The Ghost of Valentine Past by Anna J. McIntyre Page B

that’s the direction Walt had seen Morris coming from. Walt went to wake me up. I had just woken up when I heard Heather scream. And you know the rest.”
    â€œIn all fairness to Joe, what you told me really doesn’t discredit Joe’s theory. If Walt was with you in a dream, it was possible Chris killed Morris in a fit of rage—not thinking out the possible consequences of his actions.”
    â€œAnd then just left his body in the parlor and went to bed? I don’t know about you, but if I’d just killed someone in a fit of rage, I couldn’t go to bed and fall asleep. And according to Walt, Chris was sound asleep when he woke him up.”
    â€œI’m not saying I agree with the theory, just that it’s not without merit.” The chief reached over and snatched a manila folder from the corner of his desk.
    Danielle watched MacDonald open the folder. “Maybe Walt has found out something since we left him.”
    â€œI wanted to ask you a few questions about one of your guests.”
    â€œWhich one?”
    â€œDavid Hilton.”
    â€œDavid? What about him?”
    â€œWe did a brief background check on the couple staying for the weekend, to see if anything came up.”
    â€œYou mean a connection to Earthbound Spirits or Morris?” she asked.
    â€œI remember reading an article a while back, about how Earthbound Spirit’s headquarters was bequeathed to the organization by Helen Hilton—along with her entire estate, which was a considerable fortune. It caused quite a stir at the time, family sued, lost.”
    â€œHilton? As in the hotel chain?”
    â€œNo relationship to the hotel chain. But there is a connection to David Hilton. He’s Helen Hilton’s youngest grandson.”
    â€œNo kidding? Does this mean he was involved with a lawsuit against Earthbound Spirits?”
    â€œHe and his siblings.”
    â€œHe didn’t mention anything last night about his connection to Morris,” Danielle murmured.
    â€œNo, no he didn’t.” From the folder, MacDonald removed a printout of an online news article regarding the lawsuit. He handed it to Danielle.
    After she read the article, she tossed it back on his desk. “While David had a reason to hate the man, I can’t imagine he was involved in his murder. How would he have known Morris was going to be at the house? Why would he have killed Morris under the same roof he was staying? That’s even more implausible than Joe’s theory.”
    â€œMaybe it wasn’t pre-meditated. Maybe David came downstairs to get a drink of water—like Heather did later that evening. He saw Morris waiting in the entry, after Heather had gone up to bed and Chris was in the kitchen looking for you. For whatever reason, he confronted Morris, wanted to tell him what he thought of him. The two men went into the parlor and things escalated, got out of control, and David killed him.”
    â€œAnd how did David conveniently get ahold of Chris’ fishing knife? Chris’ tackle box was on the back porch. I assume whoever used it to kill Morris—assuming it is the same knife—stole it earlier and intended to use it to frame Chris,” Danielle said.
    â€œI suppose that is possible, Danielle,” MacDonald conceded. “But according to Chris, his knife had been missing for a few days. Perhaps it wasn’t stolen. Maybe he misplaced it—set it in the parlor and forgot it. Or maybe whoever borrowed it earlier did the same thing. And when David was confronted with Morris in the parlor, he was just so angry and happened to find the knife…”
    â€œAnd managed to slit Morris’ throat? Just tell me Chief, where’s the blood evidence? Your people have gone through the house; did you find any bloody clothes that might’ve belonged to David? Now that I think about it, that would go for Chris too. I can’t imagine it possible to cut someone’s