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After the medical examiner removed Trey’s body, Detective Jacob Harding from the Virginia Beach Police Department gathered statements from Catt, her guests, and staff. Afterwards, they were all permitted to leave the premises, but Catt, Em, Beau, and Jonathan Ray stayed onsite.
The detective approached Catt. “Ms. Ramsey. I’d like to ask you a few more questions.”
Catt nodded.
He pulled a small notepad and pen from his shirt pocket. “How did you know Mr. Duncan?”
“I hired him to remodel my office and grooming area.” Catt sniffed, her nose still clogged from crying.
“I see. And do you know how he got in the bathtub?”
“No. He had finished a few tasks earlier this morning and then left for another job.”
The detective viewed his notebook. “I understand you and your staff left after that to walk dogs on the boardwalk and then gathered in the office at one o’clock for the grand reopening?”
“That’s correct.” Catt sniffed again.
Em handed Catt a tissue.
The detective flipped through his notebook. “But what I don’t understand is how did you not know he was dead in the back room?”
“I never went to the grooming area after arriving back in the office. I had to finish getting everything ready in the front.”
The detective shook his head. “And the dog groomer, Lexi Stallings, didn’t go in the back after lunch?”
“No. She stayed up front with me, making copies of the brochures and placing doggie bags on the counter. I gave an overview of the business to the first group of customers, and Lexi escorted them to the grooming area. That’s when we found Trey.”
“And how did your dog...” he paused and looked at his notebook “...Cagney, get blood on her leash?”
“I have no clue, unless she wandered into the back and jumped into the bin.”
“Uh-huh. Tell me. Do you have surveillance video on your property?” the detective asked.
Before Catt could respond, Em spoke up. “Yes, last year, my boyfriend Jonathan Ray added cameras along the property. I was the previous owner.”
The detective turned and pointed his pen toward Catt. “Can you get me the video from the last week through today?”
“Uh...she’s technologically challenged. I can pull it,” Em offered.
Catt frowned.
He handed her his card. “Email it to this address.” He closed his notebook. “That’s all the questions I have for now. I need you to stay close by in case I have further questions,” he said to Catt.
“Am I a suspect?” Catt’s body shook.
“Look. Right now, I must cover all bases. Since it’s your property, I might have additional questions.”
Emma put her arm around Catt.
Catt didn’t think she had any tears left, but she was wrong.
_____________
That evening after the police towed Trey’s truck off the street as evidence, Catt, Beau, Em, and Jonathan Ray sat on Catt’s back patio drinking cocktails and grilling steaks. They were all devastated about Trey’s death.
“You know. There’s something I don’t understand.” Beau grabbed a beer from the cooler and popped the top. He sat in a patio chair next to Catt.
“What’s that?” Catt asked.
“How the hell did Trey end up dead in the bath bin?”
Catt shrugged. “That’s the million-dollar question.” She sipped rosé from her wine glass.
“What I don’t get is why didn’t Lexi, or anyone else for that matter, go to the grooming area after lunch?” He sipped his beer.
“Because everything was stocked and in place,” Catt said. “Plus, Lexi helped with the brochures and doggie bags after lunch. I already explained all of this.”
Em lifted the wine bottle from the patio table and refilled hers and Catt’s glasses.
“Maybe it was a diversion from Lexi, so everyone would discover the body together,” Beau offered.
“A diversion? What do you mean?” Catt asked.
Beau got up and flipped the steaks on the grill.
“Lexi did leave the property pretty quickly after the detective interviewed her,” Jonathan Ray added.
“True,” Beau said. “You know...” He paused. “I just remembered something. Lexi placed the grooming shears by the bath bin this morning when Trey and I were showing you what we completed.”
“Are you saying that Lexi killed Trey?” Catt asked.
“I don’t know. But I find it odd that she did that and then later he was killed with them.” Beau closed the grill cover.
“Not to change the subject, but was Trey married?” Em asked.
Beau shook his head. “He has a sister, Bella, in Virginia Beach.” Beau’s eyes filled with tears. “We’d been best friends since we were kids. He worked hard to make something of himself.”
“I’m really sorry, Beau,” Em said.
“Yeah, me too,” Jonathan Ray added.
After a long pause, Catt pressed her finger to her lips. “Tell me. Did Trey know Lexi?” she asked Beau.
“Not that I know of.” He opened the grill and smoke wafted into the air.
“Beau, didn’t you leave when Trey left the office this morning? I recall you walking out together,” Em said.
“Uh yeah. But I had work to do on the shed, and he got in his truck and headed to his next job.”
“Did he mention why he had to come back to the grooming area?” Em continued quizzing.
Beau shook his head.
“His truck was parked on the front street. You didn’t notice it when you were working?” Em asked Beau.
“No. He usually parked it in the driveway during the remodel. Maybe because there were cars already in the drive, since y’all were getting ready for the event.”
“Catt,” Em said, “You said earlier today that Trey was on the boardwalk talking to Darcey and Stacey.”
“Yes. Stacey said his next job was at The Cafe after he left this morning. Why?”
“I’m curious if Darcey and Stacey noticed anything suspicious,” Em said.
“Don’t know. But I’m hoping once you pull the surveillance video, we’ll find out who killed him.”
Cagney approached Catt. “Hi girl.” She petted the dog. “I sure wish you could tell us what happened and how you got blood on your leash.”
