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“I mean, not really? I guess—there was someone, but it was just a dark blob.”
“Did you hear anything? A motor?”
Mickey frowned. “Not then, but when we were sitting on the pier earlier I heard a motorboat going south but didn’t see it. There’s a lot of people who go out at night, so I didn’t really think about it. And it wasn’t going fast, there wasn’t a big wake or anything.”
“You have a good memory. And that was about one thirty?”
“Yeah. We got back to Andy’s just before two, I think. We were a little wired, you know, getting caught and all. Played some video games... We’d just fallen asleep when we heard the explosion.” He looked at Matt with big eyes. “I’m really, really sorry someone died.”
“I know. Thank you for your help.”
“I helped?”
“Yes. Now I know how the bomber got to the boathouse without being caught on the security cameras.”
19
Kara thought it was a waste of time for her and Catherine to follow up with Madelyn Jeffries while Matt and Michael focused on the recent bombing. Madelyn had no motive to go after West End, and the idea that she would set off a second bomb—and bludgeon a guard to death—was ludicrous.
Kara needed to follow up with Jamie Finch, to find out what Marcy Anderson had been doing following Cal—if she had been following him—and help Ryder go through Neil’s files on the Mowich Lake drownings. She shouldn’t have to repeat her interview from yesterday when she knew damn well that Madelyn Jeffries was innocent.
The only reason she didn’t push back on Catherine about the interview was because they needed to follow up with Justin Jeffries, the oldest son, to determine if there had been threats against his father or anything unusual that happened that might have led to him being a target. That’s what Kara wanted to determine. It was Catherine who wanted to reinterview Madelyn, and just the thought of it made Kara’s blood boil.
But she remained as calm as possible.
Justin had originally agreed to talk to them at the sheriff’s station, but because of the second bombing and the emergency vehicles downtown, Kara arranged to meet him at the house. She didn’t think it was odd that he was staying there, but Catherine made a snide comment about it. She had read everything about the Jeffries family and believed what the kids believed—that Madelyn was a gold digger. Kara didn’t even try to change her mind. What was the point? Catherine had no respect for her or her opinion.
For a shrink who was supposed to be open-minded and nonjudgmental, Catherine Jones seemed to fall into stereotype traps. Kara didn’t say it, but she wanted to.
She really,reallywanted to. Take the doctor down a peg or two. But she bit her tongue, for now.
Kara drove. She didn’t ask Catherine if she wanted to drive to the Jeffries house. Since Matt had the rental, she’d borrowed a car from the sheriff’s pool.
She and Catherine were silent during the ten-minute drive. That was fine with Kara. She was still angry about last night and didn’t want to risk a conversation with Catherine turning into a confrontation.
A tall, attractive man in his midthirties opened the door after Kara knocked. Justin Jeffries looked like a younger version of his father.
“Detective Quinn?” he asked.
“Yes,” Kara said. “And this is Dr. Catherine Jones with the FBI. Thank you for agreeing to meet with us today. I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Madelyn said you were kind to her yesterday when my brother and sister came by. I want to apologize for their behavior. It’s been a roller coaster.”
“Tragedy does that.”
“This wasn’t about my father’s death.” He rubbed his eyes, motioned for them to enter. “Can I get you anything?”
“No, thank you. We won’t take much of your time.”
“Of course. Madelyn’s outside on the deck, if you don’t mind talking out there?”
“Actually,” Catherine said, “if we could speak to you alone first, that would be helpful.”
He looked skeptical but motioned for them to take seats in a spacious office off the foyer. He moved papers from the center of the desk, stacking them to the side, and closed his laptop. “I decided to work from here for the next few days, even before they shut down the ferries this morning. Do you know anything more about the explosion? I assume it’s the work of the same culprit.”
Justin spoke old-fashioned. He acted older than his years.
“We can’t comment on the investigation,” Catherine said formally, “but we’re following all leads. You worked directly with your father.”
