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He ended the call, tucked his phone in his pocket, and went back to the interview room.
Graham’s elbows rested on the table, his head buried in his hands.
Mitch didn’t want to do this, but he had to.
Graham looked up and Mitch frowned. He looked exhausted and Mitch wanted to tell him to go home and get a good sleep, but Graham was not going home. He was going to a holding cell.
“I’m going to ask you to stay here voluntarily,” Mitch said. “I’ll take you to a cell. I’ll make it as comfortable as possible.” He knew that wasn’t any consolation, but it was all he could offer.
Graham nodded and Mitch ignored the hurt that radiated from him like a sad song.
Mitch led him to the cell. Graham sat on the edge of the hard bed, looking over his surroundings like a fish out of water. He sighed, shaking his head.
Mitch grabbed another pillow and blanket from the neighboring cell and passed it to him. He took it without a word.
“I’ll check on you in a few hours,” Mitch said. When Graham didn’t respond, he turned to leave.
Locking the cell behind him, he took a step toward the door out of the holding cells when Graham spoke.
“I didn’t do this, Mitch,” he said with a voice that sounded like he was on the verge of tears.
Mitch turned back to him, looking him straight in the eyes. “Then I’ll get you out of here. Stay strong. This is temporary,” he said.
Graham nodded and seemed to relax. His shoulders sat lower and he lifted his head higher. Perhaps he sensed Mitch’s sincerity, because his eyes held a flicker of hope.
Mitch closed the door behind him, resting against it for a moment. He drew a long breath, the realization of what he’d just done hitting him. He’d locked up his father’s best friend. A man he’d known his entire life—a man who spent his days running the local animal-rescue shelter.
Mitch swore under his breath and forced himself to take a step forward, away from the cells. He’d done what he’d had to and he would not apologize or feel guilty for it. He had to do his job, and the sooner he uncovered the truth, the sooner everyone in Redwater and its surrounds would be safer.
He walked to his office and grabbed his keys before speaking to Jackson, who was on duty at the station for the rest of the night.
He opened the photographs on his phone and sent the message of the manufacturer label to Jackson.
“Tomorrow morning, first thing, get one of the guys to follow up with this manufacturer and find out if there’s any way they can tell us where this table was purchased and by whom. Also, a black truck was driving down the road between Johnny’s and Zoe’s houses—I spoke to the driver and he said he’d been visiting Johnny, that he was his nephew. He looked familiar, but I don’t think he’d been visiting Johnny. I think Johnny was already on the floor.”
Jackson nodded. “The hospital called a few minutes ago. Johnny is awake and mumbling a few sentences, but not coherent enough to talk to yet. The doctor said to tell you he estimates Johnny had been on the floor for a half hour or so.”
Mitch’s jaw clenched. “Find out who this truck belongs to,” Mitch said, writing the license plate details on a piece of paper and sliding it toward Jackson. “I’m heading home to get some sleep. Please check on Graham in an hour or so. Take care of him—he’s innocent until proven guilty,” Mitch said.
Jackson nodded. “I will. Go home, Mitch. I can handle things for a few hours.”
“Thanks,” Mitch said as he turned to leave. He trusted Jackson and was glad he was at the station tonight.
Mitch drove home, his mind on the shed. Every instinct told him the blood samples were going to match that of the victims, and then Graham was in big trouble.
He pulled into his garage and found Gus waiting at the door for him.
He wagged his tail, wiggling excitedly.
Mitch smiled—at least someone was happy to see him.
“Hey, boy,” he said, petting his head. “Come on, let’s get some sleep.”
Mitch showered, brushed his teeth, and all but collapsed onto the bed. Gus jumped up, settling on the edge.
Mitch barely remembered closing his eyes. His phone chimed, and he stirred, but it sounded so far off in the distance as he fell asleep.
CHAPTER13
