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Maybe her animosity was real, maybe it was for show. But Matt hoped John was right and Donna was someone who wouldn’t stand for her group being taken over by radicals.
Driving back to the station, Matt wished he’d listened to Kara and let her come to the island quietly and infiltrate the group. She would have then been in a better position to watch people. But he’d needed all hands for interviews and evidence analysis, so an undercover operation wasn’t a realistic option.
“Back to the station?” John said.
“Do you know where Martin and Sokola are now?”
“Yep. They should both be at work. Want to pay them a visit?”
“No. I want them to come down to the station. I’m not saying they’re involved, we have no evidence either way, but they are persons of interest because they have already targeted West End Charter.”
“Matt, I don’t think arresting them is going to help here.”
“I don’t want to arrest them. I want you to ask them to come down to the station at their convenience after work today, or first thing in the morning. Keep it friendly, but I want them on our turf.”
“That I can do.”
“In the meantime, let’s head back to the station. I want to go over their files with a fine-tooth comb. Do you know if either of them would have access to explosives? Do they work in construction or have family members in construction? Or the military—it’s harder to get C-4 off a military base, but not impossible if you know someone.”
“Craig Martin has lived here since his parents divorced, about the time Craig was starting high school, ten or so years ago. Bobby is four or five years younger. He graduated high school a year ago, but I heard he’s going to UW in the fall, working now to save up money. Their mother is a nice gal, owns a hair salon here—a lot of the women like her. My wife goes to her every six weeks like clockwork.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“I don’t know much about their dad. Craig went to college for two years in Bellingham but dropped out. A bit lazy, in my opinion. Bobby has worked a variety of jobs—a smart kid, will do anything to save up money. This summer I heard he was working as a janitor in the high school. Not something you see most nineteen-year-old boys aspiring to do, but he needs the money for college. Plus, he works weekends processing fish on the north end of the island. Not a fun job, I did it a couple summers in my youth, but it pays real well. I respect that.”
“So do I, but I need to know if they can access explosives.”
“You’ll have to ask.”
“And what about this Valerie?”
“She came to the island a couple years ago. Followed Craig, I believe, got her college degree in environmental science. Works at the coffee place. Not too friendly, but Craig’s smitten. After we arrested her last year, she didn’t have any family calling about her. A bit of a loner, but the Martins have taken her in as one of their own.”
It was a long way from vandalism to murder...unless the murder was unplanned. They could have wanted to blow up the boat, and not realized that it was being used. But why? If IP’s beef with West End was for a fuel leak that was fixed two years ago, why were they still targeting the group? Was it really what John said, that they wanted all motorboats banned from the area? That seemed not only unrealistic but foolhardy in a community that relied on ferry service and a tiny airport to get on and off the island.
If they were guilty, Matt would ferret it out during interrogation. And based on the sheriff’s comments, Craig Martin would cave first.
Matt called Ryder to find out where he was in processing Neil’s house. He didn’t answer.
Ryder always answered his calls.
“How far to Neil Devereaux’s house?” he asked John.
8
Neil Devereaux’s house was walking distance from West End Charter. It wasn’t much—bedroom, living room with a counter that served as the kitchen, and a small den—but the deck, which was twice the size of the house, boasted a choice view of the water.
Ryder Kim and Deputy Tom Redfield entered the dead man’s home that afternoon. It smelled musty from being closed up for three days, and warm, either because of the summer heat, or the heater had been on.
“What are we looking for?” Tom asked.
“Any files related to criminal investigations, his past cases, and specifically information about the two students who died near Mount Rainier. You take the bedroom and living room, closets. I’ll take the den. Oh, and check for any information about Brandon Fielding.”
“Fielding was a pyramid scam, right?”
“Yes, and he was released from prison six months ago. He threatened Agent Devereaux in court.”
“Fifteen years is a long time to hold a grudge.”
