in Nashville with another couple and, according to them, he never left the group. They all went home after having a few drinks, arriving shortly before midnight. However, the grapevine says Ruby had some sort of hold over Connolly, since he continued as her attorney after the increasingly contentious road decisions. He also owns a pickup truck and two neighbors said there was a pickup in Ruby’s driveway that night.”
“Ruby’s brother, Silas Mead, moved away years ago,” Ben said . “However, since he benefits financially from her death, we’re trying to get in touch with him.
“We’re also keeping an eye on Joe Dennis, the contractor working over at Mae December’s house. He and Ruby were high school sweethearts. He’s married now and has four kids. So, we know he’s capable of being the father of Ruby’s unborn child ,” Wayne said.
Eyebrows went up around the table. “Oh, and according to Joe, he was working at his mother’s house the night Ruby died. Nobody was with him, though, so he has no alibi. And Joe drives a pickup,” Phelps added.
“Okay, here are the assignments , everyone. George, I want you to go over Ruby’s property again with a fine-toothed comb. We need the murder weapon.
“Wayne, I’d like you and Emma Peters to go to the Connollys’ and get James’ clothes from the night of the murder. I’ll talk to Allison and get a cheek swab. We need one from Joe Dennis and James Connolly, too. Johns, you’re with me. We’re returning to see David Allison.”
Detective Nichols cleared his throat and said, “I’ll also start checking out those pickups after Emma and I get James Connolly’s clothes.”
“Good. One last thing . We know Ruby sued Lucy Ingram. The argument was about drainage, but Ruby also wanted to purchase a lot that Lucy owned, which Lucy refused to sell. I’m going to check on whether Ruby was involved in any lawsuits with the other residents on Little Chapel Road. Who knows how many folks she stirred up.”
On his way out, Deputy Phelps came over to Ben. “Sheriff, I sure hope you didn’t upset the December woman. We loved her coffee. I hope you don’t mind m y saying this, Boss, but the guys and I were talking and they thought I should remind you that you haven’t had a date in months.”
“No comment.”
Ben felt a bit sheepish. His deputy was right. He hadn’t felt much like dating for a long time. Mae was single and hot. Would she go out with him if he asked? Probably not now thanks to his rude behavior, first at the staff meeting and later at her house. He had been angry enough that she had apologized profusely. What happened then? Did you say you weren’t mad at her anymore? No, Mr. Sensitive, you drove away, even after she offered to go to the restaurant with you.
Sheriff Bradley and Tech Johns drove to Steven Fanning’s residence on Little Chapel Road. They knocked on the door. David Allison answered.
“Good morning, Mr. Allison, you’ve already met CSI Tech Johns. May we come in?”
“All right,” David said reluctantly and backed away from the door. He led the men over to the kitchen table.
“Mr. Allison, were you aware your wife was pregnant?”
David’s throat moved as he swallowed. “Yes. Do I need an attorney?”
“That’s entirely up to you. At this point, we only need to ask you a few more questions and get a cheek swab.”
David’s eyes widened. “What for?”
“To determine whether you’re the father of Ruby’s unborn child through DNA analysis.”
David Allison flinched but allowed the technician to take the sample. Tech Johns used a large Q-tip on the inside of Allison’s cheek. He put the swab inside a glass tube and capped it competently.
“Are you the father?”
“I … yes, of course.” David hesitated. “Well, I guess I’m not sure.”
“Was your wife seeing other men? I need to know if you have any information that might clear you of suspicion.” The sheriff deliberately softened his voice.
“Ruby’s brother, Silas Mead, moved away years ago,” Ben said . “However, since he benefits financially from her death, we’re trying to get in touch with him.
“We’re also keeping an eye on Joe Dennis, the contractor working over at Mae December’s house. He and Ruby were high school sweethearts. He’s married now and has four kids. So, we know he’s capable of being the father of Ruby’s unborn child ,” Wayne said.
Eyebrows went up around the table. “Oh, and according to Joe, he was working at his mother’s house the night Ruby died. Nobody was with him, though, so he has no alibi. And Joe drives a pickup,” Phelps added.
“Okay, here are the assignments , everyone. George, I want you to go over Ruby’s property again with a fine-toothed comb. We need the murder weapon.
“Wayne, I’d like you and Emma Peters to go to the Connollys’ and get James’ clothes from the night of the murder. I’ll talk to Allison and get a cheek swab. We need one from Joe Dennis and James Connolly, too. Johns, you’re with me. We’re returning to see David Allison.”
Detective Nichols cleared his throat and said, “I’ll also start checking out those pickups after Emma and I get James Connolly’s clothes.”
“Good. One last thing . We know Ruby sued Lucy Ingram. The argument was about drainage, but Ruby also wanted to purchase a lot that Lucy owned, which Lucy refused to sell. I’m going to check on whether Ruby was involved in any lawsuits with the other residents on Little Chapel Road. Who knows how many folks she stirred up.”
On his way out, Deputy Phelps came over to Ben. “Sheriff, I sure hope you didn’t upset the December woman. We loved her coffee. I hope you don’t mind m y saying this, Boss, but the guys and I were talking and they thought I should remind you that you haven’t had a date in months.”
“No comment.”
Ben felt a bit sheepish. His deputy was right. He hadn’t felt much like dating for a long time. Mae was single and hot. Would she go out with him if he asked? Probably not now thanks to his rude behavior, first at the staff meeting and later at her house. He had been angry enough that she had apologized profusely. What happened then? Did you say you weren’t mad at her anymore? No, Mr. Sensitive, you drove away, even after she offered to go to the restaurant with you.
Sheriff Bradley and Tech Johns drove to Steven Fanning’s residence on Little Chapel Road. They knocked on the door. David Allison answered.
“Good morning, Mr. Allison, you’ve already met CSI Tech Johns. May we come in?”
“All right,” David said reluctantly and backed away from the door. He led the men over to the kitchen table.
“Mr. Allison, were you aware your wife was pregnant?”
David’s throat moved as he swallowed. “Yes. Do I need an attorney?”
“That’s entirely up to you. At this point, we only need to ask you a few more questions and get a cheek swab.”
David’s eyes widened. “What for?”
“To determine whether you’re the father of Ruby’s unborn child through DNA analysis.”
David Allison flinched but allowed the technician to take the sample. Tech Johns used a large Q-tip on the inside of Allison’s cheek. He put the swab inside a glass tube and capped it competently.
“Are you the father?”
“I … yes, of course.” David hesitated. “Well, I guess I’m not sure.”
“Was your wife seeing other men? I need to know if you have any information that might clear you of suspicion.” The sheriff deliberately softened his voice.
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