‘‘Eastling,’’ Curtis said to the medical examiner, ‘‘look at the body and tell me what you can. Bryce, you have the scene after that.’’ The sound of his voice indicated he was in charge and no one had better argue with him about it.
‘‘I’ll talk to the witnesses outside,’’ Curtis added.
He said it as if he were going to beat them up.
Two policemen were outside. Diane didn’t recognize one. The other was Pendleton. He also gave Diane the evil eye. Janice came out after a moment.
‘‘Gunshot to the back of the head,’’ she said. ‘‘Like Jefferies.’’
Curtis nodded. ‘‘What the hell happened?’’
Garnett began speaking. Colin shot him a look, but Garnett went ahead. He always had such contempt when suspects hid behind lawyers, as he often put it. Diane guessed he was unwilling to do the same—even if there was good reason.
‘‘I got a text message for me to come to the house,’’ he said.
Colin opened his mouth to speak, but Garnett waved him off.
‘‘I thought it was from my lawyer. It was not. I got here and found the body. I called the police immedi ately. Diane and Colin arrived a few minutes later. That is all I know.’’
‘‘Well, it looks like you are in a bit of hot water,’’ said Curtis. ‘‘You were arrested for killing the mayor. And through some miracle or jurist malpractice you get out on bail, and the first thing you do is go kill the chief of police.’’
‘‘I didn’t kill him,’’ said Garnett.
Curtis called over to the two policemen and told them to take Garnett into custody. Colin didn’t try to stop them. Diane assumed he was going to make his case to the judge, deciding that Curtis wasn’t a person to be reasoned with. Diane agreed.
‘‘Don’t say anything until I get there,’’ said Colin.
‘‘He’s already said enough,’’ said Curtis.
Colin ignored him and started for his car.
‘‘Just a damn minute,’’ said Curtis. ‘‘I’m not finished with you. The chief of police has been murdered and I find you on the scene. You’ve got to answer some questions.’’
‘‘I have a court order saying I have a right to be here,’’ said Colin. ‘‘We entered and found the body.’’
‘‘Garnett was already there when you entered?’’ said Curtis.
‘‘He had just gotten there, yes,’’ said Colin.
‘‘But you hadn’t asked him to come,’’ said Curtis.
‘‘What I say to a client is privileged,’’ said Colin.
‘‘Garnett just said—’’ began Curtis.
‘‘Nevertheless, what we say to each other is confi dential and protected,’’ interrupted Colin.
Curtis turned to Diane.
‘‘She works for me in my representation of Garnett,’’ said Colin. ‘‘Anything that passed between us is protected as well.’’
‘‘I could put her in jail until she talks,’’ Curtis said, looking at Diane. ‘‘She may still be arrested for kill ing Delamore.’’
‘‘Is that what the GBI said I did?’’ asked Diane.
Curtis ignored her. ‘‘Did any of you touch the body?’’ he asked.
‘‘I did,’’ said Diane. ‘‘I checked to see if he was dead.’’
‘‘He was shot in the back of the head,’’ said Curtis.
‘‘I didn’t know what his wound was,’’ said Diane. ‘‘I only saw blood. He could have needed help. I had a duty to see if there was anything we could do for him.’’
Curtis studied her for a moment. Then he turned to Colin.
‘‘How did you get in the gate?’’ asked Curtis. ‘‘It was locked.’’
‘‘Really? When you got here it was locked?’’ said Colin.
‘‘No, smart guy, the gate has been kept locked since the mayor’s death,’’ he said. ‘‘How did you get in?’’
‘‘I have a court order, and Peeks was meeting me to walk through the house. He said he was going to leave the gate open for me. Presumably that’s what he did.’’
Colin didn’t seem to mind lying to the detective. Diane felt uncomfortable with it, but she understood. She kept her mouth shut and her face noncommittal.
‘‘He said...,’’ began Curtis, and stopped.
‘‘Who said what?’’ asked Colin.
‘‘Nothing,’’ said Curtis.
