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“We don’t have time for individual self-flagellation speeches,” Hank cut in. “Everyone in this room—including Naya and Maisy—has been involved in at least one murder investigation, however tangentially. We all know the stakes. Weallunderestimated the danger. Weallmoved too slowly, and now another man’s dead. That’s on all of us.”
Leo wanted to argue with him. But one look at the grim, determined faces looking back at him changed his mind. They were a team, just as he and Sasha were a team in their personal life and just as he and Hank were a team in their professional life. He wouldn’t minimize anyone’s role.
He nodded. “Understood. We’renotgoing to have another dead body this weekend. We’ve got to do whatever it takes to smoke out the killer and keep everyone else safe until the police get here.”
Daniel frowned, and Sasha fielded his unasked question.
“I’m not sure everyone’s heard, but Hank heard over the Carlisles’ police scanner that an officer named Duncan radioed his station that he was on his way to Dr. Graham’s office to escort a patient here.”
“Here?” Daniel echoed.
“Right. Office Duncan is bringing Hatty and John back at their insistence. So help is on the way. It’s just a matter of how long it takes them to get here and what happens in the interim. We need a plan.”
Naya cleared her throat, “Mac, you’re the one who says all witnesses lie, right?”
“It’s true, I do.”
“We need to stop splitting these people up and taking them out for interviews. One, it’s not efficient. And two, if you do it in front of everyone else, maybe someone else will call them out on their lies.”
“They’re all rattled,” Maisy agreed. “They’ll turn on each other if it comes to that. At a minimum, I doubt they’ll keep each other’s secrets at this point.”
Leo shrugged. “Might as well try it. And one of you might pick up on something Sasha and I missed.”
“I’m staying here with the body,” Bodhi interjected.
“You can’t be here alone,” Leo protested.
“I’ll lock myself in. I’m not worried.”
“I’m worried,” Sasha countered.
Bodhi gave them both a kind smile. “Usually, when I encounter a body, the occupant’s been gone for a while. But Grady died in front of me. It’s my privilege and my duty as a Buddhist to assist him as he transitions to his next life.”
Leo didn’t feel equipped to debate Buddhist death rituals. So he focused on logistics. “Do you want someone to stay with you?”
“No, like I said, I’ll lock myself in, pray over the body, and meditate on Grady’s life. I’ll also write my notes on the cyanide poisoning. I’ll join you in the library in a bit.”
Bodhi rose from where he’d been sitting lotus-style next to Grady’s body, padded across the room, and waited for them to exit to the hallway so he could lock the door.
* * *
Leo waited until he heard the click of the lock as Bodhi locked himself in the dining room. Then he inhaled and squared his shoulders. “Let’s do this.” He slid open the library’s pocket doors, and they walked inside.
Chris and Carl had positioned everyone in the conversation pit near the windows. Leo glanced at the raging storm outside. The snow hadn’t abated. If anything, conditions were worsening.Good luck, Duncan.
The room erupted with overlapping questions, accusations, and exclamations as soon as they stepped inside.
Aroostine held up one hand, palm forward like a crossing guard. “Stop. We’re talking. You’re listening.” She gestured toward Leo, who scanned their faces, pausing to lock eyes with each one of them before speaking.
“Someone here killed Rex and Grady. We’ve talked to most of you, but obviously, someone’s holding something back. So here’s what we’re going to do. I don’t care whether or not you want to talk to us. I don’t care if you think we don’t have the authority. We’re going to stay in this room, all of us, until the police arrive. And we’re going to talk.”
“The police aren’t coming. No one’s coming,” Paul complained.
“That’s not true. As you know, we’ve been monitoring the emergency channels on the scanner. A police officer is escorting the Carlisles here as we speak. And as soon as Officer Duncan arrives, we’re going to turn over Rex and Grady’s killer. You owe it to your friends. So let’s start talking.”
“This is ludicrous,” Chance grumbled. “For all we know, Grady killed Rex.”
“How do you figure?” Leo asked.
