Chapter 29 #2
“I’ll cover it with something and go to the reclamation yard.” Jones kicked away a fragment of wood from the porch. “There’ll be something I can use down there. Doors are pretty standard and I’m good at fixing things.”
Moments later, Rio and Beth came out. Rio shook his head but it was evident that he had something to say. As Beth removed Jones’ cuffs, Rio tilted his head toward Raven.
“Can I have a word?” Rio stepped off the porch and walked into the snow.
“The inside of that place should be condemned. I understand the guy has divorced his wife but he’s living in squalor.
Maybe it would be healthier for you to interview him out here.
You have everything under control. We’ll get back to it. ”
Nodding, Raven waited for them to return to their truck. He went to the porch, taking out his notebook. “We’ll talk out here.” He thought through his questions. “We’re looking for information on the recent deaths of Ellie McBride and Laney Prescott. Do you know either of the victims personally?”
“I know the victims by sight. Ms. McBride is one of the teachers at the school and Ms. Prescott is a social worker. I would have seen them frequently during my work. I might have interacted with them on occasion and would have been introduced to them when I started working in their buildings. It was the normal thing to do, so they would recognize me as a member of the staff rather than someone who just wandered in.”
Raven made a few notes but noticed Jo stood close by holding out her phone and recording the interview. “Have you ever worked near their homes or the places they frequented?”
“I’ve no idea where they live.” Jones scratched his stubble and shook his head. “Same goes with the places they frequented. I guess if they ever went to Aunt Betty’s Café or any of the stores in town I would have gone there as well. I don’t really know.”
“Where were you on Friday night?” Jo hadn’t brushed the glass from her hat and her mirror sunglasses reflected Jones’ image, making him appear grotesque. “Say around the hours eleven to one?”
“Here in bed.” Jones sighed. “It’s too cold to sit up late and I’m running out of wood for the fire.” He indicated to the smashed door. “At least I’ll be able to use the door for fuel.”
“What about Monday and Tuesday, early in the morning? Where exactly were you? Did you go to work?” Jo kept her attention on Jones.
“Yeah, I went to work.” Jones gave his head a little shake. “I went to the school early Monday. I worked there on Tuesday as well.”
Raven nodded. The records at the school already indicated that Jones had been there over that time. “Did you happen to go into Ellie McBride’s classroom?”
“Nope.” Jones gave them a bleak look. “I shoveled snow from walkways most of the morning on both days. On Tuesday morning when I’d finished, I had a job at the council offices.
I had some time to spare, so I went to Stanton Forest and collected some wood for my fire.
I didn’t have time to collect very much and I’ll need to go back and get some more.
At this time of the year most of the dead fallen trees have already been taken. ”
“Just a couple of other things I need to ask you.” Jo looked at Raven from over her glasses and raised one eyebrow. “I’m familiar with your childhood. What was your relationship with your mother before she died?”
“Great.” Jones frowned. “I still miss her.”
“How did you feel about your father remarrying and then placing you in foster care?” Jo cleared her throat. “It would have been a very painful time for you.”
“At five years old, yeah, I guess so.” Jones kicked at the debris on the porch.
Agitation rolled off him in waves. “Before that, my father used to beat me. He hated me. I told my teacher at school, but I ended up getting into trouble for that. When I spoke to a social worker, they did nothing to help me. It was a relief when they placed me in foster care. I hated my father and still do.”
“Do you blame the social workers and teachers for ignoring you?” Jo remained perfectly still.
“I blame my father.” Jones screwed up his face. “Look at you, trying to twist everything to make out I had an ax to grind with the woman that sent me to foster care.” He stared at Raven. “Arrest me or let me go into town so I can fix my door.” He looked at Jo. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“You don’t point a gun at someone unless you intend to kill them, Mr. Jones.” Jo stared at him. “I’ll need to write a report on the incident. Any charges are pending the amount of damage you caused to my face.”
Seeing the color drain from Jones’ face, Jo had made her point loud and clear.
Arresting him could go two ways in Montana, often a small fine would be all he’d get for supposedly feeling threatened in his own home and the time and paperwork wouldn’t be worth the trouble.
Figuring he had enough information, Raven nodded.
“Okay, Mr. Jones. That’s all for today. Don’t leave town without notifying us. ”
“Fine.” Jones shook his head slowly. “Can I go now?”
Raven nodded. “Yeah, but pull that shotgun on us again and you’re going to jail.” He stood and watched Jones go back inside.
His feet had frozen during the interview and he tried to stamp some life back into them. He looked at Jo. “You have glass in your face. I’ll need to treat you when we get back to the office.” He pulled off her hat and shook out the glass. “There, that’s better. Don’t touch your face.”
“I feel fine.” Jo climbed inside the truck and pulled down the mirror to peer at her reflection. “Oh, that’s not good. My cheeks are so cold I didn’t feel a thing.”
Raven rubbed Ben’s ears and then started the engine. He looked at Jo. “It will be fine. I’ll have you fixed up in no time. What do you think about Jones?”
“Like I said before, he fits the profile.” Jo fastened her seatbelt.
“Add to that he gives in to streaks of violence. He knew darn well we were on the porch and yet he discharged his weapon with no thought or remorse for coming close to killing us. He has no witnesses to say he wasn’t near Laney Prescott’s house.
He admitted being close by in the forest. He’s on the list.”