Terra avoided Jack’s questioning look and scooted her chair back. She moved to the counter and got more coffee, which would probably keep her awake too late tonight. She calmed her frustration. Jack was right.

She slid back into the seat, wrapping her hands around the hot mug. “Why would Jim’s murderer take a knife from a museum to use as a murder weapon and then return it?”

“Maybe he thought it was a way to forever hide the weapon. Who would ever look at the museum’s artifacts?”

“Are you telling me he didn’t notice the knife’s missing tip?”

Jack angled his head. “He might not have noticed it because he was in a hurry or it was dark. Or he still didn’t think the weapon would be discovered. But I see you’re tracking a different way on this.”

She nodded. “I think that if the museum is involved in illegal trafficking along with Jim, that would be the last place the killer would take a weapon from. It leads us right back there.”

He crossed his arms. “Criminals make mistakes, Terra.”

“Or leading us back to the museum wasn’t a mistake at all and could be exactly what the killer wants. He wants to lead us the wrong way. Get us looking at the museum to pull our attention off the right path.” Though that would be going to a lot of trouble. “How sure are you that the knife is the murder weapon?”

“Almost positive.” He whipped out his cell and showed her the images he’d taken, along with the images of the knife tip from the deputy coroner.

“Okay, then. I would be surprised if this wasn’t the knife. But this makes no sense to me. Jim’s killer went to all that trouble to hide his body, then he put the knife back? He would have been better off throwing the knife into the Grayback River.”

“I can’t argue with you there.” His deep green eyes bored into her.

She never imagined she would be in this position again. Looking into Jack Tanner’s intense gaze. Emotions weaved with deep-seated memories rushed forward. Good ones up until that final devastating end.

She pushed herself away from the table. “Look, it’s been a long day. I have a big caseload and need to follow up on a couple of them tomorrow.”

“What about this investigation?”

She wanted to complain about her boss, but she offered a small smile instead. “It’s my job, Jack. This case is my priority, but you know how it is. This isn’t my only case. I’ll see you in the morning to oversee the transfer of the artifacts. And if I don’t see you then, I’ll call you tomorrow afternoon and you can catch me up. For starters, send me the museum interviews you’ve gathered.”