CHAPTER
29
FORTY MINUTES LATER Puller watched as Cole lifted the edge of the hemming around the sofa the bodies had been on. He handed her a Maglite and she shone it under the piece of furniture.
“Got something,” she said. She pulled out a dog bone and two plastic dog toys.
“Seems to be the mutt’s hiding place,” said Puller. “Anything else?”
She tried to edge farther under the sofa.
“Hang on,” he said. Puller lifted one end four feet into the air. Cole stared up at him from the floor. “Now that’s using your brain. And muscle.”
He looked down. “Bit of cardboard, like from a package.”
“And this!” Cole picked up the bit of green paper off the carpet and stood. Puller set the sofa back down.
She examined the bit of paper and handed it to him.
“Looks like the edge from a certified mail receipt.”
“Yes, it does. Only where’s the rest of it? Do we have to X-ray the dog’s stomach?”
“Or maybe the people who killed Wellman took it. They might’ve figured the dog got the package and hid it somewhere. They looked under the couch and there it was.”
Cole looked puzzled. “But how would they know it was even here?”
“They interrogated the Reynoldses. The colonel might’ve told them they were expecting a package.”
“So why didn’t they just intercept it? They could’ve been in the house when Reed delivered the package. They could have signed for it. Impersonated them like that guy did with Eric Treadwell across the street. Reed told us he didn’t know any of them. So he wouldn’t have known the difference. He just wanted the piece of paper signed.”
“But what if they didn’t know about the package until later? Until after it was delivered here?”
“I don’t get that at all, Puller.”
He sat down on the edge of the sofa. “Reed said he was at the door because he needed a signature. That means it’s some sort of special mail. But he doesn’t say what happened to the package. Why would that sort of package be coming to the Halversons? They’re retired. Reed remembered it was actually going to the Reynoldses, but he didn’t tell the police that. Only that it was a package requiring a signature. So the killers might have just deduced what we did. Mailman at the door because of a package. What was in the package? They had to find out.”
Puller looked out the window. Lan Monroe was just pulling to a stop in front of the house. “Why don’t we ask Lan what his evidence list shows?”
“Okay. But I’m telling you I don’t think that package is on there.”
“Then we confirm it.”
Five minutes later they had their confirmation. No package.
Lan looked worried as he surveyed the room. “I never saw anything like that.”
“Dog might’ve eaten it,” said Cole, drawing a long look from Puller. “I guess I could have the vet check or do an X-ray.”
“It’s paper, it probably wouldn’t show up, or else the mutt’s already digested it and pooped it out,” replied Puller.
Cole’s phone buzzed. She saw the caller ID and looked surprised.
“Who is it?” asked Puller.
“Roger Trent.”
“Your mining mogul.”
The phone continued to ring.
“Aren’t you going to answer it?” said Puller.
“Yeah, I guess I am.”
She opened the phone. “Hello?”
She listened, tried to say something, and then listened some more. “That’ll be fine,” she finally said. “See you then.”
She closed the phone.
“Well?” asked Puller.
“Roger Trent wants to see me. At his house.”
“Why?”
“He says he’s been receiving death threats.”
“You better get going.”
“Why don’t you come with me?”
“Why? You want some backup on this?”
“Couldn’t hurt. And I can tell you’re curious about the man. This way you get to see him up close and personal.”
“Let’s go.”