AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll take that. By the way, Marty told me about the trailer. You two were lucky. He also said you thought you might be getting closer.”
“Maybe. Have you made any progress?” asked Decker.
“We’re both working it, but nothing’s shaking loose.”
“Same with me,” said a voice.
They both looked up to see Agent KateKemper standing there with a gin andtonic topped with a lime.
Decker said, “So is this the local watering hole for all cops?”
Kemper sat down. “Not that many choices. So why don’t we share info?”
Decker said, “According to both of you, you’ve got nothingtoshare.”
“I tend toward hyperbole,” said Kemper.
He looked at Lassiter. “And do you tend toward bullshit too?”
“Dependson the situation.”
Decker sat back. “Michael Swanson was staying in John Baron’s potting shed and he knew it. Baron also was sweethearts with Joyce Tanner in high school and he was helping her out financially up until she died. He was also into mythology, which might tie into the Thanatos mark on Costa’s forehead, and Tanner taught Bible school, which might explain the biblical verseon the wall behind where she was killed.”
Lassiter looked surprised. “How do you know all this?”
He gave her a severe look. “Iinvestigated.”
Kemper said, “I know my jurisdiction doesn’t extend to these local murders, but if they’re connected to my case I want to know about it. So this Baron guy knows two of the four dead vics. What about the other two?”
“He says he doesn’t know them.”
“Hesayshe doesn’t,” noted Lassiter.
“Why didn’t he come forward when Tanner and Swanson were killed?” asked Kemper.
“If he killed them, the answer to your question is obvious,” replied Decker.
“Did he ever mention knowing my guys?” asked Kemper.
“I didn’t ask him, because I didn’t want to reveal that information,”said Decker.
“Since Tanner was found with Babbot and Swanson with Costa, that would mean if Baron was behind it, he killed all four,” observed Lassiter.
“And if he didn’t kill them?” said Kemper. “Why not come forward?”
Decker said, “The town hates him. I doubt he would want to get scapegoated for something he didn’t do.”
Lassiter snapped, “That’s not howwe do things here, Decker.”
He looked at her. “I know about your father.”
Lassiter’s eyes widened.
“What about your dad?” said Kemper.
Decker looked at Lassiter. “You want to do the honors?”
“Why? What does it have to do with anything?”
