Emily Kenyon 01 - A Cold Dark Place

things in order there,” she said. “Let’s get out of here. There’s nothing here”
    “That we can see. I’m going to have the tech guys come down here and take a look.”
    “What about his vehicle?”
    He nodded. “DMV says Walker drives an old Chrysler sedan. We’ve got an APB out on it now.”
    The cool basement apartment belied the hot hour of the afternoon. Going outside in search of the landlord brought a furnace blast to Emily Kenyon’s face. A jasmine vine pumped perfume into the air, now further scented with fresh cut grass. It was heady and sickly sweet. She went around to the side of the old Victorian where she’d heard lawn equipment buzzing while she and Christopher were inside conducting a search. She found the old man on one knee bent down and rolling up the Day-Glo orange cord to his electric edger in the front yard.
    “Another day, another dollar,” he said, this time smiling. “Find what you’re looking for?”
    “As you know, we’re looking for Dylan, I mean Daniel. Any ideas where he might be?”
    He got up, brushed at the grass stains, grousing that his wife was going to kill him. “He’s usually pretty good about telling me where he’s going. Yeah, I know he’s an ex-con. I know about his troubles with the IRS”
    Emily shook her head. “Sir, I’m not with the IRS. But I do need to find him.”
    “He’s a good tenant. Why are you people hassling him?”
    She brought out her badge again. “I told you this is a police matter and I don’t want to bring you in for hindering our investigation. Understood?”
    He folded his burly arms around his sweaty chest, his genial nature now gone. He was irritated and angry. “He has a cousin who has some beach property. He goes there once in a while. Not often. But given the weather, I’d say he’s there. Probably working his ass off painting or doing yard work if I know Dan”
    You don’t know him, sir. But that’s another story.
    “Do you know where it is?” she asked. “Exactly? “
    He turned and started for his front door. “Sure. My wife keeps all the addresses of everyone she’s ever known. Tenants become like family, you know. I’ll get it. Wait here”
    If he’s not back in two minutes, I’m going inside.
    She heard the voices of the landlord and a woman, presumably his wife.
    “God, I hope we don’t have to re-rent that unit,” the woman said, “it’s so hard getting decent folks.”
    If you only knew who you had rented to, Emily thought. Your wife wouldn’t have had a decent night’s sleep in months.
    A few minutes later, a smile on his face, the landlord returned. By then, Christopher had come over.
    “Everything okay?” he asked.
    With a nod, Emily indicated the returning landlord. “He’s coming now with the address of Dylan’s relative’s vacation place. Says there’s a good bet he’s there”
    “Nice”
    “Here it is,” the landlord said. “Told you she’d have it in her book”
    He pressed a small white card into Emily’s hand.
    4444 Copper Beach Rd. Copper Beach, WA
    She felt a wave of recognition and dread. “Where did you get this?”
    “From my wife. She keeps everybody’s address in her book”
    “No, not the address. The card. Where did you get the card?”
    The man shrugged. “It’s just old photography paper I cut up. I went digital and closed out my old darkroom a year ago. I have boxes of the stuff I stupidly bought in bulk from some guy who was smart enough to unload it on me because he went digital. Cut it all down into index cards”
    Emily looked at the address. It was familiar, too. Deadly familiar.
    “You all right?” The landlord was staring at Emily. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something.”
    Emily handed the card to Christopher.
    “I guess you could say that,” she said, trying to avoid revealing too much of what she was feeling. She looked into Christopher’s eyes, now full of an awareness of their own.
    “Yeah,” he said. “We know the address”
    Reynard Tuttle had breathed his final breath there.
    “I’m not sure what’s going on,” Emily said, as they walked to their respective cars. “But I’m going there right now.” She fumbled for her keys. “There’s something I haven’t told you. I don’t know what it means. But I think I’ll find Jenna at the cabin.”
    Christopher stopped and looked at her. “What are you talking about, Emily?”
    “I think Jenna and Nick are in serious trouble.” She felt awful just then,