Page 70 of Forever Dead

"I care about you. You think I don't want you on this case?"

Selena's irritation eased.

"I know you do."

"No, I don't think you do." Connor came farther into the room. "If you were fit for work, you'd be the first person I'd ask. But you're not."

"I can read files."

"You can barely get out of that chair without hurting yourself."

"That's my knee. My brain works."

Arnold studied the tabletop.

Connor looked at Arnold then turned his attention back to Selena. "I'm surprised at Meg."

"Well, she doesn't want me involved either. I'm off active duty until I get medical clearance. She gave me the lead so I could pass it on to you."

"Through Arnold."

"That part was my idea."

Arnold muttered, "Thank you."

Selena ignored him.

Connor pulled out the chair opposite her and sat. Some of the anger left his voice.

"Okay. Well, I already caught up to that name and interviewed him."

Selena immediately leaned forward. "And?"

"No alibi. He was home alone."

“Motive?”

“Possibly. There’s history with Miss Marsh, and his record is bad.” Connor paused. “There’s something else. Halle worked at a meatpacking plant near Knoxville. Kill floor. Skinning, breaking down carcasses, whatever station they put him on.”

Selena’s attention sharpened. “And Eleanor had that black material under her nails.”

“Exactly. Blethan thinks it could be treated hide. Halle knows how to skin an animal.”

“What happened at the meatpacking plant?”

“They fired him. According to Halle, management said he was unnecessarily inhumane with the animals.”

Selena sat back. “That doesn’t make him Eleanor’s killer.”

“No. But it gives us another reason not to cross him off.”

“Do you think he did it?”

Connor rubbed his jaw.

“I don't know yet.”

“What's holding you back?”