It appeared that Stella had just obtained an alibi for the victim’s wife.
“She was with you since five o’clock today?” Stella evidently wanted clear confirmation that the typical schedule applied to today as well.
“She was.”
The screen door on the porch slammed, then the door into the kitchen. Lillian rose from her chair, crossing the room to meet her daughter. When Kasey appeared at the living room threshold, Mattie remembered her flowing mass of red hair from their youth. But the lines of fatigue on her face and dark circles under her green eyes, much like her mother’s, were new. And the carefree expression of her youth had been replaced by one filled with concern.
“What’s going on, Mom?” Kasey’s eyes went to her father as she took her mother’s outstretched hand. “You okay, Dad?”
“No, no.” He waved his left hand, shaking his head.
Kasey studied him hard, then turned her gaze on Mattie. “I know you.”
“I’m Mattie Cobb from the Sheriff’s Department, Kasey. We went to school together.”
Mattie introduced her to Stella, but even as Kasey shook hands with the detective, her eyes went back to Mattie. “What’s this about? Something’s happened, hasn’t it?”
Stella nodded at Mattie, her signal that she was relinquishing the lead. Probably best, since Kasey evidently remembered their connection.
There was no way to soft-pedal a death notification. “I’m sorry, but we do have bad news. Earlier tonight, your husband was found dead. I’m so very sorry for your loss.”
Kasey’s eyes registered shock, while her hands flew to cover her mouth. Her mother released a pent-up sob as she placed her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. Kasey spoke through parted fingers. “Dead? He’s out of town this weekend. What happened?”
Unsure how much information the detective wanted to share with the family at this point, Mattie glanced at Stella.
“This is a tough thing to have to tell a family,” Stella said slowly. “Nate was shot. The medical examiner will have to confirm, but it appeared that his wounds were immediately fatal.”
“Shot?” Kasey’s response came out in a shriek. “No. That can’t be.”
Her face ashen, Kasey’s knees buckled, and Mattie jumped to help Lillian settle her onto the sofa. Lillian sank down beside Kasey, taking her into her arms while Eve rushed to her sister and knelt in front. Mattie stepped back to allow the women some space.
Glancing away from the threesome, Mattie’s eyes met Doyle’s for a brief moment. His lids were reddened, and he swiped at the tears that threatened to brim. Stretching his good hand out toward Kasey, he shook his head.
“Damn,” he muttered.
And Mattie had to agree.
FIVE
Mattie and Stella sat and waited while the three women sobbed in each other’s arms, their initial shock giving way to grief. After several long minutes, the sound of weeping subsided and Stella spoke. “Kasey, I don’t want to press you while your emotions are raw, but it would help our investigation if you could answer a few questions. Do you feel like you could do that now?”
Lillian tried to reach for a box of tissues that was just outside her grasp. Mattie jumped to retrieve it and handed it to her. As Lillian took the box, their gaze met, and Mattie read an endless depth of sorrow in the woman’s red-rimmed eyes. She could understand why. Even though not connected by blood, Lillian’s son-in-law must have meant a lot to her. And certainly she would share in her daughter’s grief.
Kasey took the tissue that her mother gave her, then used it to wipe the tears from her cheeks and dab at her eyes. She appeared to be fighting to contain her sobs, though tears continued to flow. “I want to help. What happened? You said he was shot?”
“Yes. We found him outside Timber Creek in a white panel van. The van has been burned.”
“That can’t be.”
Stella nodded affirmation. “You thought he was out of town?”
“I thought he was in Sidney.”
“Sidney, Nebraska?”
Kasey nodded, looking stunned.
Mattie wondered why Nate Fletcher wasn’t where he was supposed to be. If his plans changed, why hadn’t he notified his wife? She probed gently. “Were you expecting him home tonight?”
“No. Not till tomorrow.”
“Why do you think his plans changed?”
Kasey shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Why did he go to Sidney?” Stella asked.
“To pick up supplies at Cabela’s. Nate’s an outfitter, you know.”
“Tell me about that,” Stella said. “I’m not familiar with the term.”
Kasey was staring off in the distance as if lost, so Eve answered while she rubbed her sister’s shoulder in a repetitive circular motion. “Nate organizes hunts, trail rides, and camping trips for tourists. He provides horses, pack saddles, and all of the equipment for overnight stays in the mountains.”
“Where is his territory?” Mattie asked, wondering how far the business ranged from Timber Creek.
“We have about ten thousand acres here on the ranch in addition to private-access BLM land up into the mountains.”
“Huh!” Doyle said. Mattie thought she could interpret a look of pride on his face as he and his youngest met each other’s gaze.
“So he uses your land exclusively?” Mattie asked.
Lillian placed her arm around Kasey’s shoulders again. “And stables his horses here. Has for about three years now, right, honey?”
“That’s right, Mom,” Kasey answered vaguely as she bent to hug her knees, eyes focused on the floor in the middle of the room.
Mattie wanted enough information so that she could do the research later. “What’s the name of his company?”
“Mustang Outfitters.”
“How does he get his customers?”
“Word of mouth and his website, for the most part.”
Which means that anyone could come from anywhere, Mattie thought.
Stella leaned forward. “Can you think of anyone who might have wanted to hurt Nate?”
Lillian looked startled. “Absolutely not. Everyone loves Nate. He’s always the life of the party. People flock to him.”
Stella prodded. “Kasey, how about you? Anyone who might have been angry with your husband? Someone he might have argued with?”
Once again, Kasey’s eyes brimmed, and a tear rolled down her cheek. “He got along with everyone.”
“What about his company? Any employees?”
“Flint. He helps out during hunting season.”
“Flint?”
“Flint Thornton. He lives up the creek.”
Mattie knew the name. “Oxbow Ranch?”
Kasey swiped tears from her face with the tissue. “That’s the one. But Flint would never hurt my husband.”
Flint Thornton had attended high school in Timber Creek and must be in his early twenties by now. He might not be violent, but off the record, Mattie knew he’d been charged a few times as a juvenile. Underage drinking, possession of marijuana—teenage crimes, but his parents had taken them seriously and put the smack down. As far as she knew, he’d never been charged as an adult.
Kasey looked at Stella. “Where is Nate now?”
“He’s been taken to Byers County for the medical examiner. It’s standard procedure for suspicious deaths. The ME will confirm cause of death and estimate time. He’ll also give us information on anything else he might be able to discover.”
Kasey frowned. “Does that mean they’ll cut him? Run all kinds of tests?”