Watcher in the Woods (Rockton #4)(100)

“If you are coming to return me to that jail cell, I’d strongly suggest you speak to the council first,” he says. “In fact, they are quite eager to discuss my initial incarceration.”

“May I come in?” I ask.

He says nothing. Just keeps giving me that narrow-eyed stare, the door staying almost closed.

I lift the watch. “Is this yours?”

The door opens as he reaches for it. I withdraw it.

“May I come in, Phil?”

Phil pushes the door and turns, leaving me to follow him inside. I note his luggage, still by the door.

“How long has that been there?” I ask.

He looks from me to the bag.

“Has it been in that same spot since you arrived?” I ask.

“Yes, and before you ask, that is also where I stored my firearm. I misspoke when you asked whether it was secured. I had it in that bag, and the door was locked, so I considered it secure.”

I lift the watch box. “This was also in there?”

“Yes, it seems our killer is a thief as well.”

“Perhaps.”

His brows shoot up. “Perhaps? It doesn’t take a detective to deduce that, Casey.”

“No, which is the problem. Not being a detective, the answer seems obvious to you. As a detective, I know that this watch is only a link that must be investigated. A defense attorney could point out a dozen alternate ways this watch could have gotten into his client’s house.”

“Which is why we don’t have defense attorneys. Logically, it must be the same culprit, and that is all the council requires to take the suspect off your hands. I’m presuming it’s Roy? I heard the commotion, which would have led to the searching of his apartment. I spoke to the council earlier today, and they provided a very short list of suspects. Roy was at the top. Therefore, if I am correct, I believe we can close this case. He stole my gun and watch and then killed Marshal Garcia before returning my gun. Guilt and anxiety drove him to that bizarre outburst this afternoon. I will alert the council—”

“No, you will not. I’m still investigating.”

“That is a waste of time.”

“Is it? Your gun was used, Phil. You told me it was secured. You still had it in your possession, and it seems to be the murder weapon. Would you have wanted me going to the council with that? Telling them I’ve solved the case then?”

He says nothing.

“Yes,” I say. “If you don’t want me jumping to conclusions when you’re the suspect, then you can’t expect me to do it when someone else is.”

“I was never a viable suspect, Casey. You and Eric were playing games with me.”

“No, I believe Eric and I were simply participating in the game you began when you waved a gun at us. As for you not being a viable suspect, had you ever met Val?”

“Yes, but—”

“Would you have considered her a viable suspect?”

He opens his mouth. Shuts it.

“Yep,” I say. “Lesson one of life in Rockton: no one is who they seem to be. You can’t look at anyone and be sure they aren’t capable of murder. And you can’t look at anyone and be sure they are. So, let’s talk about your suitcase.”

*

Jen intercepts me when I leave the station. I wave for her to follow as I return to Roy’s. Dalton is still there, and I don’t want him stuck on guard duty much longer, not when I only have a few more things to check.

“It’s about Roy,” Jen says as she catches up.

“So I heard. I know you’ve said he’s caused trouble before, and I’d like to talk to you about that.”

She shakes her head. “If you’re looking for evidence that he’s your killer, I don’t have it. I’d have said something if I did. What I was talking about was the kind of bullshit you saw with his lynch mob. He’s a loudmouth and a bully, and he gets others riled up, but if he’d actually pulled Brady from his cell, he wouldn’t know what to do with him. He’d have just hoped someone else took over. He’s a talker, not a doer.”

“You might want to tell Mindy that.”

Jen’s voice drops, uncharacteristically subdued. “Yeah, that was . . . Fuck him. Just fuck him. No one deserves that crap, but Mindy especially. She’s a helluva lot nicer about turning assholes down than I am. She’s polite but firm, and she doesn’t take any bullshit. What Roy did . . . I’d go see Mindy, but Isabel’s hovering, and you know how well I get along with that bitch.”

I give Jen a look.

She rolls her eyes. “Oh, come on. To Isabel, bitch is a compliment. But back to Mindy. What Roy did was fucking bullshit, and if you don’t kick him out, then put him in a locked room with me and Mindy, and we’ll settle this. But . . .”

She lowers her voice again. “It could have been worse. I hate saying that, because God knows, every woman has heard that crap. He grabbed your ass? Be thankful that’s all he did. I don’t mean it like that. I mean that what I saw was typical Roy. Well, it’s what I’d expect from Roy if he snorted coke and lost his damn mind. He hurt her, and he humiliated her, and there’s no denying that but . . .”

“It was intended as a show of force and public humiliation. The act of a bully coward who wouldn’t actually carry out his threats.”