― Robert Adams
I had been pushing too hard, trying to piece together all the facts and had only become more frustrated.
I wanted so badly to catch Sarah's killer and put an end to the threat hanging over us. I was too tightly wound and needed to step back and see the big picture.
There was this nagging feeling something crucial was eluding me but I I couldn't quite grasp what it was.
I needed this break from the case, taking an afternoon to be in the country and pausing for a moment to be thankful for what I had.
The Thanksgiving meal was wonderful—the good food and conversation helped heal my frayed nerves. Afterwards when everybody was leaving, Clare invited me to stay behind so she could give me a tour of the farm.
"It's always been a tradition with me," she explained,"to get out and enjoy the fall colours at Thanksgiving and this year the weather has been especially good so the woods and fields will be beautiful."
"I agree—the colours were amazing on the drive out here but nothing beats getting out in the nippy air and kicking through leaves."
"My sentiments exactly," she laughed.
Clare was especially beautiful, the kind of woman who brightened a room just by entering it. With her long red hair she seemed to personify autumn.
She showed me around the farm as Maggie, her golden retriever, frolicked and ran ahead of us, delighted to accompany us.
In the barn she pointed out two ATV's with helmets resting on them.
"Another time we can take the all-terrain vehicles and see more of the property but not today—today’s a day of quiet reflection and rest, don't you think?"
"I couldn't agree more."
This girl was as beautiful inside as outside.
"I want to ask you about something," she said as we walked down a trail to the woods. "It was something Tom mentioned today when we were chatting."
"Sure. What is it?"
"Were you seeing a girl named Robyn?"
"You mean Robyn Lynch? No, we hung around a bit at work but that was just before I met Sarah and began going out with her."
She frowned, "I see."
I could tell by her reaction she wasn't satisfied with my answer.
"Why did Tom mention Robyn of all people?"
"He wasn't gossiping. You recognized Tom from the past and I overheard you saying he was the techie that set up all the computers in the detachment. I was following up on our theory that a disgruntled woman might be involved."
"I can't think of any run-in I had with Robyn."
"It wasn't between you and Robyn. Tom overheard Sarah and Robyn having a disagreement. It was concerning you."
My jaw dropped. Her disclosure took me by surprise and all I could do was stare at her.
"So, I take it Sarah never mentioned this incident to you?” She asked.
"No, not at all. Come to think of it though, whenever I mentioned Robyn she'd go silent and I just figured it was nothing. But now that you mention it, it does seem strange."
"Apparently Robyn complained to another female on staff that Sarah stole you from her—that you two had been going out."
"No, I swear, nothing like that. Back then we all kind of hung together and would do the occasional group thing like go bowling or have drinks after work, but I never formally dated her."
We were standing at the edge of a ravine and Clare stared off into the blue distance, obviously trying to make sense of what she heard.
"Well, that's interesting," she said finally, "and that might account for some things I heard."
My heart sunk. "You mean there's office gossip circulating about me?"
She smiled compassionately. "I know it's old news but these things have a life of their own."
"Yeah, as if I had a life of my own," I muttered.
"Don't let this get you down—this actually helps us. It may save us weeks of combing through personnel files."
I was less optimistic.
"I sincerely doubt Robyn could be our sniper,” I protested. “She couldn't go through that type of basic training. She was the type who would fret if she broke a nail. There’s no way she could be the perp.”
Clare nodded. “I agree but maybe she didn’t pull the trigger but she may be conspiring with someone who did.”
I was again surprised. I never considered that angle but if it were true it still didn’t lead directly to the killer. We’d still have to be careful how we proceeded to avoid tipping off Robyn and anybody collaborating with her.