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Kaden moved toward the desk. “I have a few questions.”
“I don’t give a shit.” The man continued to glare. “Leave or I’ll have you shot.”
Kaden held up the stack of papers in his hand. “When I leave here, I’m handing these over to the FBI.”
Tate rolled his eyes, tossing aside his pen. “Yeah, I’ve heard that threat before,” he taunted Kaden. “If you had any actual evidence, you would have gone there in the first place.”
Kaden shrugged, pretending it hadn’t been a direct hit. “These aren’t my brother’s files.”
“I don’t care if they’re the Ten Commandments sent by God.” Tate reached up to shove his fingers through his dark hair. The older man might not be worried about the papers Kaden was holding, but something obviously was bothering him.
Kaden laid the stack on the desk in front of Tate. “They’re from Ryan Burke.”
Tate made a sound of disbelief. “Burke wouldn’t give you shit.”
“He didn’t give them to anyone.” Kaden reached to pull the envelope from beneath the bottom of the stack. “They were ripped from his dead hand.” He nodded toward the torn corner. “See?”
Tate lost several shades of color, his eyes widening as he studied the envelope. “You,” he breathed. “You killed him.”
Kaden narrowed his gaze. It had to be an act. Tate Erickson was the only one who had a reason to murder the businessman.
“You claimed his death was an accident,” Kaden taunted. “Now it’s murder?”
Tate licked his lips. “It’s still under investigation.”
“Good.” Kaden tapped his fingers on the stack of papers. “I’m sure this evidence will be vital in revealing the killer.”
Tate leaned back in his chair, as if trying to put distance between himself and the papers.
“You have the envelope,” he muttered. “You knew Burke had it in his hand when he died. Obviously, you’re guilty.”
A hard smile curved Kaden’s lips. “I had no reason to want the man dead. You, however, would no doubt do anything to keep his mouth shut.”
“Burke was my friend.”
“Friend? More like your reluctant partner in crime,” Kaden said.
Tate’s jaw clenched. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Let me refresh your memory.” Kaden grabbed the papers from the desk, intending to go through them one by one.
Tate muttered a curse, abruptly rising to his feet. “I don’t have time for this.”
Kaden shrugged. For the first time since arriving in Pike, he didn’t have to bluff.
“Okay. Like I said, I’m sure the FBI will be interested.”
Kaden turned away. He didn’t know exactly how a private citizen went about contacting the federal agency, but it couldn’t be that tough.
“Stop!” Tate called out.
Kaden slowly turned back to meet the mayor’s worried gaze. “You know what’s in here, don’t you?”
“Not . . . exactly,” he hedged.
Kaden walked back to the desk. “I’m happy to share.”
Tate looked as if he’d swallowed a lemon. “Just get this over with.”
