A Profiler's Case for Seduction(34)

“We’re not looking for a killer named karma,” Mark replied drily. “It was a real person who strangled the senator and the others.”

“And speaking of the others, we also understand that you had quite a few run-ins with Sheriff Burris.”

Once again Troy’s features darkened. “That man was a bully who liked pushing people around and he seemed to take special pleasure pushing me. I’m the only person in town who got a ticket for spitting on the sidewalk. Now, do you really think I’m the only cowboy in this one-horse town who ever spit on the sidewalk?” His outrage was showing. His face flushed with color and he was no longer slumping into the sofa but rather sat up straight, shoulders tensed.

He gazed first at Richard and then at Mark. “You two think I had something to do with those murders? Anyone in town will tell you I hated both of them. They’ll also tell you I’m a drunk, a loudmouthed blowhard, but I’m not a killer.”

“Did you know David Reed?” Mark asked. Instantly Troy’s shoulder grew more rigid and the flush on his face deepened.

Troy swiped a hand down his jaw, suddenly looking far older than his years. “I’m not going to lie to you. You’re probably going to hear about it around town anyway. It was all the gossip when it happened. Yeah, I knew him. He’s the reason my wife left me.”

A person of interest with personal ties to all three victims. It wasn’t looking good for blowhard Troy Young, Mark thought. “What do you mean he’s why your wife left you?” Mark asked.

Troy released a deep sigh and once again slumped back against the sofa cushions, a beaten man. “Mr. Slick sports writer seduced her. They had a brief affair and Kathy was stupid enough to think she actually meant something to him. Two months ago she told me I couldn’t give her the things she wanted in life and she moved into an apartment in town.” He frowned, as if suddenly aware of his precarious position in the investigation. “I’m in trouble, aren’t I?”

“Where were you in the twenty-four-hour period that the murders took place?” Mark asked.

“It’s been almost a month ago. Hell, I’d have to think about it, and I think I’m done talking to you now.” He got up from the sofa and walked to the front door, opening it and looking at them both expectantly.

Richard turned off the tape recorder and tucked it back in his pocket and then together he and Mark left the house and headed back to their car.

“What do you think?” Richard asked once they were on the road back to the courthouse in the middle of town. “Gut instinct?”

Mark cast him a wry smile. “I must be hungry because my gut instinct isn’t talking to me right now. He has motive to kill all of them. It’s probably going to be difficult for him to provide an alibi for the entire time in question, but somehow I don’t think he’s bright enough to pull something like this off.”

“The team is going to love him.”

Mark stared out the passenger window, his thoughts going in all directions. The memory of his nightmare about Melinda suddenly chilled him.

Was it time for him to let go of his idea that she somehow had a finger in the deaths? Had they found their guilty party and all they needed to do was get him under arrest...case closed?

* * *

At exactly eight o’clock Dora closed the bookstore and stepped outside to see Mark standing nearby. Relief mingled with pleasure at the sight of him. After the unexpected awkwardness of the night before she hadn’t been sure he’d really show up.

“Coffee?” he asked with a smile that warmed her from head to toe.

“Sounds perfect,” she replied, and fell into step next to him as they headed toward the nearby coffee shop.

“Good day?” he asked.

“The usual day. Classes and work, but yes, it was good. What about you?”

“We brought in a suspect late this afternoon. He’s being held for questioning in the murders.”

“Really? Who is it?”

“I mentioned him to you last night. Troy Young, whom we’ve now discovered had motive to want all three of the murdered men dead. We’ll hold him for as long as we can and in the meantime tonight several of the men are conducting a search warrant on his place.”

“Shouldn’t you be there?” she asked, immediately feeling guilty about taking him away from his work.

“Nah, they can do it without me,” he replied easily.