Page 31 of Forever Dark
Selena stepped past him.“I think I can handle it, Connor.”
The porch flexed under her feet as she climbed the steps.Paint peeled from the doorframe in long curls.A sour mix of stale smoke and damp fabric drifted from somewhere under the trailer.She knocked hard enough to be heard through the thin walls.
Nothing.
Selena knocked again.
Movement sounded inside.A shuffle.Something bumped over.Then the door opened three inches against a chain.
One eye and half a face looked out.
“What?”
Dale Mitch was older than Brenda by at least ten years if Selena judged right.Stringy hair.Unshaven jaw.Red-rimmed eyes sunk too deep in a face that had gone hard around the mouth.He smelled of old sweat and last night’s liquor even through the crack.
Selena held up her credentials.“FBI.I’m Special Agent Selena Raven.I need to ask you some questions about Brenda Colter.”
The eye narrowed.“Why?”
“Because we need to pursue our inquiries until we catch the killer,” Selena replied.
“You got a warrant?”Half of his grin could be seen poking out from behind the door.
“No,” she said.
“Am I under arrest?”
“No, Mr.Mitch.”
“Then see ya.”
He began to close the door.Connor stepped forward and wedged his foot in the door.“Dale, I’m the county sheriff.Open the door.”
“Doyouhave a warrant?”the grin asked.
“No,” Connor replied.“But I can get one if you want.And I’ll wait for my deputies to show up.Then we’ll have a little snoop around your trailer.You wouldn’t have any drugs in there by chance?”
The grin faded.
“Or, you know,” Connor said.“You could just have a sit-down with us, answer our questions, and we’ll be on our merry way.”
Defeat flickered there.The chain rattled back.Dale pulled the door wide and stood aside with poor grace.
Connor had found the way in.Another point for him.Selena knew he’d let her know all about that.
Dale turned and moved away.“Your deputy.That Arnold kid.Told me what happened yesterday.Didn’t know the feds cared what happened to Brenda, though.What’s that all about?”
Selena stepped inside.“We’re just here to help, Mr.Mitch.”
The trailer was dim despite daylight outside.Curtains stayed mostly drawn.A television murmured from the far end with the volume low enough to make the voices sound trapped.Ashtrays overflowed on two side tables.A stained recliner faced the TV.Empty bottles crowded the counter near a sink full of dishes.The whole place gave off the impression of a man barely managing himself and resenting the effort.
Dale shut the door too hard.
Selena turned to face him.“When was the last time you saw Brenda?”
His jaw worked once before he answered.“Couple weeks.”
“You sure about that?”
