“Apparently, she’s with Deputy Aguilar right now.”
“That’s a relief.”
“But that can’t last long. We’re not official members of this investigation.”
“Yeah, and Aguilar isn’t filming one of those ride-along reality cop shows where she gets to tackle white trash.”
Chelsey snickered. Even when he was worried, Darren had a knack for disarming everyone with comic relief. It was easy to understand why Raven had fallen for the state park ranger.
“Okay, Darren. Text me when you’re finished.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
October 31st
3:00 p.m.
Ed and Charisse Leonard sat at the kitchen table, while Thomas and Detective Presley stood beside the counter. Ed was a barrel-chested man that stood a few inches taller than the sheriff. His brown hair curled in thick clumps. As he glared at Thomas and the detective, the father twisted his hands into fists. Charisse wore jogging pants and a heavy sweatshirt, her straight blonde hair kissing the tops of her shoulders. She kept her eyes on the table, the walls, the window. Anywhere but on the two law enforcement officers who broke the news about Derek Jordan.
The Leonard family owned a two-story house with powder-blue siding. The outdated kitchen appeared plucked from the 1960s. Yellow laminate counters, neutral appliances, natural wood cabinetry. The flooring curled in one corner and revealed a black soil-like substance underneath, as if the earth slowly reclaimed the interior.
The front door banged open and shattered the quiet, announcing Valerie’s arrival. Ed rose from his chair, and Charisse waved him off.
“Let me get her,” she said.
Presley chewed a nail. Thomas leaned against the counter and waited.
From the foyer, the teenage girl said, “What’s the deal with the cop cars out front? Did the Delgado’s get into another fight?”
“There’s someone who wishes to speak with you,” Charisse said, her voice a touch above a whisper.
Charisse dried her eyes as she returned to the kitchen. Valerie Leonard followed her mother and stopped beside the table, her stunned gaze swinging from Thomas to Presley.
“What’s going on here?”
“It might be a good idea if you sit, dear.”
Valerie gave her mother a curious glance and set her book bag on the floor. She chose the chair between her parents. Ed draped an arm around Valerie’s shoulders and glared at the law enforcement officers. A warning to handle his daughter with care.
“Is this about the podcast?”
Presley stepped away from the counter.
“Valerie, I’m Detective Presley with the Kane Grove Police Department, and this is Sheriff Shepherd.”
“Okay,” Valerie said, dragging the word into a question.
“We need to speak to you about Derek Jordan.”
Valerie’s eyes flicked to her mother. The woman pressed a fist to her lips, while Ed bristled and fumed in the next seat.
“Derek didn’t come to school today. Did he get into a fight with his stepfather again?”
“Valerie, we found Derek beside the train tracks last night. He’s dead.”
The teenager stared at Presley in challenge, as if battling her would alter reality and bring Derek back. Reality struck her, and she leaned into her mother, sobbing as Charisse stroked her hair. The detective waited until Valerie pulled herself together.
“When did you last speak with Derek?”
Valerie sniffled and gave Presley a hazy look.
“Around midnight, I guess.”
The father’s head snapped to Valerie.
“What? You were with Derek at midnight?”
Valerie rested her hands on the table and shredded a tissue.
“I sneaked out of the house after you fell asleep.”
Charisse dropped her face into her hands. Ed was a boiling pot with a stuck lid.
“You left the house with your boyfriend on a school night?” He pointed an accusing finger at Charisse. “I told you Derek Jordan would ruin Valerie’s life. We never should have allowed them to date.”
Reigning in the conversation, Thomas asked, “Where did you last see Derek?”
Valerie swiped the tissue under her nose.
“We hung out near the train tracks for a while. He needed to go home, so we split up.”
“Some gentleman Derek Jordan was,” Ed said, grumbling. “Who takes a girl down to the train tracks? Only criminals frequent that area after dark.”
“He walked me to the end of the street and waited until I entered the house.”
The father scoffed and glanced away.
“Did you notice anyone else during your walk?” Thomas asked.
Valerie shook her head.
“No, it was just the two of us.”
“No cars drove past?”
“Not that I remember.”
Thomas pulled a chair from the table and turned it around. He sat and faced the Leonard family as Valerie peered down at her blurry reflection.
“How long had you dated Derek?”
Her left shoulder lifted a fraction. More of a twitch than a committed reply.
“Not until last night. We’d been friends for a long time, close friends since summer. I saw it coming, but was too afraid to ask him out.”
“I never should have allowed you anywhere near that lowlife,” Ed said, interjecting himself into the conversation.
“Please let your daughter finish, Mr. Leonard,” said Presley.
Ed Leonard muttered under his breath and set his fists on the table.
“Derek asked me out last night. Before, I figured he only wanted to be friends.”
“At any point, did Derek tell you he was concerned someone wanted to hurt him?”
“Why would anyone want to hurt Derek?”
“That’s what we’re trying to find out. We understand he partied with Leland Trivett and Gardner Raimi.”
“Yeah, I guess. We’re all seniors. Everyone parties now and then.”
“What can you tell me about Derek’s friends?”
Valerie tossed the tissue in the garbage and ripped another out of the box.
“Not much to tell. Leland is a bit of a prankster. The three of them have been friends since grade school.”
“They ever get into fights with Derek?”
“No.”
“Did Derek have any enemies?”
Valerie shook her head and cried into her palm.
“When you and Derek split up last night, did he say where he was going?”
“Home,
