After asking a hotel staff member, Dwight found the room the police had directed him to. He signed in and took a seat. There were several people there from the reunion. As he looked around, just about everyone waiting had the reunion tag on. He turned to the person behind him. He didn’t know them. “Hi, I’m Dwight. You know what’s going on?”

“Hey.” The man held out his hand to shake. “Pete Vertucci. There was a murder.”

“What?” Dwight was beyond surprised. “Here?”

“Yeah. It’s all over the hotel. Some woman found a body in the gym at seven this morning. It’s a thing, man.”

“No kidding. You know who the dead person is?”

“Nah, man. No one’s said.”

“Wow.” Dwight took a deep breath. “That sucks.”

“Sure does.” Pete went back to his phone

Dwight turned back around. A sinking feeling hit his stomach. It wasn’t Jean, dead, was it?” He fretted the whole time he sat there. Soon Pete’s name was called. He went behind some screens at the back of the room and was out just a couple minutes later. Eventually Dwight was called.

“Hello. Take a seat.” The woman in a dark blue suit motioned him to a chair on the other side of the table from her. “I’m Detective Andrea Voberg. This,” she indicated the rumpled looking guy beside her, “is my partner, Detective Tyler Blackstone. Have you heard anything about a murder?”

“Yeah. Just when I got here. A guy in the row behind me told me about it. A body in the gym. Who was it?”

“I’m afraid we’re not at liberty to say,” Voberg answered.

“Your last name is Hays?” Detective Blackstone asked.

“Yes. Dwight Hays.”

Detective Voberg’s eyebrow rose. “Any relation to Jean Hays?”

Dwight’s heart started pounding. “Is she the body?”

“Is she related?”

Dwight rubbed his eyes. “Yes. Well, no. She’s my ex-wife. Is she all right?”

“Yes, Mr. Hays. She’s fine. She found the body.”

Dwight breathed a sigh of relief. “We just met for the first time in years last night. I was hoping we’d get over the anger.”

“So, you weren’t in the gym between eleven last night and seven this morning?” Blackstone asked.

“No.” Dwight shook his head. “I, uh, over-indulged last night. Left the lounge just after eleven and went straight to bed.” He didn’t think they needed to know about the puking. “I didn’t get up till nine. Was in the buffet at ten, then the pool until just a bit ago when I went to the room and saw the message.”

Voberg nodded as she jotted notes. “And do you know many of the people here at the reunion?”

“Some.” Dwight shrugged. “Not everyone.”

“Ever hear of Justin Romero?”

“Yes, he was in Afghanistan when we were. We being Jean and I. Worked in Supply. I dealt with him when ordering materiel for projects.” His eyes went wide. “Oh no. It was Justin.” He sighed and sat back in the chair. “That’s awful.”

“Did you talk to him last night?”

“Um, yeah, just to say hi. I’m looking for a new job and was trying to reach out to everyone already out.”

“Out of the military?”

“Yeah. You know. Networking.”

“You know anyone that had a grudge against Mr. Romero?”

Dwight shook his head. “No. I just talked to him for the first time in years last night.”

“When are you leaving Las Vegas, Mr. Hays?” Voberg asked.

“Monday morning. I fly back to Massachusetts.”

“We have your contact information, Mr. Hays.” Blackstone stood up and shook hands.

“Thank you.”

Dwight was ushered out of the screened area by a uniformed police officer and walked out of the room in a daze. He found himself at the sports bar and ordered a Crown Royal. As he watched the screens of horse racing, baseball, and soccer, he circled the squat glass around and around in the moisture under the glass. What happened? How did Justin die? The cops didn’t give up anything. And Jean is involved? How did that happen? He was going to have to talk to her again. Justin. Damn. He drank his Crown Royal and ordered another. Thinking of his rough night, he asked for water as well.

Yes. He was definitely going to have to talk to Jean.

Next Chapter: Chapter Seven