Chapter 32

THIRTY-TWO

Blue-and-white bunting fluttered in the breeze around the dealership. The lot out front was filled with highly polished vehicles of all descriptions. Jenna headed toward the glass-fronted building. Inside, an array of prestige vehicles spread out, all tastefully arranged with large advertising boards beside them listing their many attributes. She weaved her way through the vehicles to the main counter with a bright red sign across the top that read spare parts . The area was surprisingly busy, with customers required to take a number and wait in line to be served. They went right to the counter and received a few disgruntled looks from people in the line. She waited for someone to come out from the back and got his attention. “Can you direct me to Mr. Wasser and Mr. Twotrees offices, please?”

“Do you have an appointment?” The server looked from one to the other and raised his eyebrows. “You’ll need to go to the administration office and speak to them there. It’s down the passageway to the left.”

Jenna nodded. “Thanks.”

They found the administration office without any problems. The door was open and Jenna walked right in and leaned on the counter. The sign on the counter read natalie gannon . As a woman came into the office, Jenna smiled. “Ms. Gannon. I’m Sheriff Alton, I need to speak to Mr. Twotrees and Mr. Wasser right away. Can you show me to their offices, please?”

“I’m not sure if that’s possible. They’re very busy.” Ms. Gannon straightened and reached for the phone. “I’ll see if Mr. Twotrees will see you.” She made the call. “Very well, I’ll send them in.” She pointed to the door. “Down the passageway to the right. His office is the first one you come to.”

Jenna exchanged a meaningful glance with Kane, turned on her heel, and headed along the passageway. She knocked on the door and walked in without waiting for a reply. The man behind the desk would have been in his mid-thirties, and as he stood his athletic appearance was enhanced by his wide white smile and pleasant features. Jenna made the introductions and took the chair he offered in front of his desk. She took out her notebook and pen and then leveled her gaze on him. “I’ll come straight to the point. You’ll be aware that the bodies of your friends from college washed up in the river this week. We’ve spoken to Josie Campbell, Marissa Kendrick, and Lily Jones about that night over Halloween. What do you recall about that night?”

The story that Twotrees recounted was exactly the same as they’d heard from the women—verbatim. Jenna nodded and made a few unnecessary notes. “I feel like this is Groundhog Day, every one of you tells me exactly the same story without any deviation whatsoever. I find it hard to believe that all your recollections of that evening are exactly the same down to the time and the people that you saw around you that night. Everyone has different memories especially after twelve years.” She tapped her pen on his desk, showing agitation toward his replies. “I know you were on the football team with Cole. From the yearbook photographs, the group of you were close friends. Did he ever mention any problems with his relationship with Abby?”

“Nope.” Twotrees rested his elbows on the desk and towered his fingers. “As far as I’m aware, they were happy little lovebirds. The last time I saw them they were walking away from the campsite up the trail hand in hand. I didn’t take too much notice because they were always going off alone. That’s what kids did in college, as I’m sure you can remember.”

“You didn’t think to raise the alarm when they didn’t return?” Kane leaned back in his chair observing him with interest.

“Nope, why would I do that? I had no idea what they were doing.” Twotrees’ mouth twitched into a grin. “Well, I did have some idea, but it wasn’t for me to go and disturb them or hunt them down to find out where they were. As consenting adults, it was none of my business. They drove to the mountain in Cole’s truck, as far as I’m aware, so I guess I figured they’d just left. I know that Abby wasn’t happy about going into the mountains over Halloween. She wouldn’t allow Cole to wear his Halloween mask either because it frightened her.”

Jenna made a few quick notes and then lifted her head to look at him. “Did that cause a problem between them? Did you hear this disagreement and how was Abby when she came to the mountain? Did she seem upset at all?”

“No, no, and no.” Twotrees rolled his eyes. “Cole mentioned it before we went to the mountain. I believe it was in the dressing room after practice but I can’t be sure. It was a long time ago. Trust me, he would have done anything for that girl—not wearing a Halloween mask wasn’t an issue between them. When we walked up the mountain together, they acted normal. There’s nothing else I can say. I didn’t see anything. I didn’t hear anything. We were all just out having a good time. It was a big shock to discover that someone murdered them.”

Unconvinced, Jenna kept her expression neutral. “Can you account for your whereabouts between two on Wednesday afternoon and eleven on Thursday morning?”

“Why would you want to know that?” Twotrees’ eyes narrowed and he placed his hands flat on the table.

“That would be the estimated time of death of Marissa Kendrick, and as a friend of hers, we need to know where you were and who can collaborate your movements around that time.” Kane leaned forward eyeballing him. “I’m sure as a businessman you would be able to account for your movements during the day.”

“Let me see.” Twotrees’ fingers ran over his keyboard. I believe I was in the office on Wednesday. I don’t recall doing anything else but going home on Wednesday night and coming back to work on Thursday morning. I had orders to process. I don’t have a personal secretary. We all use the same administrative assistant.”

“So if I check the GPS system on your vehicle, it will confirm that you remained in the office all day, or did you go out for a bite to eat for lunch?” Kane’s attention hadn’t moved from Twotrees’ face.

“It’s very possible. I went out for lunch. I go out for lunch most of the time.” Twotrees’ mouth formed a straight line. “It’s not something I plan and it depends on what I’ve decided to eat.” Annoyance shimmered off him. “I don’t remember because it wasn’t significant. Now, if that’s all, I’ve got work to do.”

Jenna slowly took a card from her pocket and slid it across the table toward him. “If you do have any memories of the night Cole and Abby went missing, or if you remember where you were on Wednesday, I would advise you strongly to contact me.”

“Okay, I will but I can’t remember anything now and I don’t think that’s going to change.” Twotrees ran a hand down his face. “It’s terrible what happened to Marissa but I haven’t seen her for many years. I don’t even recall seeing her in the street and whatever happened to Cole and Abby is a mystery I’ve struggled with for many years. Cole was my best friend and he never mentioned running away with Abby, and that was the general consensus when they didn’t show. As time went by, I stopped thinking about them, until this week when their faces were all over the news. I believe that trying to tie in the two incidents is a mistake because we rarely see each other now. In fact, I don’t ever recall any of us getting together apart from the college reunions. The only person I speak to from back then is my business partner, Clint Wasser. His office is next door and he’s in today. Feel free to go and speak to him, but you’ll get the same information as I gave you.” He waved a hand toward the door.

Unable to think of anything else to ask, Jenna stood and leaned on the table to stare into his eyes. “Unlike the sheriff who was in charge when Abby and Cole went missing, I will get to the bottom of this. We have evidence that will lead to the person who murdered Abby and Cole. We’ve discovered the burial site and have a leading forensic anthropologist on the case. She will find evidence to convict. There’s no statute of limitations for murder and I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that Marissa was murdered the same week as their bodies were found in the river. I figure she was planning on letting me know what had happened that night in the mountains and someone murdered her to keep her quiet.”

Pausing long enough to take in the surprise expression on Twotrees’ face, Jenna straightened and headed out of the door. As Kane came up beside her, she turned and smiled at him. “I figure I got his attention.”

“Yeah, you sure shook his tree.” He indicated to a room farther down the passageway with Wasser’s name on a metallic strip on the door. He knocked and pushed it open. “Mr. Wasser? The sheriff would like a word with you.”