Standoff At Christmas. Margaret Daley

so truthfully I don’t think anything else was missing, but we’ll never know for sure.”

      “I wonder if the camera might be the reason the cabin was torched.” Randall wrote something else on the paper, then glanced at Linda, then Rachel.

      “It was a ten-year-old Kodak that was special to Betty, but I couldn’t see it bringing much money for anyone who stole it. It wasn’t even digital.” Linda combed her fingers through her wet, short blond hair.

      “Anything else?” Randall asked.

      Her gaze trained on Rachel, Linda furrowed her brow but remained quiet. Rachel shook her head slightly. Was there more that Rachel wasn’t saying? Randall didn’t seem to pick up the exchanged looks between them, but when he left, Jake would be asking them about it.

      “If I think of anything, I’ll call you,” Rachel finally said. “Please let us know the progress on the case. Aunt Betty never had any enemies in town. She was always one of the first to help others.”

      Randall stood and pocketed his pad and pen. “It’s most disturbing to me. She is the last person I would expect to be murdered.”

      “So you’re ruling her death a murder for sure?” Jake rose to escort the police chief to the door.

      “Yes, we are. And we’re taking the investigation very seriously.”

      Jake opened the door for Randall. “I’d like to check the cabin site after it cools. Is that okay?”

      “Sure, after the firefighters give the go-ahead.” Randall tipped his head toward the ladies. “I’m glad you’re both okay. Good day.”

      At the window Jake watched Randall climb into his car before he swung around and asked, “What are you two keeping from the police chief?”

       FIVE

      Rachel sat forward. “How did you know?”

      “I may have been gone for a while, but I know when you’re holding something back.”