Alice’s disappearance. You were at the party that night. Do you remember who she left with?”
Jackie’s complexion paled. “No. I left before her.”
Bennett set his iced tea on the table. “Can either of you tell me if Malcolm King was at the party?”
Henry nodded. “He was. I distinctly remember him by the keg.” He glanced down at the photograph in his hand. “Come to think of it, Malcolm and Derrick had words that night. It was a silly fight over an insult, but it blew over quickly.”
“Were they friends?”
Henry hesitated. “Here’s the thing. Malcolm and Derrick were friends, but they only hung out together at parties. Sheriff King didn’t like Derrick—I don’t know why—and Malcolm avoided irritating his dad.”
There was a ring of truth to Henry’s observations. He seemed honest and willing to help. Then again, the killer was smart and adept enough to hide in plain view.
Henry’s brow creased. “I’m confused. What does Alice’s disappearance have to do with Kathy’s murder?”
“We believe the two cases are connected.” Bennett pointed to the picture. “Derrick was working with someone when he committed those murders last year. His partner killed Kathy and we think they may have been working together as far back as seven years ago. Alice may have been the first victim.”
Jackie gasped, and the glass in her hand crashed to the tile floor. It broke into a thousand pieces.
Henry hopped up as liquid splashed his pants. “Honey, goodness, are you okay?”
“What a silly goose I am.” She shook from head to toe. “I’m going to get some paper towels to clean this up.”
Emilia shot Bennett a glance and rose from the couch. “I’ll help you.”
The two women disappeared into the house.
Henry patted the photograph in his hand with the sleeve of his shirt. “I’m so sorry. It got a little wet.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s a copy.” The original was locked in an evidence locker at the sheriff’s office.
Henry sank to the couch. “Derrick and I were close friends once. Drinking buddies. After I got sober, I encouraged him to get clean too. Invited him to AA meetings, to attend church with me. He refused. I’d hoped God would fill the void in his life, but he turned to evil and darkness.” Henry blinked and raised his gaze to Bennett’s. Tears shimmered in his eyes. “Do you really believe Alice is dead?”
“It’s a strong possibility.”
He ran a hand over his face and sniffed. “I let her down. I’m responsible.”
Henry was teetering on the edge. Bennett had never suffered from addiction, but he knew there were triggers. He didn’t want to push Henry into drinking. “No, sir. The killer is the only one responsible.”
“I’m gonna need to go to an AA meeting tonight.” He blew out a breath. “I’m sorry I can’t be more help. Like I said, I was drunk. But you can ask my brother-in-law, John. He was also at the party. John lives right next door—”
The screen door creaked open. John stood in the entrance, a scowl on his face. “My ears are burning. What are you saying about me, Henry?”
“Oh, hey, John. Have you met—”
“We have.” John came inside and the screen door slammed shut with the force of a bullet. A flush colored the cheeks above his thick beard. “Ranger Knox. What are you doing here?”
A tension Bennett couldn’t decipher filled the space. He stood. “We’re following up on Alice’s disappearance and Kathy’s murder. Henry explained Derrick and Malcolm were friends, but it was a secret.”
Henry showed him the photograph. “You took this, remember?”
Jackie and Emilia came back into the room. Jackie ignored her brother and busied herself with cleaning up the broken glass and spilled tea. Bennett had the impression that Jackie was looking to disappear. The woman seemed terrified, but he couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
He glanced at Emilia. Her expression was placid.
“Yeah, I remember taking the picture.” John crossed his arms over his chest. “And yes, Malcolm and Derrick were good friends. Like I said, they were more than friends. They were brothers.”
Henry’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
“Malcolm denies it,” Emilia said.
“Of course he does.” John snorted. “Sheriff King never liked Derrick to begin with. They won’t claim him now that he’s a serial killer. It would ruin their precious reputation. But mark my words, Malcolm’s involved in these murders.”
“Hold on, John.” Henry’s face reddened. “You can’t go around making accusations about people like that.”
“I can if it’s true.”
Eleven
The night air was crisp and clean. Emilia breathed deep and used her