A Darkness Absolute (Casey Duncan #2)(102)

Now she brings me in without a word. We sit in that damned living room, and it’s like some kind of recurring nightmare where I keep looping back to the same place, with the same goal, making no progress. Like Dalton and that cat analogy. I keep trying to pet the cat, be the one person who treats it well in hopes I’ll break through.

“I need to know if Mathias is one of the council’s spies,” I begin.

She tenses.

“I’m not asking you to give me a list,” I say. “This is very specific and tied to the case.”

“Until our discussion the other night, Casey, I wasn’t aware that anyone acted in that capacity. Which sounds naive of me.”

I point at the radio. “That is the one method of communication with the council. Which means those messages go through you.”

“Yes, there are people who make reports, for various reasons. But I hear those, and I can honestly say that they aren’t spying on anyone.”

Like Anders, reporting on Dalton, which would seem like a backup account of police activity. The real purpose, of course, was to see where Dalton lied or hid acts of rebellion.

To Val, those reports would seem like simple checks on Dalton’s power. If we do have true spies, whatever secrets they impart must be in encoded in their message. And yes, even thinking that makes me wonder if I should join Brent in his cave, swapping conspiracy theories.

But I still ask, “Does Mathias submit a report?”

“Yes. He provides psychological evaluations. General reports give his opinion of the overall mental health of the community. Specific ones deal primarily with an individual’s propensity toward violence. That is his area of expertise, though, so it seemed proof that the council was indeed safeguarding citizens.”

“Seemed proof? You’re not so sure now?”

A pause. Then a quiet, “I’m not so sure of anything anymore.”

And that is, I suppose, the best I can hope for. That Val is questioning. But questioning isn’t the same as questing, trying to get answers, to take action. I’m not sure I can ever expect that from her.

“You said the specific ones deal primarily with violent tendencies. What else?”

“Various things. If Sheriff Dalton is having a problem with a citizen—one who seems particularly rebellious or difficult—council requests Mathias assess whether that person is a danger here or elsewhere.”

“Elsewhere?”

“Once they leave. Or, if the council decided to cut a difficult resident’s stay short, would that prove problematic.”

“And by problematic, you mean whether they’re an exposure risk.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s say they are. In that case, as with Diana, they might not let them leave early. But what if they were at the end of their term? What if Mathias decides they’d be an exposure risk?”

“All residents are monitored after they leave Rockton. If Dr. Atelier found them to be a threat, I would presume they are more strictly monitored.”

“Do you play any role in that monitoring? Receive feedback on how a resident is readjusting to life down south?”

She shakes her head. “Other areas of the council manage past residents.”

“One more question, completely off topic. How did Nicole’s brother die?”

She blinks. “Nicole’s brother?”

“I know he was taken by a cartel. I know he was tortured. Do we have any indication that captivity was involved?”

More confused looks.

“I know it sounds like a strange question,” I say. “But there is a point to it. Is there anything in the council’s report that would indicate whether his torture happened quickly or over a period of time?”

“I believe he was held and tortured for several days, which is why she faked a similar situation herself.”

“That’s all I need. Thank you.”

As I head for the front door, Val stays in the living room. I’m reaching for the doorknob when she says, “I know you are disappointed in me, Casey.”

She appears in the living room doorway.

“You expected more,” she says. “Better. I can only tell you that I need time. I am considering everything you said.”

“Okay.”

“You may also be disappointed because I haven’t apologized to Sheriff Dalton. Please remember, however, that I believed what the council told me, and therefore my response was appropriate.”

“So you feel you don’t owe him an apology. Sure. Nor does he owe you one for the way he insulted and belittled and patronized you in response. Oh, wait. He didn’t.”

“I—”

“You already had preconceptions about Eric. What the council said only endorsed them. But Eric didn’t mistreat you in return. So you can tell yourself you did nothing wrong, but the fact you feel the need to defend your decision proves you know better. For the record, though, he doesn’t want an apology. He just wants you to do your job.”

She lets me leave after that. Not a word of denial. Not one of acknowledgment either. She just lets me leave.

*

Dalton and I are in the clinic with Roger’s body. Mathias is there. Anders is not. Our deputy doesn’t have the acting skills for this. I’m not sure our sheriff does either, but he’s behind Mathias, sitting and observing, saying nothing.