Halloween in Paradise (Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mysteries Book 6) by Kathi Daley Page B
Authors: Kathi Daley
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notepad to a new page and jotted down a few items. “We’re trying to establish whether eighteen-year-old Dalton Fowler could have killed Holly Riverton. The person he has become is irrelevant.”
Tj supposed she had a point.
“According to the initial sheriff’s report, Dalton Fowler was at the party.”
“Yes, he was,” Tj confirmed.
“Did he bring a date?”
“No. He came alone.”
“Did Holly have a date?” she asked.
“No.”
Colton jotted down a few more notes. “I understand there was at least one member of the high school staff at the party,” she continued.
“Yes. One of the teachers stopped by for a few minutes to congratulate Brett and the team members who were at his house. He didn’t stay long.”
“And this staff member’s name?”
Tj hesitated. In spite of the fact that Jim Hanover had turned into a stick in the mud she no longer really got along with, she didn’t want to get him into trouble. Still, based on Colton’s comments, Tj was willing to bet she already knew.
“His name is Jim Hanover.”
“And he’s still on staff at this institution?”
Tj nodded.
“Would you say it was normal behavior for Mr. Hanover to attend student parties?”
Tj took a deep breath. “Not currently, but he was a new teacher ten years ago and, like many new and young teachers, he developed close relationships with his students. He didn’t really attend the party. Like I said, he just stopped by to congratulate the guys. I doubt he was there more than thirty minutes.”
Colton frowned but didn’t say anything. Then she continued. “What can you tell me about Mia Monroe?”
Tj chose her words carefully. “You know how every high school has that one student with enough self-esteem to actually not care what others think of her? That was Mia. She knew who she was and she wasn’t afraid to march to the beat of her own drum. Mia was the girl we all wished we could be.”
“Can you expand on that?” she asked.
“Most teens want to be accepted. They each seem to have their own way of accomplishing that, but Mia just didn’t seem to care what others thought. She was the only student at Serenity High School who really seemed to be free of all the social constraints of fitting in. She was a unique individual.”
“I agree.”
Tj frowned. She agreed? Hadn’t she just accused her of having the personality of a killer?
“I see by your expression that you spoke to Deputy Fisher. I realize I was hard on Ms. Monroe, but I had to be certain. I thought about it some more and have come to the conclusion that she is what she appears to be: an independent soul with a free spirit.”
“Maybe you should tell her that,” Tj scolded. “Do you know she decided not to come to the reunion after your interview with her?”
“If she’s the person we both think she is, she didn’t cancel because of something I said. If I were you, I would look more closely at her real motive.”
Tj frowned. Real motive? What real motive? Tj had to wonder if Colton had a lot more information than she was sharing.
She closed her notebook just as a bell rang in the distance.
“I know you interviewed Jada Jenkins. She also canceled her plans to attend the reunion after speaking to you. Do you also think she’s innocent?” Tj asked.
“Not at all. We’re out of time. I’ll be in touch.”
With that she was gone.
Chapter 7
Thankfully, Tj’s dad had gotten her 4Runner running and had left it for her in the school parking lot so that she would be able to drop her sisters off at dance that afternoon. After that she headed toward the modest house where Chantel and Lexi Michaels lived. Although the house was small, the yard was well kept and the porch was seasonally decorated, giving the property a welcoming feel. Lexi opened the door several seconds after Tj knocked.
“Coach Jensen. What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to speak to your mom, actually. I called ahead; she’s expecting
Tj supposed she had a point.
“According to the initial sheriff’s report, Dalton Fowler was at the party.”
“Yes, he was,” Tj confirmed.
“Did he bring a date?”
“No. He came alone.”
“Did Holly have a date?” she asked.
“No.”
Colton jotted down a few more notes. “I understand there was at least one member of the high school staff at the party,” she continued.
“Yes. One of the teachers stopped by for a few minutes to congratulate Brett and the team members who were at his house. He didn’t stay long.”
“And this staff member’s name?”
Tj hesitated. In spite of the fact that Jim Hanover had turned into a stick in the mud she no longer really got along with, she didn’t want to get him into trouble. Still, based on Colton’s comments, Tj was willing to bet she already knew.
“His name is Jim Hanover.”
“And he’s still on staff at this institution?”
Tj nodded.
“Would you say it was normal behavior for Mr. Hanover to attend student parties?”
Tj took a deep breath. “Not currently, but he was a new teacher ten years ago and, like many new and young teachers, he developed close relationships with his students. He didn’t really attend the party. Like I said, he just stopped by to congratulate the guys. I doubt he was there more than thirty minutes.”
Colton frowned but didn’t say anything. Then she continued. “What can you tell me about Mia Monroe?”
Tj chose her words carefully. “You know how every high school has that one student with enough self-esteem to actually not care what others think of her? That was Mia. She knew who she was and she wasn’t afraid to march to the beat of her own drum. Mia was the girl we all wished we could be.”
“Can you expand on that?” she asked.
“Most teens want to be accepted. They each seem to have their own way of accomplishing that, but Mia just didn’t seem to care what others thought. She was the only student at Serenity High School who really seemed to be free of all the social constraints of fitting in. She was a unique individual.”
“I agree.”
Tj frowned. She agreed? Hadn’t she just accused her of having the personality of a killer?
“I see by your expression that you spoke to Deputy Fisher. I realize I was hard on Ms. Monroe, but I had to be certain. I thought about it some more and have come to the conclusion that she is what she appears to be: an independent soul with a free spirit.”
“Maybe you should tell her that,” Tj scolded. “Do you know she decided not to come to the reunion after your interview with her?”
“If she’s the person we both think she is, she didn’t cancel because of something I said. If I were you, I would look more closely at her real motive.”
Tj frowned. Real motive? What real motive? Tj had to wonder if Colton had a lot more information than she was sharing.
She closed her notebook just as a bell rang in the distance.
“I know you interviewed Jada Jenkins. She also canceled her plans to attend the reunion after speaking to you. Do you also think she’s innocent?” Tj asked.
“Not at all. We’re out of time. I’ll be in touch.”
With that she was gone.
Chapter 7
Thankfully, Tj’s dad had gotten her 4Runner running and had left it for her in the school parking lot so that she would be able to drop her sisters off at dance that afternoon. After that she headed toward the modest house where Chantel and Lexi Michaels lived. Although the house was small, the yard was well kept and the porch was seasonally decorated, giving the property a welcoming feel. Lexi opened the door several seconds after Tj knocked.
“Coach Jensen. What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to speak to your mom, actually. I called ahead; she’s expecting
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