She raised a trembling hand to her forehead. “I don’t understand why he would do something like that.”
“I don’t understand it all yet, either. But I’m headed out to get a search warrant so I can go through his house.”
“It’s my house, too. You don’t need a warrant. You have my permission.”
“I’m still getting a search warrant. I don’t want any confusion later.”
A female uniformed officer approached them, and he motioned for her to come closer.
Tears welled in Ann’s eyes. He kissed her on the forehead. “This is Officer Wilson. She’s going to take care of you.”
“I don’t need taking care of.”
“Yes, you do, and I can’t do it right now. When I have more answers, you’ll be the first person I call.”
Ann looked at him a long moment and then slowly nodded. She fished her keys from her purse. “Take my keys.”
“Thanks.”
Gideon left Ann with the uniformed officer. It took another hour to get his warrant and arrive at Clarke’s residence with Becca and a forensic tech. The keys Ann had given him did not work in the door. It was not a surprise that Clarke had changed the locks. A half hour later, he had a locksmith on scene.
Becca shook her head as she regarded the house. “I was just here last year for a cookout that Ann and Clarke had for the Fourth of July. Clarke seemed so in love with Ann.”
“Love or obsession?”
“Clearly the latter,” she said.
A car pulled up, and Gideon turned to see Ann get out. He cursed. “I told her to stay at the hospital.”
“She has a right to be here,” Becca said. “This is her life imploding.”
Ann rushed toward him, her face pale and her features tight with anger. “Joan is still unconscious, and I cannot just sit and wait. What is going on?”
“I don’t know. I’m hoping the answers are inside.”
“Have you gone in yet?” she asked.
“About to. We’re working on the lock.”
“Why aren’t you using my keys to get into the house?”
“The lock’s been changed,” Gideon said.
“Why would he do that? He kept saying he wanted me to move home. Why would he change the locks?”
The locksmith worked his implements into the lock, and it clicked open. He twisted the knob and pushed the door open. “There you go.”
“I want to be there,” Ann said.
“No,” Gideon said as he blocked her path.
“This house was my home for so many years,” she protested.
“Right now, it is a crime scene investigation. So you will stand on the curb and wait. I don’t want you anywhere near this investigation.”
“He is . . . was my husband.”
“I know, Ann. I know he was a good father and he loved you. But I’m not sure if we ever really knew him.”
“I knew him,” she said, frowning. “Or at least I thought I did.”
“We were all fooled.” He laid his hand on her shoulder. “Now, I need to ask you to step back. This is a criminal investigation, Ann.”
She wrapped her arms around her chest. “It can’t be happening. I’m going to wake up and this nightmare will be over.”
“Ann, have you spoken to Nate?”
“Not yet. I will soon. I just need to get my head around all this.”
“You should be with him. You two need to talk. Let me take care of this.”
Tears welled in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. “Call me when you know something.”
“I will. You should go and see Nate.”
“This is all too much. I still can’t process it,” Ann said. “How’s Joan ever going to forgive me?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Ann. Don’t take any responsibility for what Clarke did.”
She shook her head. “I should have listened to her years ago. I should have left and moved east.”
“Don’t do that. No good will come of it. Go home to Nate. Let me figure this out.”
Ann drew in a breath and squared her shoulders. “Thank you, Gideon.”
He watched as she got in her car and drove off.
“I got it,” the locksmith said. “Have a look at this.”
“Thanks, Bill.”
Gideon followed the locksmith’s finger to a small piece of tape secured to the door and jamb. It was unbroken. He pulled on protective gloves and summoned the tech over. She collected the piece of tape and bagged it.
“Check it for fingerprints.”
“Will do, boss.”
Gideon stepped over the threshold. He moved into the kitchen, opening the pantry. There were no empty milk jugs or rags as Joan had said.
He looked around the kitchen, searching the corners and the vents for any sign of a