Chapter 25
Scott Sinclair was too good to be true. Most men she knew didn’t risk their lives for someone they didn’t know. Could he really not have an angle? Once again the lonely sound of the whippoorwill broke the silence.
“So, what’s on your agenda for tomorrow?” Scott asked. He checked his watch. “Or rather, this morning?”
Tori leaned back in her chair. A bullfrog croaked somewhere close by. She hadn’t heard one of those in years, either.
“You don’t have to share your plans if you don’t want to.”
“It’s not that—I just haven’t thought that far ahead beyond Drew’s interview with Ben Logan at nine.”
“You expect me to believe Victoria Mitchell doesn’t have a plan?”
“Okay, maybe I’m not sure what I want to do first.” It wasn’t easy for her to open up to anyone other than Amy. But Scott had been there for her. And having an ally wasn’t a bad thing. “After the interview with Ben Logan, I want to question Richard Livingston while I’m waiting for Amy to get here.”
“Why?” Scott asked.
She was surprised he didn’t know. “Pretty sure the doll has a connection to a podcast series I’ve done.
Two come to mind—Walter Livingston’s and the one on domestic violence.
I can’t investigate Calvin Russell, so .
. . since the Walter Livingston case is the one I’m getting publicity for, and I’m in Logan Point, it makes sense to start there. ”
He nodded. “That makes sense.”
Tori smiled. “Besides, I want to learn more about Jenny Tremont in case Drew or my brother is charged. I figure someone at the Livingston Corporation can give me a better picture of her than I have.”
“You could ask me.”
She’d forgotten they went to church together.
Tori wasn’t sure how true a picture Scott had of Jenny—lots of people were one person at church and someone totally different everywhere else.
It was one reason she’d quit going. Not the main one, but when you wanted to do something, one reason was as good as another.
“Okay, what can you tell me about Jenny?”
“What do you already know?”
He would make a good lawyer. Tori searched her memory bank. “She was my sister-in-law’s best friend . . . actually moved in the last three months of Beth’s life to help take care of her while Zack worked.”
That made her a good person in Tori’s mind. “She bonded with Drew. From what Erin’s told me, Jenny and Drew were really close—he would do practically anything for her.” She thought a minute longer. “That’s about all I can think of. What can you add?”
“I admired her.”
“Why? You couldn’t have known her long.”
“That’s true . . . but she was one of the first church members who reached out to me when I returned to Logan Point six months ago. She didn’t judge my appearance—she even asked if I’d help with the youth.”
Scott paused and looked toward the trees. “Jenny had a really sweet spirit, and she really poured herself into the lives of the girls in her Sunday school class.”
“So why would someone kill her?”
“Money, jealousy, and vengeance—those are the usual reasons.” Scott rattled the ice in his glass and drained what tea was left. “But I don’t see where she would fit into any of those.”
“Who was she close to?”
“Besides people at church? Drew, maybe Zack.” He shifted in his chair. “There was a rumor going around that Zack wanted to date her . . .”
Tori had been surprised when Ben alluded to a relationship between Zack and Jenny—she’d no clue her brother was interested in Jenny other than as a friend. “Did he?”
He hesitated.
“So it was true?”
“I don’t think so. I asked him about it, and he got huffy. Told me it was none of my business who he dated. When I agreed, he warmed up a little, said it would be like dating his sister—one he could actually talk to without getting a lecture.”
She winced. Tori imagined both she and Erin were guilty of that. “He makes it so easy to lecture him,” she grumbled.
“Are you judging him?”
“No!” She pressed her lips together. “Maybe. I lost my mother to alcohol. I don’t want to lose my brother too.”
“Have you ever been to Al-Anon?”
“No. It’s not my problem.”
His raised eyebrows said otherwise.
“It’s not,” she insisted.
“Al-Anon might help you realize you’re not responsible for whether he stops drinking or not.”
She stared out at the darkness beyond the deck. Tori didn’t feel responsible for making Zack stop drinking. She didn’t. “Do you know if Jenny Tremont’s house is still a crime scene?”
Scott sighed. “No idea. You’d need to ask Ben.”
“If it is, do you think he would allow me to go through it? I might find something they missed.”
“Tori, Ben’s not going to let you search her house—he wants you to stay out of the case.”
“And you know this how?”
He hesitated. “Because if it were my case, I wouldn’t want you meddling in it. Besides, he told me as much.”
Ben Logan wouldn’t be the first law enforcement official to label her investigation as meddling. But every time, she’d discovered something they missed. “Thank you for admitting that Ben put you up to asking me out.”
“I’m not admitting anything. He asked me to keep an eye on you after the incident with the shooter. I didn’t have to say yes.”
But he had, and she should be thankful instead of questioning his motives, especially after he’d scared that truck off earlier tonight. Her mouth twitched. “Thank you.”
“That wasn’t so hard, now was it?” The twinkle in his eye softened his words. “And you’re welcome.” He stood. “If you’re ready, I’ll show you where your room is. It has an ensuite with a shower.”
“A hot shower sounds fantastic.” Tori stood and picked up her plate along with Scott’s. “Thanks for supper.”
He acknowledged her thank-you with a nod. “If you’d like, I’ll go with you tomorrow when you pick up Drew for his appointment with Ben at nine.”
She caught her automatic “I can handle it by myself” response before it got past her lips. Scott was trying to help, and it was possible Drew would open up to him. He certainly hadn’t opened up to her.
“How long do you think the meeting with Ben will last?” Tori had an appointment with Richard Livingston at ten thirty, and she needed time to lay out the questions she wanted to ask.
“No clue.”
She’d better move the appointment with Richard to afternoon, especially since she wanted to check out the crime scene. “Do you think we could go by Jenny Tremont’s house when we finish? I can get a key from Drew or Zack.”
He huffed a resigned sigh. “You’re determined, aren’t you?”
She grinned.
“It’ll depend on whether Ben gives the okay.”
She didn’t respond as she followed Scott into the kitchen. If Jenny’s place was no longer a crime scene, Ben couldn’t keep her from searching it. She stretched. “I’m calling it a night. Thanks for making all this happen.”
“No problem.”
A few minutes later, Tori padded into the ensuite and turned on the shower, choosing the massage setting, and she let the hot water beat the knots out of her neck and shoulders. Thirty minutes later, Tori glanced at her phone as she climbed into the queen-size bed. Eli had texted her.
Are you okay?
She checked her watch. The time stamp on the text was five minutes ago. Why was he texting her this time of night? She texted him back.
I’m fine. Why?
No way he could’ve heard about someone trying to run her off the road.
You were supposed to call me after you went to your brother’s.
Sorry. I forgot.
Come on, Tori. How am I supposed to help you if you don’t keep me in the loop? Were you still with Scott Sinclair?
She gritted her teeth. Same old Eli. That had been their main problem when they were teenagers—he was too possessive. Tori was too tired to deal with Eli tonight.
I wasn’t aware I asked you to help me. Look, I just got home, and I’m tired. We’ll talk tomorrow.
He returned a thumbs-up emoji.
Tell Erin I asked about her.
She hesitated. Knowing him, he was fishing for her location. She tapped on the same emoji and set her phone on the bedside table. It buzzed again.
Just be careful. You don’t really know Scott Sinclair.
Good night.
Three dots appeared on her phone.
I don’t want you to get hurt. Scott Sinclair isn’t who you think he is.