There was a tearful goodbye. Hope waved until the van turned the corner, heading for the Interstate and Raleigh. Cori would send her first text from Raleigh, so Hope had something to look forward to. Then, Hope got ready for her interview at the police station.
Detective Robinson led Hope to the interview room. Hope thought the detective looked a bit tired, and that was to be expected. He’d been up the night before Christmas, and no doubt, Christmas day was a big party in the Robinson residence. He placed his large cup of coffee on the table and motioned to the other chair.
Hope sat and smiled. “Have a good Christmas?”
“Too good,” he said. “But it was just like it was supposed to be. You?”
“Same. Well, once we got past Clive.”
“Yes, that’s why we’re here. Clive Thomas. Now, I know you told me a few things about your relationship with Clive.”
“There was no relationship. I interviewed him for a book I intend to write about his distant ancestor, Captain Jackson Thomas. That was it. Cori was with me, and we talked briefly over dinner in the Culpepper House.”
“Yet, he ended up on your porch.”
Hope shook her head. “I had nothing to do with that.”
“And there’s the incident at the school concert. Carol Thomas confronted you.”
“For no good reason. I’m supposing that she did that with any woman Clive looked at. And Clive looked at a lot of women … from what I’ve been told.”
“Clive is the victim here.”
“He is, but, from what I hear, there are any number of possible perps, including his wife, brother, and sister.”
Detective Robinson frowned. “What have you heard about them?”
“Only that they were unhappy with the current arrangement, especially since Clive was looking to sell the restaurant.”
“You know this how?”
“Look beyond the obvious, Detective. I’m guessing you’ll find any number of suspects.”
“We will, but for the moment, you’re here. So, I have to ask you if I can have your phone?”
“Why?”
“To examine it for contact with Clive.”
“I’ve already told you that I talked to Clive, and he texted me. I believe that’s enough.”
“You’re refusing to hand over your phone?”
“I need my phone, Derrick. Cori left this morning for Hawaii, and I promised to speak to her every day. I can’t do that if you have my phone. If she can’t reach me, she’ll worry.”
“I can get a warrant.” The detective frowned.
“Then, get it, but you don’t have to. All you have to do is look through Clive’s phone. It will show all contact with me and a lot of other people.”
Detective Robinson looked Hope in the eye. “That’s just it. We can’t find Clive’s phone.”
14
Hope stared in disbelief for a moment. “His phone wasn’t on the body?”
Detective Robinson shook his head. “We don’t know where it is. And the location app doesn’t work.”
“Look, Cori left this morning for Hawaii, and I don’t have a spare phone. We need to communicate in real time, so I can’t give you this one.”
“And I don’t want to get a warrant for it.”
“I’m not trying to hide anything,” Hope told him.
“Then, please, hand me your phone.”
“For how long?”
“What?”
“If you can process it in a few hours and return it, that would be great. Otherwise, you’ll have to get a warrant.”
He drummed the table with his fingers. “Will you be at home in an hour?”
Hope shook her head. “I’ll be baking cakes at the Butter Up Bakery.”
“You make all of those cakes?”
Hope nodded. “You like them?”
“Yeah, they’re great. So, it’s not just wedding cakes that you make?”
“I make all kinds of cakes.”
“Listen, I’ll check with the techs and see what they can do for us. I don’t want to cause a problem.”
“Thanks. And I do think you should look at the entire Thomas family. I was told there were issues.”
“I’m planning to do just that.”
Hope walked into the bakery, the best smelling place on earth. Edsel was behind the counter, waiting on a customer, so Hope waved as she passed. She’d just begun her routine when Edsel stuck her head into the back room.
“How was your Christmas?” Edsel asked.
“You heard, right?” Hope asked.
Edsel nodded. “Was he really shot on your porch?”
“He was killed there, but I can’t say how he died. For one, I don’t think the coroner has ruled on that. For two, I’m not allowed to say much. The police will only reveal what they need to.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that. But, you’re the talk of the town … again. I’ve had three customers ask about you already.”
“Good for business?”
“I can’t pay for this kind of exposure.”
“If you want, I can sign autographs.”
“Would you?”
Hope laughed, and Edsel left to tend to someone who had come through the door.
It wasn’t quite an hour later, when Edsel stuck her head in again. “Detective Robinson is here to see you.”
“Send him back, would you,” Hope said.
Detective Robinson looked a bit better, making Hope silently praise the restorative powers of coffee.
“Sure smells good in here.” He took in a deep breath. “My tech guys … they promise they’ll finish with your phone in three hours. That work?”
“Thank you.” Hope went to her purse and pulled out her phone. “That will work. Tell them to take three and a half if they need it.”
“And your password?”
Hope picked up a pad and wrote down the six-digit code. “Ask them not to muck up anything, okay?”
“They claim they can search it without doing any damage.”
“Good to hear.”
“I’ve scheduled interviews with Clive’s brother and sister for this afternoon, just to let you know.”
“I hope they provide some clues.”
“I’m sure they’ll provide something. You know, if you weren’t a suspect, I’d like to discuss the case with you. You have a good mind for this sort of thing.”
“I’ve been lucky in the past, that’s all.”
“Well, luck or not, you manage to help solve murders. You want me to bring the phone back here, or do you want to pick it up?”
“I’ll pick it up,” Hope said.
“Call first.” Derrick shook his head. “That’s right, you don’t have a phone.”
“I’ll still call. I’ll use Edsel’s.”
The detective waved as he left, and Hope wondered for a moment what was on her phone. She hadn’t had many contacts with Clive. And there was that last message—WE NEED TO TALK—or something like that.
Would the police believe that they didn’t talk? Hope wasn’t sure. She went back to work, trying to forget all about Clive and his phone.