“Where?”
“She’s at the station.”
Paul lay there in a sweaty heap, too drained to move.Jackson crouched down next to him with a bottle of water.Paul couldn’t lift his arms, so he opened his mouth like a baby bird and drank.
“Bennett did this to you?”Jackson asked.
“No.”
“Who?”
“Aiden Mendez.”
Jackson tensed at this news.“He still in the area?”
“I doubt it.”
“When did he leave?”
“Hours ago.”
Jackson didn’t ask who Aiden Mendez was.He seemed familiar with the name, and familiar with Paul’s unique background.He rose to his feet and checked their surroundings, speaking quietly into his radio.While Jackson searched the shoreline, Paul flexed his right hand to test his strength.His left arm was useless, as if he’d been shot all over again.He managed to pull his boxer shorts into place.
“Tell me what happened to Bennett,” Jackson said.
“He was shot.”
“Where’s the boat?”
“It sank.”
“Is his body with the boat?”
Paul wasn’t sure.Recovering bodies from water was a tricky business.Lost Lake boasted surprising depths and strong undercurrents.Bennett’s body might be tangled up in reeds right next to the boat, or he might have drifted for miles.
“How did you get here?”Jackson asked.
“I swam.”
“My truck is parked on the forest road.Can you walk?”
“Yes,” Paul said, though he wasn’t confident in his ability to stand, let alone walk.When Jackson offered him a hand, he took it.They moved forward in careful steps.The forest road was less than a hundred feet away.When they arrived at his truck, Paul climbed into the passenger seat while Jackson got behind the wheel.
Jackson offered him a cold soda from a mini-cooler, and watched as Paul drained the contents.“Vanessa says your last name is McPherson.”
“That’s right.”
“You killed Angel Mendez.”
“Yes.”
“Was Bennett involved with the Mendez family somehow?”
“I don’t think so.”
“We have Vanessa’s statement.Another officer will take yours.You can have your brother with you, if you’d like.”
“My brother?”
