Saving Amber - Zoe Dawson Page 0,42
all around here.”
“When was the last time you saw Randy?”
“Last week at our regular Thursday meeting.”
“Anyone you know who might not have liked Randy very much? Would want to do him harm?”
“Not a one. He was an amicable guy, excellent skeet shooter and a seasoned hunter. How did he die?”
“Looks like hypothermia.”
“Hypothermia. Hmm.”
“Is that a surprise to you?” Tristan asked.
“Yeah, it is. Randy has been all over that mountain hunting and fishing. He is well aware of the dangers of hypothermia.”
“It doesn’t take much to muddle your thinking,” Tristan responded. “Just one degree.”
Ken nodded in compliance. “True, but I just find it hard to believe that Randy got caught up in that. But I guess it can happen to the best of us,” he said, his voice sadder now. “I think I’ll plan to talk about hypothermia for our next chapter meeting as a refresher.”
“Tristan is an expert in it.”
“Are you?”
He gave her a sidelong glance and said, “I teach cold weather survival to all branches of the military, including international forces.”
Ken’s eyes brightened. “Would you mind presenting some of your tips to our group? We could pay you a modest speaking fee.”
“No need for a fee. When is your next meeting?”
“This coming Thursday evening at seven.”
“I can swing that.”
As they walked out, Tristan looked pensive. “Should I have kept my big mouth shut about your skills in cold weather survival?” she asked.
He glanced at her and smiled. “No, I don’t mind speaking if it can save even one life. That’s not what’s bothering me.”
“What is bothering you?”
“Ken’s comment that he was surprised that Randy could have died from hypothermia.”
“I thought the same thing. Randy lived here for two years, and according to Ken he was a seasoned hunter. This case is puzzling because we have two dead bodies and don’t know exactly why either of them was up in the mountains. James without his weapon after he’d been missing for two days and Randy after he almost ran me down. It was a risky move when the investigation was just beginning. Unless he just got spooked because he did shoot James in error.”
“There doesn’t seem to be a connection between James and Randy. At least not one we have found, anyway. So, if we theorize that Randy did shoot James, there doesn’t seem to be a reason why he would want him dead.”
“Well, so far, no. There’s no motive. But he did have means and it could have been an accident. I’m not sure that we will ever know since both Randy and James are dead.”
“Strange we couldn’t find the rifle.”
They pulled up to headquarters almost to the minute that Amber had given to Corporal Morgan. He was at his desk outside the colonel’s office.
He stood when they came in, and Tristan said, “At ease,” indicating that Morgan should sit.
Morgan settled back in his chair and Amber said, “When was the last time you saw Randall?”
“That would have been the day before yesterday.”
“He wasn’t scheduled to work yesterday?”
The corporal leaned forward. “No, he was. He called in sick, but it was late, like around nine or so. Randy was always punctual and whenever he couldn’t make it in, he’d call right at the duty time.”
“How was he acting the day before yesterday?”
“He seemed stressed to me, like he had something on his mind.”
“You don’t know what, though?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Anything out of the ordinary happen lately?”
“Yes, ma’am. He left early because he got a phone call.”
“Did he say what the call was about?”
“No, ma’am, but the guy on the other side of the line was shouting as if he was very angry. I could hear him from my desk but couldn’t make out what he was saying.”
“What time did that call come in?”
“About three maybe.”
“On the office phone,” Amber said hopefully.
“No, ma’am. On his cell phone.”
“We didn’t recover his cell,” she said.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help, ma’am.”
“No, that’s a big help. Thanks for your time.” She leaned forward. “Corporal Morgan, could you please pull together some stats for me?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, picking up a pen. “What are you looking for?”
“MWTC AWOLs in the last two years. Every branch of the service.”
“Will do, ma’am.”
As she rose, her cell phone rang. “Dalton.”
“This is Garza. We found Mayer’s vehicle at the base of the mountain. It’s being towed to Impound right now. Thought I should tell you before you chewed my ass again.”
“And the autopsy?”
“It’ll be ready in an hour,” he said.
“Send it to my email.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“What about Mayer’s?”
He huffed. “I