Blood Bath

Chapter 24

After a good night sleep. Colton was eager to begin his investigation. Convinced that Luke murdered Jenny, Colton must now find the proof.

After blazing through a first hour history test, Colton spent the morning considering ways to investigate Jenny's murder.

During art class, he asked to use the restroom. While out of the room, he called Deputy Ned's cell number.

"Ned, I have a question. Did the police look into where Luke was when Jenny died?"

Ned took a deep sigh and questioned, "Do you still believe someone killed Jenny?"

"Well - perhaps I do. It doesn't add up, since I saw Luke hit Jenny." Colton didn't want to admit his feelings on the case, but there was no way around.

"Luke had an alibi. He was in the custody of the Sheriff for two hours and his mother picked him up and took him home around midnight. A state trooper arrested him in Bad Axe for hitting a man at the gas station. As I understand, Luke dropped Jenny off at her home on The Point, and by ten o'clock he was in our holding cell. Luke wasn't released until midnight. The coroner says Jenny died Saturday night at about twelve. The coroner doesn't think Luke had enough time to kill her."

"Damn! It appears I was wrong," Colton admitted. He hated when he was wrong.

"Yes. You are not perfect, Colton. So stop trying to make every tragedy into a murder case. Jenny was unhappy, perhaps because of how Luke treated her, but he did not kill her."

When Colton returned to the bathroom, the teacher asked what took so long. Colton shrugged his shoulder and didn't respond.

Lacie could tell that Ned said something Colton didn't want to hear. "Are you going to tell me what he said?"

"Luke didn't do it, and I need to reconsider my case."

Colton explained why Luke had a good alibi. Jerry was listening to the conversation and asked, "Does this mean Jenny committed suicide?"

"No. It means Luke didn't kill her. I'm still convinced someone else had a hand in her death. There are so many questions. I mean - why would she get dressed in high heels and a sexy red dress to kill herself? And how could she cut one wrist and then the other wrist without getting blood on the steps where she was laying? It looks wrong," Colton insisted.

Lacie understood Colton's frustration. She put her hand over his and asked, "Who else would want to kill Jenny?"

Colton looked down at their hands. He turned his, so they were holding hands. He thought for a moment and said, "I think her diary may answer those questions."

The art teacher walked toward the couple prompting Colton to work on his painting, which needed a great deal of attention.

***

At the end of the last hour, Colton met Lacie by the locker room doors. He offered to give her a ride to Pigeon where she works as a nurse's aid. Her job at Scheurer Hospital gives her credit toward an online class in nursing.

During their drive to Pigeon, the couple talked about Thanksgiving, which was only one week away.

"Are you still joining our family?" Colton asked.

"I wouldn't miss it for anything. Mrs. Hoffstarter is still coming, isn't she?"

"She is, but we can confirm that with her on Saturday."

Lacie laughed. "Yes, we can. I keep losing track of my days. With this job three days a week, and my online class work, I feel like time is going too fast."