Chapter 76

I was the first one out of the car when we got to the residence. There was no doubt about the cause of death this time.

“Knife in the back…subtle,” I said. “Literal. Someone betrayed him.”

“Or he pissed someone off.” Officer Glass was already there.

“Looks like they got him the moment he stepped down out of his pickup,” Preston observed.

Ralph’s driver’s side door was still open. His keys were on the ground beside him. I touched the hood. It was warm, but so was everything else in New Mill Town on a ninety-degree day in August.

“Or before he left,” I glanced in at the dashboard. “Handle everything carefully. There might be a clue about where he was headed.” I picked up three pieces of paper, hoping to find, what? A shopping list, directions, an appointment card, maybe. “Check with the neighbors, Preston. See if anyone knows when Ralph got back.”