Deadly Revenge (Pearl River #3)

Chapter 62

62

Two caskets sat at the front of the sanctuary, a sad reminder of what had happened Monday. It looked as though the whole town had turned out for the double funeral. Jenna scanned the faces of those who’d come out to pay their respects to Joe Slater and his wife.

Her grandmother sat midway from the front row. Maybe she’d get a chance to speak to her after they finished their interview with Carter. A few women dabbed at their eyes as Harrison Carter expounded about his time with Joe Slater.

Jenna continued to scan the sanctuary, seeking those who’d had their land condemned for the dam and reservoir. Todd Donelson was here, Junior sat with his wife on the left, behind the pallbearers. She hadn’t gotten the impression that either man liked Slater, so she was a little surprised to see them at the funeral ... unless—

No, she couldn’t believe Junior had tampered with Slater’s Hummer. He was a mechanic, though—who better to know how to loosen the nut where the tie-rod would fall off? And Donelson wasn’t one to get his hands dirty ...

Gordon Marsden sat on the row behind Junior. Another person she didn’t think particularly liked Slater. If her dad were here, he’d probably be sitting with Gordon. Her heart caught. She should be out looking for him. Alex was working hard on the case, but would it be enough?

She itched for the funeral to be over with so they could interview Carter and then check out the three remaining cabin rentals.

A chuckle rippled through the crowd, and Jenna pulled her attention back to the front as Carter made his concluding remarks.

“Time doesn’t permit me to tell all the stories I have of Joe and Katherine, and I’m sure you have plenty to tell yourselves. They both will be missed.” Carter stepped away from the dais and sat on the front row with Joe’s sister.

Jenna should have been paying more attention to what he’d said—she hadn’t known the Slaters, and every bit of information she learned about them helped frame a better picture of their lives.

After the funeral, she spoke to her grandmother, then followed Max to the foyer, where they waited for Carter, her patience getting thinner by the minute. By the time he joined them thirty minutes later, her patience had evaporated, especially when he totally ignored her, other than to give her a patronizing smile before focusing on Max. She understood she was only a deputy and Max was TBI, but Carter should at least acknowledge her.

Memories of difficulties in her former life in Chattanooga bombarded her, and she almost missed Max’s nod for her to start the questioning. Jenna brushed aside the insecurity that had crawled into her mind. She was good at her job, and Max knew it, and Mr. Senate Candidate was about to find out.

“Thank you for joining us,” she said.

Carter’s smile slipped. Jenna acknowledged the four bodyguards who had followed them into the room, and then she turned back to Carter. “I don’t think you’ll be attacked in here, so do we really need your security team? Besides, you may want some of our discussion to remain private.”

Briefly Carter’s eyes widened, then he gave her a stony glare before turning to the men. “I’ll be fine. Just wait in the hallway.”

The one who seemed to be in charge crossed his arms. “Are you sure?”

He nodded. “After all, we have Russell County’s finest with us.”

Jenna forced herself not to react. Carter was used to getting his way, and when he didn’t, it wasn’t pretty. She exchanged glances with Max, and he flicked his gaze toward the ceiling. Jenna tightened her lips to keep from grinning at his version of eye-rolling.

“Just what do you want to discuss that my security team couldn’t hear?”

She turned to Carter. “Several things. Have you received any more threats?”

“Not since I hired the team outside the door.”

“Good.” Jenna picked up her notepad. “I know your time is valuable, so we’ll try to be brief. Let’s start with Joe Slater and Paul Nelson. You worked with both—do you know anyone or any reason someone would take them out?”

“I thought Slater’s death was due to the accident.”

“It’s looking more like someone tampered with his vehicle,” Jenna said.

Carter turned to Max. “Is that correct?”

Heat flushed through her chest. The man wasn’t endearing himself to her. Max’s curt nod mollified her somewhat.

Carter paled and stared into space. “Nelson’s murder doesn’t surprise me, but the Slaters’? No. Everybody liked them, especially Joe. And to kill his wife as well...”

“No one comes to mind?” Jenna asked. The man was definitely shocked by the news, or he should win an Oscar.

He shook his head.

“Do you know where Joe got the money to buy that Hummer? Or his wife’s Escalade?” Max said.

“Don’t know that either ... unless his wife inherited when her parents died.”

“Why did you say you weren’t surprised at Nelson’s death?” Max asked.

“He was a womanizer, and he was the love ’em and leave ’em type. I’m kind of surprised it didn’t happen years ago.”

Jenna doodled on her notebook. She hadn’t expected Carter to bring that up. “Do you know any of the women he dated?”

“The only women I know about are from years ago—they wouldn’t have waited this long to kill him. But, if this town is like it was when I lived here, you can ask Pete’s wife down at the diner. Ethel knows everything about everybody.”

He was spot-on there. Jenna made a note to talk to Ethel. Carter prepared to stand. “If there’s nothing—”

“I have a few more questions,” Jenna said.

A pained expression crossed his face. “What are they?”

“First, what do you know about a company by the name of TerraQuest?”

He didn’t miss a beat. “Not a thing. Next question.”

“Aren’t you at all curious about why I mentioned the company?”

“No.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I have a schedule to keep, and I don’t have time to dwell on foolish questions.”

Max leaned forward. “We think it’s an important question.”

“Okay. I’ll bite. Why did you ask me about a company I know nothing about?”

She nodded at Max to take over the interview. While he didn’t seem to like Max, Carter at least respected him more than he did Jenna. She wanted to study his body language, and Jenna couldn’t do that and deal with the man.

“I’m surprised you’re not familiar with the company,” Max said. “TerraQuest bought up a bunch of land in the valley during the early stages of the dam project before the grant was even approved.”

If she hadn’t been watching closely, Jenna would have missed the tiny twitch in his left eye. The man knew the company—she’d bet her badge on it.

Max flipped back through his notes. “Who applied for the grant to build the dam?”

Carter adjusted his tie. “I did, before I became mayor—that was my job, to find money to fund the city.”

“You weren’t aware of anyone buying land back before the dam was proposed?”

He raised his right hand. “I have no knowledge of land purchases, not before or after the dam proposal, and I resent the implication of your questions. I have never done anything improper during my public service. Do you have any other questions?”

Granna’s voice sounded in her head. “If his lips are moving, he’s lying.” But how would they prove it?

Jenna looked over the questions they’d jotted down. “Were you aware several landowners died before the land acquisitions went through?”

Carter sat back in the chair. “Not really. I do remember your grandfather died in an accident about that time, but he’s the only one.”

Funny he would remember that one unless he meant it as a threat? “You don’t remember Earl Donelson dying?”

He frowned and stared down at the table. “Oh yeah. I’d forgotten—hunting accident, right? Shot himself while getting out of a deer stand.” Carter stood. “If you don’t have any other questions, I would like to get on the road. I have a speaking engagement at the Kiwanis Club in Chattanooga this evening.”

Max nodded. “Thank you for your time. We’ll see you tomorrow. Are you still arriving around 4:00?”

“Yes. I have a rally in Nashville at noon, and then an interview with one of the Nashville TV stations.” Carter paused at the door. “I hope anything said within these walls will stay here.”