Ava counted to ten. “Both men are important. And we suspect they were killed by the same man. If we find Carson Scott’s killer, we’ll find Aaron’s.”

“If Carson Scott hadn’t been a congressman, the FBI wouldn’t even be involved,” Gordon shot back. “Probably the hick cops from Vernonia would be handling Aaron’s death. They couldn’t find their ass with a mirror.”

“Is that how you’d prefer it?” said Ava. “Do you want us to step away from finding out who killed your friend? Or are you going to give us some help?”

“You’re not making any sense,” Laura said to Gordon. “Who cares why the FBI is involved? They are, and I’m grateful! Now get over it and answer their questions.”

Ava liked her even more.

Gordon was clearly the type who lashed out in anger when he was upset and didn’t pay attention to how ridiculous he sounded.

“I’m very sorry for your loss,” she said to Laura, focusing her interview on the woman and letting Gordon stew until he could act like a human. “When was your last contact with Aaron?”

“He’d sent me a text last week, asking if he could swing by Sunday after work to pick up some tools he’d left behind. I agreed, but he never showed up.”

“You didn’t ask him why he didn’t show?”

She shrugged. “You don’t know Aaron. He’s not reliable. I wasn’t surprised that he didn’t come by. I learned a long time ago not to make plans based on what he suggests.”

Ava wrote the date down on her notepad. Sunday night was the night Carson Scott had been hanged off the bridge. “His boss told you he didn’t show up for work on Sunday, right? Nor on Monday?”

“That’s correct,” Laura said as she glanced at Gordon. “How come you didn’t do anything when he didn’t return to your place Sunday night?”

Gordon raised one shoulder. “Really? He’s an adult. If he decided to spend the night somewhere else, it’s none of my business.”

Laura flinched and looked away.

Ava exchanged a look with Zander, who lifted a brow. Ava wondered if Aaron had spent the night elsewhere during their marriage without informing his wife.

I’ve been there, Laura. You did the right thing by throwing him out.

“When did you last see Aaron?” Zander asked Gordon.

“Sunday before he left for work. I was up when he left.”

“He didn’t mention plans for after work?”

“Nah. I don’t think we spoke.”

Zander glanced at his notes. “How long’s Aaron been living with you?”

“Aaron’s been staying on my couch for about a month. He’s trying to save to get his own place, but his money gets sucked up by his spousal support.” Gordon shot a glare at Laura. She ignored him and stared straight ahead.

The man’s anger gave Ava a headache. She was about to separate the two of them and talk to Laura on her own. She and Laura both deserved a break from Gordon.

Zander laid down his pen and leaned forward, holding Gordon’s gaze. “I’ve about had it with your anger directed at us and Laura. She’s here to help us figure out what the hell happened to Aaron, but you seem to be here to make a stink about something else. It’s time to get over it and use some common courtesy. If you don’t want to talk to us, tell me now.”

Ava bit her cheek. Go Zander!

Gordon stared back at the agent for a full second and then looked down at the table. “Sorry,” he muttered.

“Laura, the medical examiner told you he confirmed it was Aaron, right?” Ava asked.

The woman nodded as fresh tears streamed. “Yes, he called me after the dental records were verified.”

“I know Zander asked you last night if Aaron knew Carson Scott and you said you didn’t think so. What about you, Gordon? Did Aaron ever mention meeting a congressman?”

Gordon shook his head. “I know the mayor of Canby brings her car into his Universe of Tires center. That’s the most important person he’s told me about.”

Ava wondered if Carson had ever needed to get his car serviced in Canby. She scratched a note. Vancouver and Canby were nearly an hour apart. Carson would have needed a good reason to go that far south into Oregon.

It was her job to find that reason.

“Did Aaron have friends in the Vancouver area? People he’d go visit?”

Laura shook her head. “Not that I’m aware of. Neither of us ever went over there.”

Ava nodded. It wasn’t uncommon for the residents of the Portland metropolitan area to rarely cross the bridges over to Washington. Vancouver was a relatively small city. She’d lived in Portland for two years before she’d crossed the border into Vancouver during a drive to Seattle. Someone could blink and miss it.

“Did Aaron have any enemies? Someone who’d do this?” Zander asked.

Laura and Gordon glanced at each other. Laura shook her head. “Not that I know of. Aaron was pretty easygoing and wasn’t the type to anger anyone.”

Gordon shifted in his seat. “I know he had an argument with a guy outside of a bar a few weekends back. The guy parked too close to Aaron’s truck and dinged the passenger door when he got out. Aaron was in his truck at the time and confronted him. It didn’t come to much. Aaron was steamed when he got home, and I know he’d snapped a photo of the guy’s license plate, but I think that was the end of it. He didn’t mention it again.”