“There’s only two options,” I said. “Either the killer randomly decided to bury Jessica there, or—”
“She was buried there to frame one of the Lipinskis,” he replied.
“I wish I had an answer for you,” I said.
“So do I. But all I have right now is a bunch of questions,” David replied.
If this case wasn’t already unpleasant enough, I knew it was about to get even more uncomfortable.
After what Kyle had told David and me, a conversation with Ryan Davidson was in order.
A shiver went down my spine just thinking about the possibility that Jessica’s old boyfriend could have had anything to do with her death. That said, I wouldn’t be doing my job as a sleuth if I didn’t speak with Ryan.
Chapter Fifteen
I was not looking forward to this next interview at all. Ryan Davidson wasn’t just Jessica’s old boyfriend. He was also a friend. It seemed impossible to me that Ryan could have had anything to do with Jessica’s murder, but I had to be sure. I was determined to discover the truth, no matter how much it hurt.
Even though I knew that speaking with Ryan was essential to this investigation, that didn’t make approaching him easy. Meanwhile, David didn’t seem to have the same level of apprehension that I did.
David parked in front of Ryan’s office and got ready to go inside. It was only when David glanced over at me in the passenger side of the car that he noticed what a difficult time I was having.
David reached out and put his hand on my shoulder. “Maybe it’s best if you sit this one out.”
I shook my head. “That’s not going to happen.”
“I’m just trying to look after you.”
“I know why you’re worried, but I’ll be fine. Just give me a minute, and I’ll be ready to go inside.”
“All right. So be it.”
“Besides, if anything, you should probably be the one to sit this interview out,” I said.
A look of befuddlement came to David’s face. “Sabrina, this is a murder investigation. Why would I sit out an interview with a suspect?”
“You and I know that he’s a suspect, but he doesn’t,” I said.
His forehead wrinkled. “Okay. So what exactly are you proposing?”
“If I go in alone, as a friend, there’s a good chance that his guard will be down. And who knows? Maybe he’ll open up to me in a way that he wouldn’t if you were there.”
David winced. “Sabrina, I don’t think you’re in any position to go in there alone.”
“I can handle this,” I replied.
Uncertainty was all over David’s face.
“Have I steered you wrong before?” I asked.
David shook his head.
“Then trust me,” I said.
David stared deep into my eyes.
After a few moments, he took a deep breath and replied. “All right.”
***
Before going inside the office complex, I did some breathing exercises to compose myself. When I was done, I had finally calmed my nerves.
Although, when I entered the building and spotted Ryan Davidson sitting at his desk, my heart started beating out of my chest all over again. Emotionally, I was a wreck. But by that point, it was too late to turn back. I dug deep inside me for all the resolve that I could muster.
Luckily, Ryan didn’t notice how much disarray I was in. The muscular, hazel-eyed, oval-faced, five-foot-nine twenty-nine-year-old was staring out the window.
He was so lost in thought that I had to clear my throat to get his attention.
Thankfully, that was enough to pull his head out of the clouds.
Ryan turned his desk chair toward the doorway. His eyes widened when he spotted me. “Sabrina. The minute I heard the news about your sister, I was going to call you. But I haven’t been able to pick up the phone. I’m still in too much shock.”
“I think we’re all still in shock,” I replied.
“I don’t even know what to say.”
“I know what you mean. Words can’t really express everything I’m going through right now.”
“I can imagine. I mean, after all this time…I almost can’t believe it. I was beginning to wonder if Jessica would ever be found,” David said.
“You’re not the only one. In my darkest hours, I had my doubts,” I replied.
“I’m so sorry for both you and your family. If there’s anything I can do, don’t hesitate to let me know.”
“Thank you. I’m actually going to take you up on that right now.”
Ryan squinted. “Oh. Okay. What do you need?”
I grimaced. “This is the hard part.”
“Harder than the news of your sister’s skeleton being found?”
I nodded. “I need some information from you.”
“What kind of information?”
“I need you to go back eleven years in your memory.”
“You mean, back to when Jessica disappeared?”
“Yes.”
“I’m afraid there isn’t much I can tell you.”
“You may not have much to say, but Kyle Lipinski sure did,” I replied.
Ryan’s eyebrows knitted. “Is that so?”
I nodded. “I just had a very eye-opening conversation with him.”
“Do you think he might have done it?” Ryan asked.
I winced. “He has an alibi.”
“Oh.”
“But he seems to think that you might have.”
Ryan scoffed. “Me?”
I threw my arms out. “Don’t shoot the messenger.”
Ryan narrowed his eyes. “What did he tell you?”
“That you had it out for him. And that you believed that he was what stood in the way of you becoming a pro ball player.”
“Kyle has a very active imagination,” Ryan said.
“He wasn’t done.”
Ryan’s eyebrows rose. “There was more?”
I nodded. “He also speculated that you and Jessica might have been having relationship problems.”
Ryan leaned back in his chair. “Wow.”
“That’s not all.”
“What other accusation did he throw at me?”
“That you murdered Jessica and buried her on Lipinski land to frame him,” I replied.
“You don’t believe him, do you?” Ryan asked.
“It’s not important what I believe. The only thing that matters is the truth,” I said.
“Well, Kyle doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I was out camping when Jessica disappeared,” Ryan said.
“Right. Of course,” I replied.
Ryan scowled. “I’d like to give Kyle a piece of my mind.”
“I’ll bet. But before you do, I need some more information from you,” I said.
“Sure. What kind of information?” he asked.
“Think back to the days leading up to my sister’s disappearance,” I said.
“Okay.”
“Did she seem on edge about anything? Or did she mention that anything was bothering her?” I asked.
Ryan’s forehead wrinkled as he contemplated my question. “Just give me a minute.”
“Take as long as you need,” I said.
After a few moments of silence, Ryan spoke up. “I’m sorry. Nothing comes to mind.”
I grimaced. “Really?”
“It’s just that it was a really long time ago—”
“I understand that. I was just hoping that you’d remember something. I mean, during those days, you spent almost as much time with her as I did.”
“I know. And usually I have a great memory. But when it comes to Jessica and what happened to her…it was just so painful that I have blocked a lot of that time period out,” Ryan said.
I sighed. “I wish I could block it out, but it’s seared into my memory. But I understand what you mean about it being painful. That’s why I’ve come to you. If you can remember anything. Even a small detail. I would be very grateful. Like,
can you think of anyone who might have wanted her dead?”
He took a moment then shook his head. “No.”
Apparently, his recollection was foggier than I thought it would be. I tried to refresh his memory.
“What about your ex-girlfriend?” I asked.
Ryan’s nose crinkled. “You mean, Clarissa Arnold?”
I nodded. “If I remember correctly, you two didn’t part on the best of terms.”
“That’s putting it lightly. She did not take our breakup well.”
“How poorly did she take it, exactly?”
“Do you really think she might have killed Jessica?”
“You tell me.”
His face strained. “I don’t see Clarissa as the type.”
“You’d be surprised what people are capable of sometimes.”
Ryan exhaled. “I guess you’re right.”
“Besides, the guiltiest people are often the ones you least expect.”
“That’s awful to think about.”
“There are far worse things on my mind right now,” I said. “But back to Clarissa. Did she have any contact with you or Jessica shortly before my sister’s disappearance?”
He became pensive. “Actually, now that you mention it, I ran into her a few days before my camping trip.”
“And?”
“She didn’t look good.”
“Did she tell you what was wrong with her?”
“She told me that she had just broken up with Walter Mitchell. You remember Walter, right? Clarissa dated him after I broke up with her.”
“Yeah. I remember him.”
“She asked how things were going with Jessica and me,” Ryan replied. “I told her they were going great.”
“How did she respond to that?”
“Clarissa did seem pretty wistful.”
“Do you think she was still hung up on you?”
“Definitely.”
“Did you run into Clarissa after Jessica’s disappearance at all?”
Ryan nodded. “Once.”
“And? Did she make a move on you?”
“She showed up at my place about a week after Jessica’s disappearance.”
My eyes lit up. “She showed up at your house?”
Ryan nodded.
“What did she say?” I asked.
“She told me she was really sorry about Jessica disappearing,” Ryan replied. “Then she asked if there was anything she could to do make me feel better. Before I had a chance to answer, she tried to kiss me.”
My jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”
Ryan nodded.
“Why is this the first that I’m hearing of this?” I asked.
“Like I told you before, I blocked out a lot of what happened during that time period,” Ryan said. “Besides, I was in such a dark place at that time that I just completely turned Clarissa away without giving her another thought.”
“So you rejected her advance?” I said.
He nodded.
“And how did she take that?” I asked.
“Not well. She stormed back to her car and drove away. I haven’t seen her again since then.”
“Do you still think she’s not capable of murder?” I asked.
Ryan shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“See. Now that’s something I can work with,” I said. I turned my focus elsewhere. “What about Eric Tilden?”
“Eric Tilden?” A look of recognition came to Ryan’s face. “Wait. I remember that guy. Talk about a creepy dude.”
I nodded. “A creepy dude who had a thing for Jessica.”
“Is he one of the suspects too?”
“He sure is. What do you remember about him?”
“Just that he used to hang around Jessica all the time and just stare at her from afar. Like he was stalking her. Sometimes he’d make really awkward conversation with her.”
“Do you remember anything else?” I asked.
“He really creeped Jessica out. To the point where I gave him a talking to,” Ryan said.
“What did you say to him?”
“I pulled him aside one day and told him to back off,” Ryan said. “I warned him to stay away from Jessica. And it seemed like he got the message.”
“What gave you that idea?” I asked.
“After I pulled Eric aside that day, Jessica never mentioned him bothering her again.”
“Unfortunately, that warning you gave to Eric may not have been as effective as you thought,” I said.
“Maybe you’re right.” Ryan became contemplative.
“Is there anyone else you can think of?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No.”
“Well, don’t hesitate to call me if you think of anything else,” I said.
“I won’t,” Ryan replied.
***
After finishing up with Ryan, I got back into my boyfriend’s car, where David was ready to fire some questions at me.
“How did it go?” David asked.
I sighed. “It could have gone better.”
David gazed at me with sympathetic eyes. “I’m sorry. Should I have come in with you?”
I shook my head. “No. I got the information I was looking for. It was just so emotionally wrenching to have to interview one of my friends.”
David grimaced. “I’m sorry.”
I exhaled. “But at least that’s over with now.”
David nodded. “Yeah. Unfortunately, there are still plenty of suspects left to talk to.” He turned on the ignition of his car. “Who do you want to interview next?”
Chapter Sixteen
I knew just the answer. Eric Tilden was the next suspect on my radar. On the drive over to Eric’s workplace, I couldn’t help but wonder. Would he have an alibi for the time of my sister’s abduction just like the others did? Or would talking to Eric prove to be just the break in the case that David and I had been looking for? Before I was able to contemplate that question any further, my focus was pulled away.
In a geographic twist of fate, the route to Eric’s workplace took David and me past the old banquet hall on Treasure Cove Lane. A flurry of emotions hit me as I spotted the now-vacant hall. Even though the building was currently unoccupied and thankfully free of any secret-society activity, just seeing the place again was enough to bring up a series of haunting memories in my mind.
How could it not? That was the site where twenty men got together and plotted to murder a man. It was also the place where those same men concocted a plan to take control of Treasure Cove for themselves. If there was ever a location that needed its aura to be cleansed, it was that banquet hall. Although, I would go one step further. In my mind, that building needed a complete cosmic fumigation.
The longer I stared at the banquet hall, the more I wondered if I would ever be able to drive by here without getting creeped out. I did not have high hopes.
Then again, the place was for sale. Perhaps someone who actually wanted to use it as a proper banquet hall instead of as a front to operate a shady secret organization would buy it.
As I sat in the passenger seat of David’s car and stared at the hall, my silence did not go unnoticed.
David glanced over at me from the driver’s seat with a look of concern on his face. “Are you sure this case isn’t too much for you to handle?”
“I’m positive,” I replied.
He looked deep into my eyes before turning his focus back to the road. “You keep saying that, but I have my doubts.”
“I understand why you’re worried about me, but I wasn’t even thinking about the case right then.”
I pointed at the banquet hall.
He gave the hall a glance. “I get it now. No wonder you were so quiet.”
“How long do you think the banquet hall will sit empty?” I asked.
David shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m actually surprised that Jake Williamson hasn’t bought it yet. He seems to be gobbling up every other commercial property in town.”
&nb
sp; I sighed. “Don’t remind me.”
“Sorry. I know talking about Jake is a sore spot for you.”
I stared off into the distance. “You know, I never thought I’d say this, but I actually wouldn’t mind if the hall stayed empty forever. I mean, look at what kind of shady things happened the last time someone bought the place.”
David grimaced. “True. Then again, the bar is pretty low for that hall. If the next person who buys it doesn’t form a secret society, I will count that as a win.”
“Here’s a crazy idea. Someone could actually buy the place and use it for banquets,” I said.
David scoffed. “Come on. That makes sense. Way too much sense for Treasure Cove.”
I laughed. “You’re right. What was I thinking?”
David playfully shrugged. “I don’t know. But I’ll tell you this. If you’re looking for normal, then Treasure Cove isn’t the place for you.”
“With a slogan like that, it’s a good thing you don’t work for the tourism bureau,” I deadpanned.
“Tell me I’m wrong,” David said.
“I’m afraid I can’t. With the way things are going in this town, the odds are that if someone bought the hall, it would be to use it for dubious reasons,” I replied.
David nodded. “Although, what’s more dubious than a murderous secret society?”
“There’s a question that I don’t want to know the answer to,” I replied.
“Yeah,” David said. “Let’s hope that one stays a mystery to us.”
“Speaking of mysteries, it’s time to focus on Eric Tilden,” I replied.
Chapter Seventeen
A few minutes later, David and I arrived at Eric Tilden’s place of work. It shouldn’t have surprised me that Eric was employed at a tattoo parlor. What did startle me was the fact that he drove a hearse. Apparently, he managed to get even creepier with age.
When David and I entered the parlor, Eric was tattooing an image of a skull onto a client’s arm. At first, the moody, socially awkward, skinny, five-foot-eight thirty-year-old didn’t want to stop work on the tattoo to speak with David and me.
But when David threatened to drag Eric into the police station, Eric changed his tune. Eric put his tattoo needle down then joined David and me outside the building.
Daley Buzz Cozy Mystery Boxed Set Page 61
