Silent Smile (Sheila Stone #10)

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

The clock on Sheila's office wall ticked relentlessly, each second a reminder of the time pressure they were under. It was just past 6 PM, and Sheila had been staring at the evidence board for the better part of an hour. Photos of Amanda Weller and Carl Donovan stared back at her. Between them, pictures of Mick O'Donnell and Jason Hawke were connected by a web of red string, each intersection marked with a question mark.

A knock at the door broke her concentration. Finn entered, a thick file tucked under his arm and two cups of coffee in his hands. "Thought you could use this," he said, placing one cup on her desk. "Got the background checks on Mick and Jason."

Sheila took a grateful sip of the coffee before flipping open the file. "Anything stand out to you?" she asked, looking up at Finn.

He shook his head, leaning against the edge of her desk. "Not really. Neither has a history of violence. Mick had a few minor drug possession charges in his youth, but nothing in the last decade. Jason's record is clean, apart from a couple of parking tickets."

Sheila sighed, tossing the file onto her desk. They'd been at this for hours, and they seemed no closer to the truth. Both men were still in custody, but without concrete evidence linking either of them to the murders, they couldn't hold them much longer.

She stood up, stretching muscles stiff from hours of sitting. As she did, her eyes fell on the crime scene photos, specifically the strange symbol found on both victims' foreheads.

"What about the symbol?" she asked. "Did you find anything relevant in either suspect's background?"

Finn shook his head. "Nothing."

This troubled Sheila more than anything else. Whoever had drawn that symbol had done so for a reason, and though it was possible it was meant to be a distraction, that explanation alone wasn't satisfying.

Just then, a soft knock on the open door frame drew her attention. Dr. Nora Redfeather stood there, a hesitant smile on her face. "Sheriff Stone? I hope I'm not interrupting."

Sheila straightened, surprised by the unexpected visit. "Dr. Redfeather, please come in. What brings you here?"

Dr. Redfeather entered, her eyes darting to the evidence board before settling back on Sheila. "I was wondering how the investigation was going. These murders... they've shaken our community. I just wanted to see if there was any progress."

Sheila gestured for her to take a seat, exchanging a quick glance with Finn, who looked as surprised by Dr. Redfeather's arrival as she was. "We're working on it. Actually, since you're here, maybe you could help us. You know both Mick O'Donnell and Jason Hawke, right?"

"Mick and Jason?" Dr. Redfeather asked, looking surprised. "Are they suspects?"

"Persons of interest," Finn said.

"Do you know them?" Sheila asked.

Dr. Redfeather nodded slowly. "Yes, I do. From their work at the park. I've known them for years."

"What can you tell us about them?" Sheila leaned forward, her elbows on the desk. "Do you think they're capable of murder?"

Dr. Redfeather's brow furrowed, her hands clasping tightly in her lap. She seemed to be weighing her words carefully. "I... I'm hesitant to speak ill of anyone, Sheriff. But the truth is I've had my private suspicions about both of them for years."

"What kind of suspicions?"

"Well," Dr. Redfeather began, her voice low, "Mick always seemed a bit... unstable. He'd have these mood swings, and sometimes I'd catch him talking to himself out in the dunes. At first, I thought he was just eccentric, you know? But there were times when he'd get this look in his eyes... it was unsettling."

Sheila nodded, encouraging her to continue. "And Jason?"

Dr. Redfeather sighed. "I once overheard him talking to a group of tourists about the spiritual significance of the dunes to local tribes. The information he was giving was completely fabricated, but he spoke with such conviction. When I confronted him about it later, he just laughed it off, said he was 'giving the tourists what they wanted to hear.'"

Sheila made a mental note of this information. It didn't prove anything, but it added new layers to their understanding of the suspects. "Did you ever witness any violent behavior from either of them?"

Dr. Redfeather shook her head. "No, nothing violent. They were capable of getting quite agitated, though, especially Jason." She crossed her legs. As she did so, Sheila caught sight of a tattoo peeking out from under the hem of her pants—a symbol strikingly similar to the one found on the victims' foreheads.

Sheila's heart rate kicked up a notch. Was it possible Dr. Redfeather was somehow involved in the murders? Was that why she was here—to check up on the investigation, see if she was in any danger?

Trying to keep her voice casual, Sheila asked, "This is all very helpful, Dr. Redfeather. While you're here, do you mind if we ask you about your whereabouts the past couple of nights? We're just trying to get as clear a picture as possible of what went on at the park on the nights of the murders."

Dr. Redfeather's hand went to her throat, her eyes widening slightly. The change in her demeanor was subtle but unmistakable. "I... I was at home, I believe. Working on some research papers."

"Both nights?" Sheila asked.

"I... yes, I think so." Dr. Redfeather's gaze darted to the door. Her earlier composure seemed to be crumbling. She looked up, puzzled. "Am I under suspicion here?"

"Of course not," Sheila said with a smile. "Like I said, we're just trying to get a clear picture."

"Of course." There was a long silence. Then Dr. Redfeather stood abruptly. "I'm sorry, Sheriff, but I just remembered I have a faculty meeting. I really should go."

Sheila stood as well, moving slightly to block the path to the door. She decided to show her hand. "Before you go, Dr. Redfeather, I couldn't help but notice your tattoo. It's quite similar to the symbol we found on the victims."

Dr. Redfeather's face paled. "I... I should have mentioned it earlier. I was afraid it would make me a suspect. But now, I suppose my silence only makes me seem more suspicious, doesn't it?"

Sheila waited for Dr. Redfeather to continue.

Dr. Redfeather cleared her throat. "It's an old symbol from my tribe," she explained, her voice shaky. "I got it years ago, in college. It represents the connection between earth and sky, the balance of all things. I had no idea it would be connected to something like this."

Sheila nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving Dr. Redfeather's face. The similarity could be a coincidence, but combined with Dr. Redfeather's vague answers about her whereabouts, it raised some red flags. "And you're sure you were home both nights of the murders?"

Dr. Redfeather's eyes darted around the room, not meeting Sheila's gaze. "I... I might have gone out for a walk one of those nights. To clear my head. But I didn't go anywhere near the park, if that's what you mean."

Sheila glanced at Finn, who was watching her. His body was tense, his gaze alert.

"A walk where, Dr. Redfeather?" he asked.

"Just... around the neighborhood. I don't remember exactly." Dr. Redfeather's voice had taken on a pleading quality. "I assure you, I had nothing to do with those murders. I'm just trying to help."

Sheila held Dr. Redfeather's gaze for a long moment before speaking. "Thank you for your honesty, Dr. Redfeather. I'd appreciate it if you didn't leave town for the time being. We may have more questions as the investigation progresses."

Dr. Redfeather nodded, her face a mask of worry. "Of course, Sheriff. I... I hope you find who did this. Truly." She moved to the door, her movements jerky and uncertain. "If there's nothing else, I really should get to that meeting."

Sheila nodded and watched her go. As the door closed behind Dr. Redfeather, Sheila turned to Finn, who had been silently observing the interaction. "What do you think?" she asked.

Finn's expression was grim. "I think we might need to take a closer look at Dr. Redfeather. That tattoo... it's too big of a coincidence to ignore. And her behavior just now? Definitely suspicious."

Sheila nodded, her earlier certainty about Mick and Jason's guilt wavering. "Agreed. But let's keep this quiet for now. If she's involved, we don't want to tip our hand more than we already have."

She moved to the evidence board, adding Dr. Redfeather's photo and connecting it to the sun symbol with a new piece of red string.

The case had only grown more complex. Now they had three suspects, not two.