“No,” Michael said. “Why did you take the cart into the cottage?”
Reid shrugged. “I don’t really know. I didn’t think about it.”
“Do you make it a habit to walk into guest rooms without being invited?” Michael said.
“I told you,” Reid said, showing the first sign of exasperation, “I thought they were in distress. I didn’t—I guess I didn’t really think much, I wanted to help, so I went in.”
Fuentes changed the subject. A good way to throw him off, Matt knew. He used the tactic himself at times.
“Do you know Josh and Emily Henderson?”
“No.”
“They were guests at the resort last fall, two months after you started working there.”
“I don’t remember most of the guests.”
“What about Kevin and Jenny Blair?”
“No,” he said in a polite but firm tone. “IsaidI don’t remember most of the guests, and I don’t even handle room service. I only took room service to that cottage because Ginger—she works the kitchen—was busy. I was going on my break in that direction and offered to take it for her.”
Reid had strong evaluations from his supervisor. Staff liked him because he was always willing to help out, thus his excuse that he was helping Ginger was believable.
They’d already confirmed with Ginger that this was true; however, itwasunusual.
Matt believed Garrett on this point, because it would give him a partial alibi. It wasn’t his job, he didn’t know what was under the domes, he just delivered the food, he had no idea who could have added the ketamine to the orange juice and coffee. A plausible excuse.
“Mitch and Sheila Avila. They stayed in the cottage next door to the Costa suite one month ago. You repaired their leaky shower.”
Reid shrugged. “I do a lot of repairs, so I probably did. But I don’t remember them.”
“You’re telling me that you—as an employee—don’t remember the six guests who were murdered over the course of the last seven months? No one on staff talked about it? Management didn’t have a staff meeting to discuss howsix peoplewent missing from the resort and were later found dead?”
Reid hesitated. This was a mistake. Matt could practically see him quickly calculating the situation.
At that moment, Matt had no doubt of Garrett Reid’s guilt. He was almost positive when they arrested him in their cottage,but this hesitation, the shrewdness behind his eyes, and Matt was certain.
But everything they had was circumstantial. A good lawyer would get this guy off. They needed physical evidence that tied Garrett Reid to at least one of the victims.
“Of course I heard about the people who disappeared from the resort, but I don’t remember their names. It didn’t have anything to do with me. Alena—Alena Porter, the manager—she said that if we saw anything unusual, or anyone hanging around where they shouldn’t be, to call security. And, um, they added a couple security officers I heard?” He shrugged. “I just fix stuff. I do good work, ask my boss.”
Michael asked, “Take us through today. When you clocked in, what you did, when Ginger asked you to take the tray to cottage 14, and go from there.”
“I already told you,” Reid whined.
“Tell us again. We need to document every minute of your day from when you arrived at work until you were arrested.”
“And then I can go?”
Fuentes said, “You are under arrest, Mr. Reid. You’re not going anywhere. You’ll be arraigned on Monday and the judge will decide whether you are released on bail or remanded into custody.”
Matt winced. That was exactly the wrong thing to say. She should have just repeated Michael’s question, not answered his.
Reid stared at her. “I, uh, well, I think—dammit. I didn’t do anything. I’m innocent. But you think I’m guilty.”
“Convince me that you’re not,” Fuentes said.
“I didn’t do anything!” He now sounded like any criminal proclaiming his innocence. “I swear, it’s a misunderstanding, and I didn’t mean harm to anyone.” He took a deep breath. “I think I need a lawyer now.”
