “Kenna’s killer needed a boat.Mason’s was convenient. The killer didn’t want a witness to the theft, so he silenced him. Crime of opportunity.”
Faye pursed her lips. “Or they were working together, and the killer turned on him.”
“Possible. Mason doesn’t have a criminal record, though. It does appear as if he was quite involved with the community in his younger days. Now we’re checking for current friends or associates with records.”
“You didn’t say if Mason has family.”
“A daughter—Talia Vogel—in Seaside Harbor. After you confirm his identity, I’ll notify her.”
Faye offered a tight smile. “We’re moving the body now. I don’t usually work Saturdays, but with the missing child, I’ll do the autopsy at nine tomorrow. You or Ulrich attending?”
Good question. El hadn’t considered it at this point, but this was one task Ulrich could take on. “I don’t know yet. Depends on what we find, but Ulrich will be in charge of this scene so you can communicate with him.”
Faye’s head bobbed in a sharp nod, and she hurried back to the boathouse. El popped her trunk to grab her forensic kit and waved Gabe over.
He ended his call and joined her without hesitation. “My team’s still working on the damaged vehicles in for repair, zip ties, and a deep dive on Mason. Other leads they’ve chased haven’t panned out and aren’t worth detailing now.”
“We can talk about it later. Warrants are in. Let’s search both places before the predicted rain hits. Follow me.”
If he was surprised by her invitation, it didn’t show as she headed for the boathouse, his steps falling in behind.
Faye and Theo wheeled the gurney toward their van, passing El. The body bag was strapped down against the bumpy ground. They nodded but didn’t speak. Good. El wasn’t in the mood for small talk.
At the boathouse, she distributed gloves from her kit to Gabe and Ulrich. “Do a cursory search only. No disturbing evidence. Leave that to forensics. Photograph anything that could potentially generate a lead. Any questions?”
Both men shook their heads. She turned and stepped in.
The air had cleared some since the body had been removed, but death’s scent lingered. And if there was any doubt of what had occurred there, flies on the overturned canvas confirmed someone had lost their life.
El scanned the room, taking in the fishing gear on the walls. Most of the larger items were painted withProperty of H. H. Masonin black. “If I were to willingly aid in an abduction and murder, I wouldn’t use gear stamped with my name.”
“Maybe he offered the boat, but didn’t know what it would be used for,” Ulrich said. “Then he learned the truth, confronted the killer, and paid for it.”
“Sounds plausible.” She crouched by the canvas, hunting for a manufacturer’s tag. All she found was Mason’s property mark. “Everything here seems to be his. Look for anything out of place or unusual.”
Ulrich’s phone chimed. He got it from his pocket. “Text is about you, Irving,” Ulrich said. “Gas station attendant confirmed your visit and emailed a copy of the video feed proving you were there.”
