Mysteries of Treasure Cove Cozy Mystery Boxed Set

by Meredith Potts

  “Which you desperately needed to pay your rent,” David said. “Clearly, you were hurting for money. Why else would you have stolen from the register?”

  “Look. We can keep going around and around. But the fact is, I didn’t kill Jim,” Steve said.

  “Unfortunately, you can’t prove your innocence,” David said.

  “True. But you also can’t prove that I’m guilty of anything,” Steve said.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Steve’s response put us in a tough position. We threw a few more questions at him, but we didn’t get anywhere.

  When our frustration boiled over, we decided to move on.

  Or at least we tried to. David and I weren’t really sure where to go next. We opted to drive back to the police station.

  When we arrived at police headquarters, David had a conversation with the medical examiner. Unfortunately, the examiner had no new useful information to share with David. That left David and I more perplexed than ever.

  We ended up mulling our options for a number of minutes. But nothing stood out.

  I then found myself staring out into the distance, hoping that some brilliant idea would come to me. That didn’t happen.

  After the better part of an hour went by without anything to show for my efforts, I felt like I needed to head outside and get some fresh air. After all, sometimes a simple change of scenery produced unexpected results.

  But first, I needed to make a quick stop at the ladies room.

  Surprisingly, when I came out of the restroom, David approached me in the hallway with some breaking news to share.

  “There has been a hit on the all-points-bulletin that I put out on Trevor Olson,” David said.

  ***

  It turned out that a gas station clerk had spotted Trevor.

  Deputy Rick Peterson happened to be out on patrol in that area of town. The deputy quickly drove over to the gas station to detain Trevor for questioning.

  This was just the break that David and I had been waiting for. We darted out of police headquarters, hopped into David’s car, and sped over to the gas station.

  When we arrived at Redding Avenue, we saw Trevor sitting in the back of Deputy Peterson’s squad car.

  David parked his vehicle, pulled the deputy aside, and had a brief conversation with him.

  When they were done talking, my husband and I walked over to the squad car to question Trevor.

  The eighteen-year-old had black hair, brown eyes, and a long face. His tall body looked cramped in the back of the squad car.

  But it was his demeanor that caught my attention the most. He was absolutely livid.

  “What’s the big idea, locking me up back here?” Trevor asked.

  David kept his cool. “Calm down.”

  “How am I supposed to do that?” Trevor asked. “I’m in the back of a police car.”

  “True. But if you don’t watch your tone, we’ll be conducting the rest of this conversation in an interrogation room back at the police station. Now calm down.”

  “This is ridiculous. I have rights. You can’t just shove me into the back of a squad car like this.”

  “Are you really going to argue the law with me? Because let me tell you something. I’m well within my authority to detain you for questioning.”

  Trevor’s eyebrows knitted. “I don’t get what you want to question me about.”

  “Really? You’re going to play dumb with us right now?”

  “I’m not playing. I really don’t know what this is about.”

  “Then why did you slip out your bedroom window to avoid talking to us earlier?” David asked.

  Trevor stared at the ground and didn’t say a word.

  “That’s what I thought,” David said. “So instead of acting like we’re holding you here for no good reason, how about you explain yourself?”

  Trevor continued to look down. He seemed determined to remain quiet.

  That didn’t sit well with David. He tried to get Trevor to speak up.

  “We’re waiting,” David said.

  Once again, Trevor didn’t open his mouth.

  David made another attempt to get some cooperation from Trevor. “You can sit there in silence all day. But you’re not going anywhere until I get some answers. So, if I were you, I’d start talking.”

  Realizing that his silence wasn’t getting him anywhere, Trevor let out a groan and spoke up. “This is all a misunderstanding.”

  “How so? What aren’t I understanding correctly?”

  “I know you probably think I have something to hide.”

  “Generally, innocent people don’t take off like that.”

  “Look. I just panicked, all right?” Trevor said. “I got scared.”

  “Why?”

  “You just don’t get it.”

  “You aren’t exactly explaining yourself very well. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about,” David said.

  “That isn’t true and you know it,” Trevor said.

  “Are you calling me a liar?”

  “No. I’m just saying. Are you really going to stand here and tell me that the police have never gone after the wrong person? That an innocent man has never been locked up? Because we both know that isn’t true.”

  “I can’t speak for every detective in the world, but I can say this. I’ve never wrongfully imprisoned anyone.”

  “What do you call this?”

  “Trevor, you’re not in prison.”

  “No. But I am being held against my will,” Trevor said.

  “Like I said before, you’re being detained for questioning,” David said. “I’m only holding you until I can get answers.”

  “Then you’re going to let me go?”

  “It depends on your answers. Now back to you sneaking out the window.”

  “I already explained that. I was scared.”

  “Did you overhear the conversation we had with your mother?”

  Trevor opened his mouth to reply.

  David wanted to make one thing clear first. “Before you answer, I’m going to remind you that it’s a crime to lie to a police detective.”

  Trevor took a deep breath and then responded, “Yes. I heard what you said to my mom.”

  “It’s terrible what happened to your mother’s boyfriend, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah.”

  David stared him down. “Do you really feel that way?”

  “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Trevor, we know about the fight you had with Jim yesterday,” David said.

  Trevor went pale.

  David continued. “We also know that you didn’t want Jim dating your mother. But Jim had no intention of ever breaking things off with your mom.”

  Trevor gritted his teeth. “Look. I know things don’t look good for me.”

  “You’re right,” David said. “They look terrible.”

  “But I didn’t have anything to do with what happened to Jim.”

  “Why should we believe you?” David asked.

  “Because I’m telling you the truth,” Trevor said.

  “I’m afraid we’re going to need more than that.”

  “What else do you want from me?”

  “You can start by telling us where you were last night,” David said.

  Trevor opened his mouth to respond.

  David held his pointer finger up. “And don’t say at home. Your mother already told us you were out most of the night.”

  “Oh,” Trevor said.

  David waited for him to elaborate, but Trevor didn’t say another word.

  “Trevor, are you going to give us an answer?” David said.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “This shouldn’t be difficult. So why don’t you tell us where you were?”

  “All right. I was at the mall.”

  “Were you with anyone?”

  “There were a bunch of people there.”

  “That isn’t what I asked. Did you go there with anyon
e?”

  “No. Why does that matter?”

  “Because I need to verify that you really were there.”

  “I just told you. It’s not my fault if you don’t believe me.”

  “You realize they have security cameras at the mall, don’t you? So, if we go look at the tape and don’t see you there, we’ll know that you lied to us.”

  Trevor grimaced. “All right. So, I wasn’t at the mall.”

  “Where were you really?”

  “I was walking along the boardwalk,” Trevor said.

  Unfortunately, there were no security cameras along the boardwalk. That could make verifying Trevor’s alibi difficult.

  “Is that the story you’re going with?” David asked.

  “You have to believe me,” Trevor said.

  “I don’t have to do anything. Especially since I just caught you in a lie,” David said.

  “I’m telling you the truth this time.”

  “I don’t suppose there’s anyone who can back up that story of yours, is there?” David asked.

  Trevor shook his head. “No. I was alone. But I was walking along the boardwalk.”

  “It’s a shame we can’t confirm that.”

  “See. This is why I slipped out my bedroom window. I told you the truth and you don’t believe me.”

  “It would be nice if you gave me a reason to.”

  “For the last time, I didn’t kill Jim.”

  “You keep saying that,” David replied.

  “Look. I answered your questions. Let me go,” Trevor said.

  “I’m afraid that isn’t how it’s going to work.”

  Trevor shrugged. “Why not?”

  “Because certain terms are going to have to be met if I’m going to let you go,” David said.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The terms of Trevor’s release were simple. He was not to leave town under any circumstances. In addition, Deputy Peterson would keep tabs on Trevor’s movements. If Trevor tried to give Peterson the slip, Trevor would be hauled into the police station.

  After mulling over his options for a few moments, Trevor agreed to David’s terms. To make sure that Trevor went straight home, Deputy Peterson drove the suspect back to the Northwest side of town. In addition, David and I tailed the squad car over to Kaitlin Anderson’s house, as we wanted to have a few words with Trevor’s mother.

  As we pulled up in front of the Anderson house, Kaitlin immediately rushed out to the driveway. Once David released Trevor from his custody, the eighteen-year-old had a brief discussion with his mother. Trevor then went inside the house while Kaitlin approached me.

  Not surprisingly, she skipped right over the small talk.

  A frantic tone was in her voice as she directed her panic my way. “Is it true what Trevor just told me? Do you honestly believe that my son might have committed murder?”

  Her question put me in an awkward position. I didn’t want to lie to her. Then again, the truth was disturbing. I decided to try and remain as non-committal as possible in hopes of keeping Kaitlin from losing her mind.

  A knot formed in my stomach as I replied, “It’s complicated.”

  Unfortunately, my plan backfired.

  Kaitlin continued to freak out. “No. This can’t be. Trevor isn’t a killer.”

  I held my hands up in an attempt to calm her down. “We never said he was.”

  Her eyebrows knitted. “I’m confused. If you don’t think he’s guilty then why is that deputy going to be following him around?”

  “Because we don’t want him to leave town on us.”

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “Kaitlin, having a deputy follow your son around is just a precautionary measure.”

  “Where would Trevor even go? His home is here. His family is here. His entire life is here.”

  “I understand that, but we need to cover all of our bases.”

  She waggled her finger. “No. He’s my son. Not a criminal.”

  “I want to believe you—”

  “Then do it,” she said.

  I shook my head. “It’s not that simple.”

  Kaitlin shrugged. “Why not?”

  “Because there’s no way of confirming your son’s alibi. Which means that we can’t rule him out as a suspect—”

  She threw out her arms. “Sabrina, come on. You don’t honestly believe that Trevor might be responsible for this, do you?”

  “You have to understand. This isn’t about what I want to believe. It’s about discovering the truth.”

  Kaitlin put her hands on her hips. “That wasn’t a no.”

  “Look. I know what you want me to say. That we have eliminated him as a suspect. But I just can’t do that right now.”

  She rubbed her forehead. “This is a nightmare.”

  “I’m so sorry. I wish I had better news for you,” I said.

  She winced. “Today is the worst day of my entire life.”

  “I want you to know that my heart goes out to you. Between losing Jim, and this, you have really been through a lot today—”

  Kaitlin wasn’t interested in my sympathy. Instead, she tried to point the finger of blame elsewhere.

  “How about Amanda Hartley?” she said. “Did you talk to her?”

  “We spoke with a number of people today.”

  “I want to know about Amanda.”

  “I get that. But I’d prefer not to discuss specifics about the case with you.”

  “I have a right to know what’s going on. My son’s freedom is at stake here.”

  “This is an active investigation. I’m not just going to break down every detail for you.”

  “I just want to know that you’re putting the other suspects under the microscope as well,” Kaitlin said. “Not just Trevor.”

  “I assure you, we are being quite thorough. Which is why you need to be patient—”

  “How am I supposed to do that? With everything that I’ve lost…and could still lose,” Kaitlin said.

  “Kaitlin, I know you don’t want to hear this, but these things take time.”

  “You’re right. I don’t want to hear it. I want my life back. I want Jim back…” Kaitlin trailed off, unable to continue her thought.

  I reached out to put my hand on her shoulder. “I know things are really terrible right now—”

  She shook her head. “You have no idea how awful this is.”

  “I hate to correct you, but I do know what it’s like to lose someone,” I said. “I have experienced that agony a number of times before.”

  “I realize that,” Kaitlin replied. “That said, you don’t understand how heart wrenching it is to see your child being suspected of murder.”

  “You’re right. I don’t know what that’s like,” I said.

  Kaitlin winced. “Hopefully, you never have to experience something so awful. Because it is absolute torture.”

  I stared at her with sympathetic eyes. “Again, I’m so sorry.”

  Kaitlin winced as she looked out into the distance. “You never think you’re going to experience something like this. That your own child could possibly go to jail…” She took a moment to compose herself before continuing. “Yet here I am, staring down the possibility that Trevor could be sent to prison for the rest of his life.”

  “I wish there was something I could say that would make you feel better,” I replied.

  “There is. But you refuse to say it.”

  “I’ll tell you this. I hope Trevor isn’t guilty.”

  Kaitlin took a deep breath. “I need more than hope right now.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  After that gut-wrenching conversation, I walked back to David’s car feeling terrible. Talk about staring down a worst-case scenario. There were so many other ways that conversation could have gone. But instead of catching a break, everything went wrong.

  Naturally, I felt awful for Kaitlin. I did not envy everything she was dealing with. That said, while I understood her frustration, Dav
id and I were just following protocol. We hadn’t gone out of our way to single her son out. Trevor’s own actions had put him in this position. But there was no talking sense to Kaitlin. Not with everything she was wrestling with.

  Meanwhile, David and I had our own set of problems to deal with. Namely, that we had run out of leads. So when David suggested that we take a break, I didn’t argue with him.

  Normally, we would grab a bite to eat and then get back to work. That didn’t happen this time around. Instead, we decided to call it a night.

  When we arrived home, I turned on my laptop and had a brief video chat with my daughter. While Jessica kept asking me details about the case, I spent the entire conversation telling my daughter how much I loved her. I just couldn’t help myself. I needed her to know how much I cared about her.

  Once Jessica and I were done talking, my daughter went off to bed and my mother came onscreen to speak with me.

  My mom only had to take one look at my face to see the toll that this case had taken on me.

  “Honey, you look awful,” my mother said.

  I replied sarcastically, “Don’t hold anything back. Tell me how you really feel.”

  “This is no laughing matter,” my mom said. “Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”

  “Isn’t it obvious? There’s a murderer out there,” I said.

  She stared into my eyes. “I understand that. But there’s something else going on. I realize that these investigations are disturbing, but you look more troubled than you usually do in the middle of a case.”

  I let out a nervous laugh. “You have incredible instincts.”

  “Of course I do. I’m your mother. No one knows you better than I do.”

  “I can’t argue with that.”

  “Good. I don’t feel like arguing anyway. Instead, why don’t you tell me why you’re so distraught?”

  I took a deep breath before responding, “There’s a chance that Kaitlin’s son might have killed Jim.”

  My mother gasped. “Oh dear. Are you serious?”

  I nodded. “Unfortunately.”

  “No wonder you’re worked up. That is horrifying.”

  “It sure is,” I said. “I’m really rattled.”