Page 39 of Hell Hath No Fury

“For starters, stay with her tomorrow. I need to go to the office. Lord knows I have fires to put out thanks to Sonny’s untimely passing. While I’m there, I’ll make some phone calls and try to find an opening for her.”

Emma nodded. “Okay.”

“For my part,” Matthias said, “besides making those phone calls, I’ll talk to Fergusson first thing in the morning. Maybe I can convince him to keep me in the loop where Jones’s murder investigation is concerned.”

Eric looked at Matthias doubtfully. “Excuse me for saying, but I didn’t get the impression he liked you very much.”

Matthias shrugged, as if it didn’t matter. In truth, he had his own leverage against Fergusson that neither of them wanted him to use.

ChapterTwelve

After a second night in Matthias’s tent, Emma longed for the futon in her seventeen-foot camper back in Erie. While she loved snuggling with him and listening to the choir of night insects, the sleeping bag provided little cushioning from the uneven ground. She bet she had a bruise on her right hip from a rock she continually rolled onto. Still, she refused to complain, knowing the next logical move would be the barn. Cot or no cot, she resisted the idea of sleeping where Nell and Zeke had resided prior to his overdose.

As planned, she and Matthias drove to Eric’s house in the morning. A sullen and silent Nell joined them for coffee but only picked at the breakfast Eric made for her. Then she retreated to the guest room and shut the door.

Eric gave Emma a hug, thanked Matthias in advance for trying to help clear him, and left for his office.

Matthias poured his third cup of coffee from the fancy machine, took a seat at the island, and withdrew his phone. He studied the screen, scrolling and tapping, until he found what he was looking for and placed his first call.

When a person on the other end picked up, he identified himself, including his affiliation with the Erie Bureau of Police. “I’m calling to confirm that a Mr. Eric Baker and Ms. Nell Anderson stayed at your establishment on Saturday night.” A pause. “Yes, this past Saturday night. They paid in cash.” A longer pause. “No, I don’t have a warrant. I don’t need any of their personal information or what room they were in, only a confirmation that they were or were not on the premises.” He met Emma’s gaze and rolled his eyes. “Okay. Thank you.” He ended the call. “Apparently, they have a strict privacy policy.”

“Can’t you get a warrant?”

“I’m not officially on the case. Fergusson might have better luck.”

“If he reallywantsto verify Eric’s alibi.”

Matthias shrugged as he placed a second call. “Yes, hi, Roberta. This is Detective Honeywell. We spoke on the phone yesterday… Yes, I remember what you said, but I have a detail that might help you remember the parties in question. They would have been at the rear of the church during the service. Possibly even in the doorway.”

Emma listened to the muffled words filtering through the phone and watched Matthias’s face for any sign of hope.

“No, no. I understand. If you do remember anything, please give me a call.” He thanked her and set the phone down. “Strike two.”

Emma swore under her breath.

The phone buzzed on the counter. She wondered if either Roberta or the desk clerk had changed their minds or suddenly remembered Eric.

Matthias tapped the screen. “Hey, Cassie. You’re on speaker, and Emma’s here.”

“Hey you two. Emma, how’s your arm and head?”

“The stitches in my shoulder itch, but I’m not seeing double anymore.”

Cassie chuckled. “Glad to hear it.”

“How about you and Shawn?” Matthias asked.

“We’re tough and on the mend.” Her tone grew businesslike. “I haven’t heard back from my contact in Cleveland. I didn’t want you to think I’d forgotten.”

“That’s okay,” Matthias said. “Eric and Nell both showed up here yesterday.”

“Oh, good.”

“Not entirely.” Matthias briefed her on the dead developer and Fergusson’s suspicions where Eric was concerned.

“Joe Fergusson’s with the state police now?” Cassie sounded surprised. “Good cop, but I never did like him.”

Emma noticed a scowl cross Matthias’s face, but he recovered quickly. “Could you try your friend in Cleveland again and ask him to talk to the front desk at the Pine Gables Inn. That’s where Eric and Nell stayed, but the woman I spoke with won’t give me any information without a warrant.”