”My first thought,“ says Logan. ”But no, it was a Camry with Adams County plates. It was stolen a few minutes before the crime.“
”This was obviously a professional hit.“
Logan nods. ”Just like Sonny Cross.“
”Anybody say the shooter was Asian?“
”He wore his mask the whole time, and he never said a word.“
”The guy who shot Sonny wasn’t wearing a mask.“
”I know.“ Logan takes a pen from a mug that reads
I shake my head, not quite able to accept that my strongest alternative suspect in Kate Townsend’s murder is dead. ”Did you learn anything about Kate’s murder from the survivors?“
”My detectives are still over at the hospital questioning them. But so far, all we’ve got is computer matches on the shooter’s handguns.“
”That fast?“
Logan nods, his face unreadable. ”The silenced one was stolen from a residence in Biloxi a few months ago.“
The chief is watching me closely. ”The other handgun was bought and registered right here in Natchez, two years ago.“
A chill of anxiety runs along my skin. ”Who bought it?“
”Drew Elliott. And it’s never been reported lost or stolen.“
I feel as though my body mass has doubled. Breathing is difficult, and the idea of moving seems impossible. ”Drew’s been in jail all night. Right?“
Logan sighs. ”As best I can determine, yes. But I wasn’t here myself. And there’s no closed-circuit camera in his cell.“
Again I remember the escapes I’ve read about in the
”I don’t think so, Penn. But I can’t be certain.“
”Christ, Chief.“
Logan looks up at me, his eyes filled with regret. ”That’s not really my main concern, to be honest. I’m more worried that Drew used his cell phone to hire this done.“
I struggle not to let Logan see how much this possibility worries me. ”Who could Drew call that could have found Cyrus? Both you and Sheriff Byrd have guys working around the clock, and they couldn’t find him. How could Drew?“
”Granted,“ says Logan, but he still looks unconvinced.
”The theory that Drew slipped out and did the shooting himself has the same flaw,“ I point out. ”How would he know where to find Cyrus?“
”You told me Kate Townsend visited Cyrus regularly.“
”But only at Brightside Manor.“
Logan raises his eyebrows. ”Are you sure?“
”I hope so. Because I gave Drew access to his cell phone when I shouldn’t have. And I sure regret that now.“
”This was some kind of drug hit. It had to be.“
”Like I said, I hope so. But you’ve got one more problem.“
”What?“
”We recovered another pistol at the scene. You’ll be interested in that one, too.“
”Why?“
”It’s a Springfield XD-9. And it’s registered to you.“
It takes all my composure to keep my mouth from falling open. ”I can explain that, Don.“
Logan nods, but he looks far less confident in me than he has for the past couple of days. ”I hope so, Penn. Because this looks bad. Really bad.“
”I lost it the other night, chasing a guy who tried to blackmail Drew. Two guys, actually.“
Logan shakes his head, clearly furious that I’ve been holding back information. ”Why didn’t you report it lost?“
”Because I lost the gun on hunting camp land. Dr. Felder’s camp, right behind St. Stephen’s. I knew if anybody found it, it would be a hunter from that club. I called Dr. Felder the next day and told him to warn his members to be on the lookout for it. I also told Coach Anders at St. Stephen’s to watch for it, just in case I lost it on the field. I searched the field and the track myself but found nothing. One of the blackmailers must have picked it up. That’s the only explanation.“
”Okay. I’ll call Dr. Felder tomorrow and try to verify that.“
Two days ago, Chief Logan wouldn’t have had to make such a call. My word would have been enough. ”I can’t believe this,“ I murmur.
”What?“
”That Cyrus is dead. I needed him alive to save Drew. I needed a confession from that son of a bitch. I mean, DNA might prove that Cyrus had sex with Kate, but it can’t prove he killed her. It can’t even prove he
The chief’s gaze is not without sympathy. ”Don’t give up hope yet.“
”Why not? Have you found a witness?“
Logan’s eyes shine with knowledge I can’t read. ”Cyrus was hit five times,“ he says. ”That’s what two witnesses told my detectives. But when my patrolmen responded to the 911 call, they didn’t find his body.“
”There was nothing but some blood where the witnesses said he fell.“
I stare at Logan in disbelief. ”Do you think the wits lied to you? I mean…Christ, was Cyrus really shot at all? Could the whole thing have been staged to make us believe he’s dead?“
”This is real life, Penn. Forget that TV shit. The girl Cyrus was in bed with made the 911 call, and she’s not part of his crew. She’s a white girl from Morgantown. On the 911 tape you can hear a black guy screaming at the girl to hang up, then the phone goes dead. I doubt Cyrus’s guys would even have called 911. Anyway, the girl told us Cyrus was wearing a bulletproof vest. His homeys confirmed that he owns one. Kevlar with ceramic inserts.“
I’m trying to visualize the scene. ”Even if that’s true, why would Cyrus be wearing it in his bedroom?“
”Expecting a hit, maybe? Cyrus heard about Sonny and got scared?“
The prospect of Cyrus alive and breathing has me wired with excitement. ”Have you covered all the hospitals? Of course you have. I don’t know-“
”Penn,“ the chief cuts in.
”What?“
”I’m going to interrogate Drew. Right now. I’m assuming you want to be present?“
Suddenly, and for the first time, I view Don Logan as a potential enemy. ”Don, Drew was in your custody while these shootings occurred. I think we’d better wait until-“
”I’m going in there,“ Logan says in a voice edged with steel. ”You can take it up with the Supreme Court later, but right now I’m going to do what I have to do. I’ve been more than fair with Drew, but he hasn’t reciprocated. And I’ve had enough of people getting hurt and killed in my town. Kids are dying, and Drew knows more than he’s saying. More than he’s saying to me, anyway.“
I hold up my hands in supplication. ”Let me call his attorney first. That’s all I ask.“
