“We have a possible homicide. Are you sure you didn’t notice anything unusual?”
So, Owen’s suspicions were true. Eustice was dead. “Like I told you, I’ve been asleep. I had just got up to get a drink when I heard the sirens.”
The officer glanced at the vehicles in the drive. “Do you live here alone. Mr. Nobles?”
“No. My wife Jessica lives here as well.”
“Where is she? I’d like to ask her a few questions.”
Owen stared at the cop without blinking. “I have no idea.”
Lowering his notepad, the officer sent Owen a questioning look. “You don’t know where your wife is?”
“I don’t. We’re going through a rough patch right now. She didn’t come home tonight.”
The officer lifted the notepad once more. “Spell her name for me.”
Owen did as he’d been asked. “I don’t see what my wife has to do with any of this. She wasn’t even home when it happened.”
“I never said when the incident occurred, Mr. Nobles. I also didn’t indicate that your wife had anything to do with it. I’m simply making inquiries.”
And on it went. Owen stood on his porch, answering the dozens of questions being thrown at him before the officer flipped his notepad closed and returned it to his shirt pocket.
“If we need anything else from you, we’ll be in touch.”
Owen didn’t respond. He held completely still, watching as the officer sauntered across his yard toward the Martins’ property.
Why had the cop questioned him about Jessica’s whereabouts? She hadn’t been home in days. She couldn’t possibly know anything about Eustice Martin’s murder. And apparently, that’s exactly what they were calling it…murder.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Jessica woke to the smell of coffee. She quickly sat up, surprised to find Steven sitting in a chair across from the small, red loveseat she’d slept on.
He sent her a smile, nodding toward a steaming cup of coffee perched on the table between them. “Good morning.”
More than a little shaken by his unexpected presence, Jessica sat up and pushed her hair from her eyes. “You startled me.”
“Sorry. The door was open when I arrived this morning. I assumed it was for my benefit.”
Jessica glanced toward the door in question. “I don’t even remember coming in last night. I was so exhausted, I obviously didn’t make it to the bed.”
“Were you drinking?”
She had been. Jess had left the Daytons’ and stopped at a local sports bar to grab a bite to eat. She hadn’t intended to order alcohol, it had just sort of happened. “I had a couple of drinks.”
“A couple, huh? You’re damn lucky you didn’t get a DUI.”
Picking up the cup of coffee, Jess took a small sip, nearly groaning aloud as the deliciously hot liquid slid down her throat. “I had a long talk with the Daytons.”
She watched him closely for any sign of interest but saw only mild curiosity. “Did you find the answers you sought?”
“Not really. How come you didn’t tell me you had an affair with Melanie Dayton?”
Steven leaned back in his chair. “I didn’t see any relevance in it. Besides, that was over sixteen years ago. It has nothing to do with what’s going on now.”
“Maybe not, but you still could have told me.” Jess hated the jealousy that echoed in her voice. Surely to God, she wasn’t jealous of Steven’s history with Melanie, was she?
“I’m not sure why it matters, but I apologize. I should have told you.”
Jessica blew out a shaky breath. “It’s fine. I just thought that since we’ve become friends…”
“Friends,” Steven repeated in a soft tone. “Is that what this is?”
Suddenly nervous, Jessica changed the subject. “Apparently Jasper Dayton still harbors some anger and resentment toward you.”
“I can’t say that I blame him.” Steven ran a hand through his hair. “I reckon it’s a good thing I didn’t go with you to see them.”
Jessica took another sip of her coffee. “I suppose not. After your name was mentioned, Jasper left out of there in a hurry.”
Steven couldn’t hide his surprise. “You would think he’d have let it go after all this time.”
Jessica changed the subject, not wanting to discuss Steven’s past with the Daytons at the moment. “I need clothes.”
“I can take you by your place to pick up some things.”
Glancing at the clock on the wall, Jessica nodded. “Owen will be leaving for work in a few minutes. I damn sure don’t want to run into him right now.”
Steven tilted his head to the side. “What are you going to do about him?”
“Owen?”
At Steven’s nod, she answered. “I don’t know. There’s not a whole hell of a lot I can do until my name is cleared of Sandy’s murder.”
“You don’t have to prove your innocence, Jessica. The state has the burden of proving your guilt. And since you’re not guilty, you have nothing to worry about.”
Jessica would love for that to be true. “Someone has gone to a whole hell of a lot of trouble of making me look guilty, Steven. I’m going to worry until I find out who’s doing this to me.”
“Fair enough.” He pushed to his feet. “Finish your coffee and I’ll take you to your house to grab some clothes.”
The first thing Jessica noticed as Steven turned onto Meadowbrook Circle was the number of police cars parked in the Martins’ driveway. “What the hell?”
Steven pulled in behind Jessica’s car and switched off the engine. “Something big must have happened at your neighbor’s place.”
Jessica opened her car door and slowly got out.
Yellow crime scene tape surrounded the Martins’ brick home, and several uniformed officers milled about.
A tall, gray-haired man, wearing khakis and a green polo shirt, looked up from the officer he spoke to and marched off in Jessica’s direction. “Mrs. Nobles?”
Jessica stilled, recognizing the man as the chief of police.
He came to a stop in front of her and extended his hand. “I’m Gary Randall, chief of police. We met at the station a few days ago.”
Accepting his outstretched palm, Jessica attempted a smile she didn’t feel. “I remember. What’s going on?”
“Would you mind if I came inside and asked you a few questions?”
Jessica glanced at Steven to find him standing calmly by the front of the car before she returned her attention to the police chief. “Sure, if you don’t mind Mr. Ruckle joining us.”
Gary glanced in Steven’s direction. “Not a problem.”
The three of them made their way up the drive to the porch. Jessica unlocked the door and waved the two men inside.
“May I offer you something to drink?” She kept her gaze on Chief Randall as she spoke.
“No thank you. I won’t take up too much of your time.”
Randall and Steven took a seat on the sofa while Jessica lowered herself into a recliner, facing them.
“What can I do for you?” Jessica murmured, getting right to the point.
“I’m not sure if you know what’s going on next door, but Eustice Martin was murdered last night.”
Nausea flooded Jessica’s gut. She sat forward on the recliner, fighting the urge to vomit. “Eustice is dead?”
Randall stared at her for long moments before answering. “One of the officers on scene last night spoke with your husband. Do you mind telling me where you were between nine and eleven pm last night?”
“She was with me,” Steven rumbled before Jessica could answer.
Her gaze flew to Steven’s calm and serene face.
Randall pulled a small pad from his shirt pocket, followed by a pen. “And you are?”
“Steven Ruckle. I’m a friend of Jessica’s.”
“I see.” Randall scribbled something in his note pad. “And how long have you known Mrs. Nobles?”
Steven didn’t bat an eye at the police chief’s questions. “A few weeks now.”
“And the nature of your relationship?” Randall persisted, suspicion lurking in his intelligent eyes.
“How is my relationship with Mrs. Nobles relevant to what happened to Eustice Martin?”
Randall continued to write. “I’m simply trying to establish motive and rule out unnecessary suspects. So, I’ll ask again, what—”