The Cat, the Wife and the Weapon

“Wait. I came here to tell you something,” I said.

“Oh. I thought you were just worried about Finn,” she said.

“I am worried, but Rory Gannon showed up again,” I said. “This time he followed Kara and me out to her property.”

She stared up at the ceiling, looking exasperated. “What is wrong with that man? Oh. I forgot. He’s crackerjacks. I assume you’re both okay?”

“Except for our rattled nerves,” I said. “This is like a game to him. Do you have any idea how he ended up in town?”

“I have an idea,” she said. “In checking Tom’s phone—the one we found in his car—I noticed a call was placed to a halfway house in Greenville. Who do you think might have been living in a halfway house?”

“I can only think of one odd person,” I said.

“I’ll have to recheck the date when the call was made, but I’m willing to bet Nolan Roth was in possession of Tom’s phone at the time.”

“Why would Nolan Roth call Gannon?” I said.

“I’m gonna have to think on that one. ’Course, it gives me a good reason to find the guy ASAP and ask him directly.” She smiled and nodded. “I do believe Morris would love to bring him in.”

“Are you kidding? I thought he—”

“Hates the mental cases? He does. But Deputy Rodriguez is good with them. I’ve been asking for more help ever since the murder. Maybe the chief will listen when he comes back from his lunch with the mayor and approve some overtime.” Candace wiped an arm across her brow. “We’re sweating in here like pigs and he’s at the Finest Catch having lake trout seared in lemon butter.”

“Perks of the job,” I said.

“We need to hunt down Gannon and explain how harassment and stalking are serious problems, especially for an ex-con. Then we can bring up any recent phone calls.”

“Will police pressure make him stop following us?” I asked.

“Probably not,” she said, but then her eyes brightened. “But if we catch him at it, we may learn a few important details. We have his plate number and a description of him and his car. Shouldn’t be too hard, if the chief gives his approval.”

“Funny how he’s acting all concerned about his boy, as he calls Finn,” I said, “and yet he hasn’t shown up here at the police station to see what’s going on.”

“Because he doesn’t give a flip about Finn. You know it and I know it. Gannon came here on a mission—and I wish Nolan Roth could tell us why.”

We walked out of the break room together in time to see Morris open the door of the interrogation room and step into the hall. He closed the door after him.

“Where the heck have you been?” he said, ignoring me and staring pointedly at the water bottle in Candace’s hand.

“Did he confess yet, partner?” Candace said.

“He’s not saying squat,” Morris said. “Where’s my water? Or was visiting with your friend more important than helping your partner?”

“You’re the one who decided to sweat the suspect. The suspect who’s innocent. I told you already I know what happened, but maybe getting you some water will help you turn down your cranky factor.” She went back to the break room.

Morris looked at me. “Oh, so she knows what happened. She always knows. Sorry. Dealing with juveniles makes me ornery. How are you today, Jillian?”

Before I could answer, Candace returned with two bottles of water. “Let’s talk to Finn—all three of us.”

This particular interrogation room was less cozy than the one we were in yesterday. For one thing, it smelled like vomit. A bench lined one wall and Finn sat there, his back straight, his hands clenched in his lap. A table bolted to the floor was in front of him and two wooden chairs faced him.

When Finn saw me, his stoic expression softened. “Hey, Jillian. Sorry to cause you so much trouble.”

“You haven’t caused me any problems,” I said. “I want to help you and, believe it or not, these police officers do, too. I never believed you killed Nolan Roth, and now the police have the evidence to show you didn’t.”

I sat on the bench next to Finn. Candace and Morris took the chairs. Candace set a bottle of water in front of Finn.

“She’s right,” Candace said. “We do need to find a murderer, though. To do that, we have to process the evidence. You know what that means, right?”

“Just ’cause I’m not in college doesn’t mean I’m stupid,” Finn said.

“Remember how I swabbed your mouth for DNA?” Candace said.

Finn nodded.

“What if your DNA would help us prove you didn’t kill Nolan Roth?” Candace said.

Morris, who had finished off his water in two long gulps, said, “Here we go, kid. The evidence queen is hard at work.”

The water seemed to have improved Morris’s disposition.

“But you told me after Deputy Carson left that you liked the evidence queen,” Finn said, amusement showing in his eyes.

Morris almost smiled. “Hey. Don’t go telling my secrets.”

I said, “As you can see, these are good, honest people.” I picked up his hand in both my own and squeezed. “There’s a murderer out there, and they’ll find out who it is. The good news is, it looks like you left evidence in Tom’s car—evidence that explains how you were injured. Candace showed me how it happened.”

“Really?” Finn said. “Tell me.”

“I might have to show you—just like Candace showed me,” I said.

“Go for it,” Finn said.

Eighteen

We were all leaving the interrogation room when I saw Tom standing in the waiting room.

“You all look… relaxed. Does this mean Finn can leave now, Candace?” Tom said. “And when did you arrive, Jillian?”

“In time to hear about the CSI stuff Candace has been doing,” I said.

“Yeah. It’s way cool, Tom. She figured out how I hit my head,” Finn said.

“Listen, y’all must be as hungry as I am,” Morris said. “Take this kid to eat and he can fill you in. He needs some meat on his bones.” He turned in the direction of the break room and walked away.

Tom smiled. “Sounds like a plan. I take it Finn won’t be needing the lawyer I couldn’t reach?”

“Nope, but I have more questions for you, Tom,” Candace said.

“About what?” he said. “Because my jaw is getting tired talking about what happened.”

“It’s about the calls and texts we found on your phone when we took it from the wreck,” she said. “But first, I have to call the crime lab about Finn’s DNA results. Can we talk later?”

“What about Finn’s DNA?” Tom said.

“I believe his DNA will rule him out as a suspect,” Candace said. “Now, I really have to get busy.”

“I’ll explain what she’s talking about,” I said. “Finn’s interview is over and we can leave.”

As we walked through the courthouse toward the front entrance, I offered a shortened version of what Candace figured out and why she needed Finn’s DNA results.

“Deputy Carson gets so excited about this forensic stuff,” Finn said. “She’s way into it.”

Before Tom could respond, we saw Karen coming toward us, her straight midcalf skirt making it difficult for her to travel as quickly as she might have.

When she reached us, she pulled Finn to her and hugged him tightly.

“I see Candace has released you,” Karen said. “I knew she’d come to her senses. You could never hurt a