Steven nodded. “I agree, but being a weirdo doesn’t make you a killer. Besides, he’d just lost his wife to cancer a couple months before Terry disappeared. That could have something to do with his lack of cooperation.”
Jessica could relate. She’d completely lost interest in anything and everything when Jacob died.
She laid the photo aside and picked up the next paper in the stack. “This is Eustice Martin’s criminal history.” She read through the charges, taking in everything from two DUI’s to his murder charge. There were also numerous domestic abuse allegations, but he’d never been arrested for any of them.
“His wife never pressed charges,” Steven pointed out unnecessarily. “I tried talking to her on several different occasions, but she remained tight-lipped. Out of fear, I’m sure.”
Jessica spent the next half-hour, going through the folder. “What about Terry’s parents? Did they have anyone in particular they suspected?”
Steven blew out a breath and leaned back against the couch. “I tried dozens of times to interview them, but Melanie was inconsolable. The one time I did manage to sit down with her, she cried through the questioning.”
“So she wasn’t much help,” Jessica murmured. “I can sympathize. It took me three years to be able to speak Jacob’s name without breaking down. I still get choked up if I allow myself to dwell on him.”
“I’m sorry, Jess.”
Uncomfortable with the attention now on her, Jess changed the subject. “What about Terry’s father?”
“Jasper Dayton? What about him?”
Jess shifted on her seat to face Steven. “Did he have any helpful information?”
“Not really. He was pretty distraught as well. Although, he did demand the police look into Mr. Hawthorn. He claimed he’d caught the man looking into his windows with a pair of binoculars on more than one occasion.”
Jessica’s mouth dropped open. “Benny Hawthorn…a peeping Tom?”
“So, I was told. Although, I never found any evidence to validate the accusation. No police report had been filed.”
Jess quickly stood. “I want to speak to the Daytons.”
“Didn’t you already attempt that? As I recall, it didn’t go over too well.”
Staring down into Steven’s calm expression, Jessica admitted, “You’re right, it didn’t go over well at all. But I have to try. Maybe one of them will remember something that will help me figure out who is doing this to me and why they want me gone.”
Steven ran a hand down his face and then pushed to his feet. “Okay, but I’m going with you.”
“No,” Jess blurted a little harsher than she’d intended. She took a deep breath, softening her gaze. “It’s just that…I think it will look as if I brought reinforcement. Melanie would probably go on the defensive. Let me try this on my own.”
Steven watched Jess from his great height for several heartbeats before pulling a set of keys from his pants pocket. “Take my car. A cab would be far too expensive.”
Jess accepted the keys. “Are you sure?”
“Of course. Drive safely.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Jessica pulled up next to the curb in front of Jasper and Melanie Dayton’s pale, stucco home. Her hands shook so badly, she could barely switch off the engine.
A tall, handsome man with short, brown hair, exited the garage holding a bucket and what appeared to be a pile of rags.
The man dropped the rags into the bucket, brought his hand up to shield his eyes from the sun and then set the bucket next to a white truck that read, DAYTON’S CONSTRUCTION on the side.
Jessica climbed from the car, hurried up the drive, and cleared her throat. “Mr. Dayton?”
He nodded, slowly lowered his hand from above his eyes, and then sauntered over, stopping a few feet in front of Jessica. “What can I do for you?”
“My name is Jessica Nobles.” Jess extended her hand in greeting. “I’m sorry to drop in unannounced this way, but I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about your son’s disappearance?”
Jasper’s gaze became guarded. He accepted Jessica’s palm. “My wife told me about your recent visit. She won’t be happy about you showing up again.”
“I know, and I’m really sorry, but I have nowhere else to turn. I need your help, Mr. Dayton.”
Releasing his hold on her hand, Jasper glanced toward the house. “Help with what?”
“Someone is trying to make it look like I’m guilty of crimes I didn’t commit, and I have a feeling it has something to do with me looking into your son’s disappearance. I believe someone in my neighborhood is behind it.”
Jasper studied her for a moment longer. “We can talk inside.”
Jessica hated like hell to follow him into that garage but follow him she did.
“Mel?” Jasper called out as he stepped into an immaculately clean kitchen.
Melanie Dayton rounded the corner holding a phone in one hand and an envelope in the other. Jess assumed she’d been paying bills.
“What is she doing here?” Melanie paled, her stance becoming rigid.
Jasper held up his hands in a defensive manner. “She says she needs our help. I invited her inside, Mel. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to hear her out.”
Melanie’s shoulders remained stiff. She set the phone and envelope on the kitchen counter and crossed her arms over her chest. “If you’ve come here with more insanity about seeing ghosts, I’ll call the police and have you locked up for harassment.”
Jessica’s heart lurched. The last thing she wanted or needed was for the authorities to be called. She took a hesitant step forward. “I didn’t come about that. Please, just hear me out.”
Though, Melanie relaxed somewhat, her expression remained tense. “Make it quick.”
Jasper intervened. “Let’s all move to the den and have a seat.”
Thankful for Jasper’s intervention, Jessica sent him a grateful look and preceded them into the front room. She took a seat on the same sofa she’d sat on during her last visit to the Dayton’s.
Melanie perched on the edge of a high-backed chair, while Jasper took up residence behind her. He rested his hands on his wife’s shoulders. “Would you care for something to drink?”
Jessica shook her head. “No, thank you.”
“Very well,” Jasper continued. “Why don’t you start by telling us what this is all about?”
Taking a nervous breath, Jessica filled them in on everything that had happened since moving into the house on Meadowbrook Circle, ending with, “I can’t imagine why anyone would want to break into my home and leave such a message on my wall, let alone kill poor Sandy Weaver.”
Melanie had paled even more during Jessica’s recanting of the last week. “The psychic died the day after you visited me?”
“Yes,” Jess whispered, clasping her hands together in her lap.
Clearing her throat, Melanie asked, “How can we be sure that you didn’t do it?”
“You can’t. Actually, no one can. Other than the fact that I had no motive and barely knew the woman, I have nothing but my word that I’m innocent.”
Jasper moved away from his wife and lowered his weight into a chair across from the sofa that Jessica sat on. “What is it that you want from us?”
A tiny spark of hope soared inside Jess. Jasper believed her. She could see it in his eyes. “Your help in proving my innocence.”
“I don’t see how we can be of any help,” Jasper responded in a quiet tone.
Jessica sent him a pleading look. “If there is anything at all you can remember about your son’s investigation that might shed some light on why this is happening to me, that would be a good start.”
Jasper leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. A faraway look entered his eyes. “I know they investigated Eustice Martin, his wife Gerri, the Hawthorns, Sandy Weaver and Dale Schroder. They also questioned the Peewee football coach at the school my son attended and the registered sex offender who lived two blocks from us at the time.”
That was the first Jess had heard of the sex offender and the Peewee football coach. “Do you happen to remember their names?”