The Wrong Bones (Widow's Island Novella) by Melinda Leigh

Author:Melinda Leigh [Leigh, Melinda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Montlake
Published: 2022-10-24T16:00:00+00:00

6

Still seething about Simon Dooley’s attitude, Logan scrolled on his smartphone. “Simon doesn’t have social media accounts. Google searches still link him to Callaway Insurance. But if I go to the company’s website now, he isn’t listed on the ‘About Our Agents’ page.”

Tessa tapped a thumb on the steering wheel. “I wonder if he quit or if he was fired from Callaway.”

He clicked on the company’s phone number, but the call went to a voice mail message. Logan ended the call. “They’re not open today. I’ll try in the morning. No one is available at Greater Pacific Insurance either.” He clicked through the menu on the website. “I don’t even see agents listed on this site. Quotes are online only.”

Tessa’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen. “The call is from Oregon. Looks like the owner of the rental property.” She answered the call on speaker. “Deputy Black.”

“This is Nicolas Gorzala, returning your call,” a male voice said.

“Hello, Mr. Gorzala. I have a question regarding your rental property on Widow’s Island.”

“That’s not a rental property. It’s a vacation home,” Mr. Gorzala clarified.

“So you haven’t rented it out or loaned it to a family member or friend?” Tessa asked.

“No,” he confirmed. “The house should be empty.”

“In that case, you might have trespassers.” Tessa explained that a neighbor had seen a man in the house.

“Well, he definitely doesn’t have my permission to be there,” Mr. Gorzala said.

“I have not seen the man. I’m headed there now to verify his existence in relation to another crime.” Tessa turned the SUV toward the cemetery. “If there is a trespasser, I’ll get back to you. Do I have your permission to enter the premises?”

“Yes, and thank you,” Mr. Gorzala said. “There’s a hidden key box.” He gave her the exact location and combination. “Let me know what else you need from me. I’ll fly up there if necessary.”

“I will. Thank you.” Tessa ended the call.

Logan glanced at Tessa. “Trespassers. Fun.”

She drove to the end of the lane. She came to a stop in front of the small A-frame house. She reported their location to dispatch before climbing out of her vehicle.

He sniffed the air and caught the scent of burning leaves. “I smell smoke.”

Tessa inhaled. “Me too.”

They walked around the side of the house. The smell of smoke intensified. They stopped at the corner of the A-frame and peered into the backyard. The house stood on a half acre of cleared ground. A row of evergreens separated the property from the cemetery, but Logan could see headstones through breaks in the foliage. A beat-up white pickup truck was tucked behind some bushes. Logan snapped a photo of the Washington State license plate.

The landscaping was no-fuss natural. Moss and dead leaves carpeted the ground. In the center of the yard, a man in jeans and a black T-shirt stood in front of a burn barrel, feeding items from a wooden box into the flames.

“Wonder what he’s burning,” Tessa said.

Horrified, Logan watched a spark drift through the air.

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