Perfect Night (Mason Creek)

“Yeah, but it’s a win. I’m creating jobs. And I’m only renting out the three rooms upstairs. I don’t expect a lot of foot traffic.”

“I think it’s a great idea.”

I smiled because I loved his unconditional support. “There is something else.”

“What’s that?” he asked as he took another bite of his food.

“I needed someone here with me as I go through Dad’s stuff. He wouldn’t want his things to go to waste.”

He took my hand in his and threaded our fingers. “I can be with you every step of the way.”

Chapter 30

Aiden

It was hard leaving Emma in the morning after an emotional night. We didn’t get through everything. Her father hadn’t had an excess of clothes, but as we pulled them out, some brought memories back for her. I reminded her that it wasn’t a race and that she had time. She didn’t have to get rid of everything.

She’d packed some of her things and brought them over to my place. She was surprised I’d already made space for her in what was now our room.

Over the next few days, we found a rhythm. I’d bring her breakfast and she made us dinner. It was so easy I wondered why I’d waited so long.

The change in her father’s death certificate went rather smoothly. I’d been able to obtain the signed warrant I needed that morning and had just submitted it to the rental company electronically when Bess said I had a visitor. I asked her to send him in.

I stood when he walked in. “How can I help you?” I asked.

He handed me a card. Before I could look at it, he introduced himself as an insurance investigator. “We were in the process of working through a claim when I was notified the manner of death of Mr. Doug Hawkins was changed to homicide.”

“Only now?”

“We have up to sixty days to pay out a policy.”

“How can I help?”

“I’m investigating the beneficiary. He checked his phone. A Ms. Emma Hawkins. We won’t pay out a policy to anyone related to the murderer and including the murderer.”

“What are you saying? Do you think Emma had something to do with her father’s death?”

“I’d say he’d taken out a two-million-dollar policy only a few weeks before his death.”

That surprised me with the timing. In no way did I believe Emma was capable or responsible for her father’s death, but I had to ask the question if only to poke holes in his theory. “Did Emma file a claim?”

He paused. “Actually yes. She did on a smaller policy that Mr. Hawkins had for quite some time.”

“Then, why are you here, in person?”

“It’s a large policy and the timing.”

“But you just said she didn’t file a claim.”

“She didn’t. But once the other policy was triggered, it was linked to the larger policy.”

“Did you pay out the smaller policy?” I asked.

“We did.”

“So, you didn’t do an investigation on that one?”

“That policy was paid in full, and it wasn’t immediately linked to the larger policy until after the smaller one was paid out. If she were to be found guilty, we would of course try to recover the payment on the smaller policy.”

I wanted to burst the bubble of the smug bastard. “I can tell you this much because it’s not a part of our current investigation, but Emma was the one that pushed to say her father was murdered. She said that from the beginning. She paid for the private autopsy that ultimately opened a murder investigation.”

He wasn’t moved. “If you won’t investigate her, I will.”

I wanted to punch the smug bastard, but I remained calm. Sheriff Moon popped his head in. I wasn’t sure how much he heard. “Of course, we will investigate Ms. Hawkins as procedure dictates. In fact, I’ll be interviewing her this afternoon. I’ll be sure to have Aiden pass on our findings.”

The man stood and held out his hand. I didn’t take it. The sheriff did. They exchanged introductions before the guy left.

“Emma didn’t do this,” I protested once I knew the insurance investigator was out of earshot.

“Maybe not, but you should know any good defense attorney will question why we didn’t. So we do.” He held up a hand to stop me so he could finish. “You’re too close to her. Another weapon a defense attorney could use. So I’ll do it.”

He was right. “Fine, but I’m watching.”

“As long as you keep your cool. I can’t go soft on her Aiden. You know this.”

I did. That didn’t mean I had to like it. Still, I had to wonder why Emma’s father took out such a large policy. Was he in fear of his life?

Gaining access to his email and phone would be as easy as calling Emma. But again, I had to follow procedure so anything that I found could be admitted into evidence. Up until this point, I’d made the mistake of thinking this case was simple. Now it was time to find out what Doug was doing leading up to his death.