Follow Me Home (Detectives Kane and Alton)

“That’s unusual, seeing as everything else in here is perfect. I’ll dust the vanity for fingerprints.” She pulled the kit from her bag and tossed Kane a sample container. “Remove the trap under the sink and collect the contents.” She waited for him to complete the task.

“It looks clean.” Kane held up a plastic container and frowned. “I don’t think anyone has been here.”

Jenna dusted the vanity and faucet for fingerprints. “Nothing but a few smudged prints. If cleaners had been here, it’s likely they left their prints, but someone left the tap dripping as if the sink was used in a hurry.”

“It could have been an oversight.”

“Maybe.” She led the way downstairs and reported their findings to Wolfe. “I want to know how that man got into the house and what he was doing here. Check his pockets for a key.” She turned away. “With me, Kane. Who found the body?”

“Alison Saunders. She is the realtor working at Mr. Davis’s agency and also the woman Deputy Rowley’s apparently dating.”

Jenna followed Kane outside. “I wondered why she was blubbering all over him.”

“I guess finding a dead body in a house she was planning to sell to a young couple this evening was a little traumatic.” Kane gave a nonchalant shrug. “Maybe she can shed some light on how he got into the house.”

“Maybe he was a potential buyer?” Jenna strolled toward Deputy Rowley and a young woman with dark hair dressed in a neat skirt and blouse under a jacket. “Miss Saunders? I’m Sheriff Alton. Are you up to answering some questions?”

“Okay, but please call me Alison.” She dabbed at her red eyes and gave Rowley a mournful look.

“What time did you find the body?”

“About twenty minutes ago. I called Jake straight away.”

Not 911? Jenna pulled out her notepad and pen. “Do you know the deceased?”

“No, and he wasn’t here on Monday when Mr. Davis did the house inspection. I don’t know how he got inside. The door was locked when I arrived.” Alison blinked her long, wet lashes. “I came to make sure the carpets had been cleaned before I showed the clients.”

“How many people have keys to the house?”

“Let me think.” Alison tapped her bottom lip with a red fingernail. “This house used to be a rental. We have master keys for the houses and we have two extras at the office, and the owner has a set. I have one with me. I gave one to the carpenter, Adam Stickler, and one to the cleaning service. That is the Clean as a Wink housekeeping service, here in Black Rock Falls. We use those people all the time and they are very reliable.”

Jenna made notes. “Did the cleaning service return the key?”

“They keep a master key for their own use but they finished here before Mr. Davis’s inspection on Monday; I think they came after the carpenter left on Friday. He did mention some yard work needing doing.” Alison’s brown eyes fixed on Jenna’s face. “How did the man die? Was it a heart attack?”

“I don’t know and we won’t have a cause of death until the ME has examined the body.” Jenna replaced her notebook and pen. “You’ll need to cancel the viewing for this evening. We’ll be here most of the day and tomorrow, and when we clear the scene, you’ll need to get the cleaners in again to get rid of the smell.”

“Oh, Lord, nobody will buy the place now. We have to tell buyers about any deaths occurring in the houses.”

“Who owns the property?” Kane’s gaze moved over the house then back to Alison.

“Three Maple Lane is one of the seven properties Mr. Rockford has on our books. I met him recently and so I know the man in the house is not him. Mr. Rockford moved to Texas after his son went to jail. Mr. Davis is acting as his agent for all the sales.” Alison looked as if she carried the world on her shoulders. “That’s why I moved back to Black Rock Falls to work. There are so many properties on the market since those teenagers were murdered last summer.”

Jenna let out a long sigh. She remembered the Rockford case well. “ Did you have any tradesmen in to repair anything after the last inspection?”

“As far as I am aware, all the repairs were finished.” Alison’s dainty fingers trembled on the folder in her hands. “I’ll have to ask Mr. Davis if he sent anyone out.”

“Call me when you find out.” Kane handed her a card with a compassionate smile. “My cellphone number is on the back. You can call anytime.”

Jenna stared at him then turned her gaze back to Alison. “Okay. That’s all I need for now. You had better get back to work.”

“I’m not sure if I can drive.” Alison looked forlorn. “I’m still shaking.”

“You’ve had a nasty shock.” Jenna turned away from her and spoke to Rowley. “Drive her car into town and give me your keys. I’ll drop your car back to the office. While you’re there, find out if Davis sent any tradesmen out to the house.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Rowley’s mouth twitched into a smile as he handed her the keys. “Thank you.” He led Alison to her vehicle.

“Sheriff. I need a word.” Deputy Wolfe came out the house carrying a large evidence bag. “The victim is Amos Price, forty-nine years old, and according to his driver’s license he has a cabin in the mountains on Sunset Ridge. From what I found in his bag, I believe he was here for a romantic interlude, although he was also carrying tranquilizers in his pocket.”