Tessa Stark: Desert Heat

Chapter Twenty Three

"You're very quiet for someone who just bragged about how huge her dick is," the M.E. spoke in a snide tone. "So, tell me what you've got hotshot--"

"Watch your mouth, Lydecker!" a deep voice rumbled. "Who the hell do you think you're talking to!"

Tessa looked toward the scene entrance to see Cole looming there, his eyes flashing fire...and the State Trooper stepping up to block his path.

"I'm talking to Ms. Big Dick here, Dalton!" Lydecker answered. "And you're too close to my crime scene, so get yourself back--"

"You get yourself fucked, you little piss ant!" Cole growled, appearing on the verge of launching himself at the trooper standing in between himself and Lydecker.

"Hey! That's enough! Both of you!" Sheriff Gonzalez ordered as he hurried over, forcing himself in between Cole and the trooper. "This is a crime scene and there is a young woman lying there dead! Have a little respect!"

"Tell Lydecker to have some respect!" Cole bit out through his clenched teeth. "He can talk to his own team anyway he wants, but he won't talk to one of ours like that!"

"Stop foaming, Dalton!" Lydecker shot at Cole. "I'm just waiting to hear what your Special Detective, who demanded access to my crime scene, thinks she's found that my team and I couldn't!"

With a rather startling abruptness, it seemed all eyes turned toward the ruckus...with each and every person loitering around the scene singularly focused on...her. Stiffening, Tessa cleared her throat and moved a few steps toward the barrier tape, feeling her body temperature rise uncomfortably beneath her suit and mask.

Nothing like a little pressure... "Sheriff, I didn't think something might have been missed. I just need to see the scene for myself, while its fresh, because...this makes no sense to me."

"What makes no sense?" the sheriff asked, his brows drawing together.

"It makes no sense that Etty Montrose was killed because someone thought she murdered Hallie Whitmore. And the note... I mean, it implies a revenge killing, but..."

"You can't make it jibe," Cole offered as he moved around the trooper and up to the barrier tape.

She gave her head a shake. "Out of all the people we've questioned so far, not one of them seemed to barely more than care that Hallie is dead. I mean...her sister seems angry, but I can't see her risking her own life by killing Etty Montrose."

Though, Cameran had threatened to strangle the girl if she refused to cooperate...

"But, as Detective Dalton told me, you were asking some pointed questions about Ms. Montrose. And its hard to write off that fairly clear note that was left behind," was the sheriff's opinion.

The note... She couldn't ignore that note. But, she also couldn't ignore her gut. Yes, she had been asking questions about Etty Montrose. Yes, she herself had even seen the woman as a viable suspect. But, even had she been able to eventually prove that Etty was the one responsible for Hallie's death...it still didn't wash that anyone was wrought enough to jump to that conclusion and then take matters into their own hands. Especially not during an active homicide investigation when everyone in Hallie Whitmore's life was already under the microscope.

"Tessa?" Cole spoke. "What are you thinking?"

She was thinking that...aside from insanity, she could only hunt up a limited number of reasons to commit a murder during a murder investigation. Rage fueled revenge...which didn't feel quite right. Desperation...the killer felt, for whatever reason, there was no other choice. Or perhaps...to divert suspicion...or possibly to divert the entire investigation.