“Shannon Yates was just identified yesterday.” Morgan used her smartphone to search for more information. “According to the local news, Shannon worked at the Lakeview Inn in Grey’s Hollow. Her boss is the person who reported her missing.”
“Shall we take a ride past the Lakeview Inn and talk to Shannon Yates’s employers?”
“Yes.” Morgan pulled up the inn’s website on her smartphone. “The inn is owned by Carol and Bob Shaker.”
“Here’s hoping the Shakers will talk to us.”
“It’s frustrating that we can’t compel anyone to answer our questions. As a prosecutor, I had some authority. Now witnesses treat me like I’m a criminal.”
“Just in this case. In previous investigations, we’ve found people who think the cops are the criminals.”
“Where are all those people now?” Morgan asked.
Lance sighed. “There aren’t enough career criminals in this case. No one is afraid of the police.”
“But not because they’re law-abiding citizens. Kieran is a voyeur and a pervert and has a history of stalking. Noah liked to sneak extra alcohol into his dates’ drinks, Justin was once accused of date rape, and the victim’s brother has a history of violent behavior and assault.” Morgan rested her head against the seat. “This time, it isn’t innocence that is making witnesses shut down on us. It’s guilt. Unfortunately, they all think they’ll get away with whatever they’ve done.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Lance slowed the car and took in the impressive property.
The Lakeview Inn sat on a large chunk of prime waterfront real estate. The main building was an old Victorian mansion with an enclosed front porch that spanned the length of the building and a two-story round turret that ended in a spire. The inn was beautifully maintained. Freshly painted gingerbread trim gleamed white against dark-gray clapboards. Several smaller buildings were spread out on the lawn behind the main building. Behind them, the late afternoon sun shimmered on Grey Lake.
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing.” Morgan’s voice was stunned.
“What is it?” Lance doubted it was the gorgeous view that Morgan was gawking at.
She pointed out the passenger window.
He followed her finger to the side yard of the inn. “I don’t see . . .” And then he did.
Stuck in the grass next to the neatly trimmed shrubs was a bright-green MCFARLAND LANDSCAPING lawn sign.
“I can’t say that I’ve been truly speechless very many times in my life, but I actually don’t have words to describe how I feel.” Morgan turned to Lance. “McFarland has been to the inn where Shannon Yates worked.”
“That does seem to be a whopping coincidence.” The parking lot was full, and Lance drove up and down the rows looking for a spot. “McFarland punched you and has a record of violent assault. I would have no difficulty believing that he killed Shannon Yates.”
“He has no connection to Noah that we’ve seen.”
Thankfully, McFarland had been denied bail. If he was tied up in the case, at least he was safely behind bars.
“We don’t know that the cases are definitely connected.” Lance parked the Town Car, and they entered the inn. The lobby was just as well maintained as the exterior. An open doorway opened into a restaurant. Inside, glass clinked as staff arranged place settings on white tablecloths. A sign announced that the dinner hour started at five o’clock. Lance glanced at his watch. Four o’clock.
“Good timing,” he said. “This place looks like it’ll be hopping in another hour or two.”
“It’s Friday. The restaurant will probably be busy tonight.” Morgan walked up to the registration desk tucked into an alcove under the curving staircase.
The slim woman behind the desk was in her fifties, but a sleek bob and funky gray-tinted glasses made her look younger, as did her wide smile. “Can I help you?”
“Are Mr. or Mrs. Shaker in?” Morgan asked.
The woman lowered her glasses from her nose. “I’m Carol Shaker.”
Morgan fished a business card from her bag. She glanced around. Two guests studied a display of activity brochures near the window. “Is there any way we could talk privately? We’ll try not to take up too much of your time.”
Carol replaced her glasses and read the card. Her smile faltered, as if by reading it she knew what they’d come to discuss. “Yes. Just give me a moment.”
She summoned a young man in a suit. “Tony, please cover registrations for a few minutes.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Tony took her place behind the desk.
“Follow me.” Carol led them down a hallway to a meticulously neat and organized office. Carol rounded the antique mahogany desk and sat behind it. She gestured to two equally old schoolhouse chairs that faced her. “Is this about Shannon?”
Morgan perched in the wooden chair. “Yes.”
“You’re a lawyer. Have they arrested someone in her death?” Carol asked.
“Not that I’ve heard.” Morgan introduced Lance. “We’re actually working another case, and we’ve come across something that might tie the two together.”
Carol leaned back in her chair. “I’ll do anything I can to help find the man who hurt Shannon.”
The old chair creaked and shifted as Lance sat on it. “How long had Shannon been working here?”
“A few months. She started right before the Christmas holiday.” Carol took a long breath. “I hired her as a favor. Her mother is a friend of a friend, and Shannon had been out of work for some time.”
“Was she a good employee?” he asked.
“Very.” Carol rocked forward and leaned her forearms on her desk. “Shannon was reliable. She worked her butt off. She appreciated the job, and it showed.” Carol blinked back a tear. “I reported her missing to the police. When she didn’t show up for work, I knew something was wrong.”
“Did she act normally the last time you saw her?” Morgan used a gentle voice.
“She seemed perfectly normal,” Carol said. “I still can’t believe—” A sob cut off her words. Her eyes filled with tears. She plucked a tissue from a box on her desk. “I’m sorry.”
“Take as much time as you need.” Morgan waited until the woman took several deep breaths and collected herself. “When did you last see her?”
Carol wiped her nose with the tissue. “Friday, February 23. She had the weekend off and wasn’t due back until Monday.”
Lance leaned forward. “Is it unusual to give your staff weekends off? Aren’t those your busiest days?”
Carol nodded. “Only one or two employees can have off each weekend. They rotate. It was Shannon’s turn.” Carol pressed the tissue to her face. “It was her first weekend off.”
“But she didn’t mention any specific plans?” he asked.
Had Shannon been excited for her weekend off? It would have been her first opportunity to spend a Saturday night at the club.
“No.” Carol tossed her tissue in the trash can under her desk and took a fresh one.
Morgan slipped her phone from her bag and pulled up a picture of Roger McFarland. “Do you recognize this man?”
Carol put her glasses on and glanced at the phone. “No. Who is he?”
How could she not know her own landscaper? Lance wanted to call bullshit, but he saw no duplicity in her face.
“Would you look closer?” Morgan handed her the phone.
Carol took a second, longer look and frowned. “He still doesn’t look familiar.”
“His name is Roger McFarland, and his landscaping sign is in your side yard.” Lance studied her face.
“Oh.” Carol shrugged. “I’ve never met the owner of the company. A foreman and crew come out once a week to cut the grass in season. They also handle our spring and fall cleanups and take care of snow removal. Neither Bob nor I can handle the backbreaking work anymore.”
“You don’t know if Mr. McFarland has ever been to the inn?” Lance asked.
“My husband handles the outside maintenance.” Carol handed Morgan’s phone back. “Would you like me to ask Bob?”
Morgan slid her phone back into her bag. “That would be very helpful.”
Carol sent a text. “He should be here in a minute.”
True to her word, a middle-aged man in gray slacks and a blue button-down shirt came into the office. He gave Morgan and Lance curious looks.
His wife introduced them. “They’re here about Shannon.”