Here and Gone(66)

He sat at the table while Mitchell messed with the video camera, and he realized what Abrahms had been doing with the laptop.

‘You going to send this down to the behavioral fella in Phoenix?’

‘That’s right,’ Mitchell said.

‘And exactly what kind of behavior will he be looking for?’

Mitchell came to the table, sat down, arranged her notebook and pen. ‘Oh, nothing in particular. Just routine. You understand.’

‘Sure, I understand. Did your behavioral fella have anything to say about your interviews with Mrs Kinney?’

‘Yes, his report came back this afternoon.’

‘And?’

‘Mrs Kinney believes what she’s saying.’

Whiteside was about to argue, but Mitchell raised a hand.

‘Please state your name and position, for the record.’

Whiteside held her stare. ‘My name is Ronald Whiteside, Elder County Sheriff. Mrs Kinney might believe this nonsense she’s talking, but even setting aside the physical evidence found in her car, you and I both know Mrs Kinney is batshit crazy.’

‘Mrs Kinney’s state of mind is open for debate, Sheriff, but she has been consistent in her version of events from the first time I questioned her.’

Whiteside gave Showalter a wink. ‘So she’s consistently crazy.’

Showalter smirked.

‘Let’s take this seriously, Sheriff,’ Mitchell said.

‘Oh, I’m taking it seriously, believe me. I’ve been taking it seriously since before you showed up, with your good suit and your camera. Now go on and ask whatever it is you need to ask, so I can get out of here.’

Mitchell turned to a fresh page in her notebook.

‘Where did you first encounter Mrs Kinney?’

‘In the parking lot at the general store out on the County Road, about five miles before the turn to Silver Water. I was sitting there in my cruiser, drinking coffee from my Thermos, when she pulled in. She got out of the car and looked all around. She noticed me, and that appeared to rattle her somewhat.’

‘How so?’

‘She was trying real hard to look casual, if you know what I mean. Look, I told you all this two days ago.’

‘Not on camera. So you felt she looked nervous at your presence.’

‘Right. Like she didn’t want to see a cop. So while she was in the store, I drove around the back, waited for her to come out and drive away. That way I could follow her and look for any problems with the car or how she was driving it. So happened the car was overloaded, so I pulled her in for that reason.’

‘And how was Mrs Kinney when you approached her?’

‘Skittish,’ Whiteside said. ‘Like a deer that knows you got your sight on it.’

‘And how was your manner?’

‘Polite, casual, friendly. Like I always am.’

He imagined the conversation, the woman in the driver’s seat, her hands on the wheel.

‘At that time, did you notice the booster seat in the rear of the car?’

He pictured it, empty.

‘Yes, I did.’

‘Didn’t you think it strange to see the booster seat, but no child?’

‘Not really,’ Whiteside said. ‘Plenty of times a parent goes out without their kids, they don’t take the seats out of the car.’

‘In a car with New York plates,’ Mitchell said. ‘You thought it was normal for someone to drive all the way from New York State with a child’s booster seat in the back, but no child.’

‘Not right at that second, but later, yes, I—’

‘Did you ask Mrs Kinney about the seat? Or the child or children that weren’t there?’

He shook his head. ‘No, I didn’t. No one mentioned children until after I put her in the cell back there. That’s when she asked me where they were.’

‘And what was your response?’

Whiteside tried to read her. Nothing. He wondered what cards she held.

‘I said, “What children?” She started to get worked up at that point, so I let her be for a while, hoping she’d calm down. When I came back later, we talked, and I explained there were no children in her car when I pulled her over. That’s when she assaulted me, as you saw on the CCTV footage. After that, I started enquiring with the authorities about these children. And that’s about when you invited yourself along.’

‘Where was Deputy Collins at this time?’

‘Out on patrol. She does a circuit of the town and the surrounding roads. Basic traffic stuff. Then she went home, as far as I know. She lives with her mother and her little boy out on Ridge Road. Will you be questioning Collins also?’

‘I haven’t been able to reach her,’ Mitchell said. ‘Any idea how I might get a hold of her?’

He looked at his wristwatch. ‘She’s off duty by now. Friday night. She’s relaxing with a beer or a glass of wine, if she’s got any sense. Could be she switched off her cell.’

Mitchell turned a page. ‘Let’s talk about Mrs Kinney’s version of events.’

‘Jesus,’ he said. ‘While we’re at it, let’s talk about how the moon landings were faked. Or how 9/11 was an inside job.’

Mitchell didn’t drop a beat. ‘Mrs Kinney is adamant that when you pulled her over, her children Sean and Louise were in the backseat. She says you spoke with them, including admonishing the boy to get back into the car. She also states that you radioed for Deputy Collins to come get the children, to keep them safe while you dealt with their mother. You helped Deputy Collins get the children into the back of her car and, once she drove away, that was the last she saw of them.’