Tessa Stark: Desert Heat

Chapter Thirty Five

"So, we're back at the start," Cole began, shoving a few fries into his mouth.

"Yes. Back to the day of Hallie's murder.  And with a mostly fresh slate," she said, swiping at the juice from her burger that had dribbled down her chin.  "Which means Nathan Rutherford is back on the board beside Richard Whitmore."

"I know this is your method, but I'm figuring Senator Whitmore for both killings," Zeb stated as he pensively sipped on his milkshake.  "It just makes the most sense."

"You think so?" Cole wondered.

Zeb gave a nod.  "We have the cell phones with all those texts between him and Hallie. We have his statement admitting to the affair. He was angry that Hallie broke it off. He has absolutely no alibi during her time of death... I'd guess cases have been prosecuted with less evidence."

"Not my cases.  Not unless I'm once hundred percent certain that I've got the right person," she stated, going for her shake and taking a swig.

Cole lifted a brow at her. "You're not a hundred percent certain that Whitmore is our guy?"

She leveled her gaze at the man. "Are you?"

Cole took a moment to turn that question over in his mind before he answered. "I could stand a bit more convincing."

That reply seemed to surprise Zeb. "Wait. So, you think the senator might not have killed Hallie? And Nathan Rutherford might not have killed her? So...who's left?"

"Well, ordinarily, I'd be looking at Mrs. Senator..."

"But, I followed up with Mr. Lansing. He backs up her story that she was with with him in his suite from just after six thirty onward," said Zeb.

"False alibis are as common as dirt on the ground," Cole pointed out. "And these people have had weeks to get their stories straight."

Zeb let out a long breath. "So, now what? Seems like we're dead in the water."

It was starting to feel that way.

"What does The Shark do when she comes up against a wall?" wondered Cole.

"Ordinarily, she'd have all the time she needed to work it out, so she'd start over as many times as it took to get it right," she replied. "So, she'd go back and hit every witness again, write new notes to compare to the original notes later, maybe expand the witness pool and question some new people... But, we don't have the time for all that."

"There are three of us..." Cole reminded. "We can divide and conquer, question whoever we can today and meet back up here this evening to compare their statements? If you trust myself and Collins to work in your stead?"

Actually, she'd never allowed anyone to question a witness for her. But, circumstances altered cases... "Sounds like a plan. I'd like another go at Hallie's family, if you two don't mind taking the clutch of friends and the two we have in Holding?"

"I-I've never actually questioned a witness before," Zeb balked, shrinking away from the notion. "This is a double murder case. I don't want to mess anything up."

"You won't. You probably can't," she told the young man. "Its just asking whatever questions you think are relevant in the moment and taking detailed notes. That's all there is to it."

Zeb did not appear at all comforted by her words and began to look a bit like a deer in the headlights.

"You've read every file and note from both Rogers and myself, Zeb.  You know as much about this case as we do," she pointed out firmly.  "All you have to do is...just start talking and see where it goes.  I mean, if they'll agree to speak with you at all."