Page 77 of What They'll Say About Us

"Is the guy standing next to you the one who hit the ball?" I asked.

"Yes. He signed it for me."

"Do you still have it?"

"It's in my bedroom," he admitted with a somewhat sheepish smile.

"Interesting. So, you're a baseball fan?"

"I like most sports. Have a seat. You want something to drink?"

"That sounds good. What do you have?"

"Water, juice, beer."

"I'll take a beer."

"Interesting. You seem more like a wine drinker."

"That doesn't say a lot for your investigative skills, Detective Barclay," I said dryly as I sat on the couch. "Plus, you didn't offer me wine, and I could use a drink."

He smiled and grabbed two beers out of the fridge. After handing one to me, he took the chair next to the sofa. "Would wine have been your first choice?"

"Maybe. But I like beer, too. My father is a big beer drinker. Any time he has to pick a restaurant, it's always a brewery."

"Does he live in Chicago?"

"He's a nomad. He's a musician, and he goes where the gigs are." I took a sip of beer and let out a sigh. "This tastes good."

"Dare I ask why you needed a drink?"

"A lot of reasons, Detective."

"Why don't you call me Colton? We're sharing a drink in my living room, and you have been driving my Jeep all day. I think we can dismiss the formalities, Tessa."

"Okay, Colton. Before we get into me and my day, I'd like to know what you've learned about Detective Cabot's death."

His expression turned tense, and I was almost sorry I'd brought it up, because I'd been enjoying the last few stress-free moments.

"There was no other vehicle or person seen in front of Vincent's house after Hale left around two thirty until we got there just after six."

"Then how did they get in?"

"They could have parked on the street behind the house and entered the property through a gap in the back fence. Unfortunately, the street behind his house has apartment buildings and a lot of cars coming and going. We haven't been able to pinpoint a specific vehicle or individual, but the investigation is just beginning. We'll find who killed him. I can promise you that."

"I hope so, because I'm pretty sure whoever killed him also killed Paige. I know you're going to tell me there's still no proof of that, but?—"

"I'm not going to tell you that," he cut in. "Vincent took his personal case notes home with him when he retired, and in the mess left behind by his killer, we located some of his notes from the investigation."

"Oh, my God! Really? What did you learn?"

"Tessa, there's only so much I can share with you," he warned. "I can't risk you taking information I give you and putting it on your podcast. That would jeopardize my investigation."

"What if I promise not to put anything out there that you don't approve of?"

"Why would you do that? You're looking for views, aren't you? Being able to share the inside story? I saw your video about being at Cabot's house. That didn't go down well with my boss."

"I was vague about it."