The Fallen (Amos Decker #4)(93)

“Only I didn’t. And if I killed everyone who was mean to me, I’d be deemed the world’s most prolific serial killer, because I’d have to murder pretty much everybody in this town.”

“And Lassiter knows about Swanson being up here. And she also knows about your ties to Tanner. And she dug up an old trespassing charge you made out against Toby Babbot. That means she knows that you have ties to all four victims. That puts you in pretty rarefied company, and also vaults you to the top of the suspect list.”

Jamison added, “And Lassiter has theories about how your relationships with all of them could have led to motives for murdering them. It does not look good at all, John.”

Baron took all this in and shrugged. “Well, it is what it is, I guess. It’s not like I can change any of it.”

Decker said, “But why did you lie about Costa? And now Babbot? You didn’t think the police would put it all together?”

“Maybe I didn’t,” conceded Baron. “This town has a police force, but I really thought in name only. They certainly couldn’t solve the murders of my parents, so why should I think they could competently solve anything else?”

“Lassiter has a hard-on for you because of her old man. When she was a little girl he lost his job at the textile mill, lost his house to the bank, and burned down the home of a banker while the man was still in it. He went to prison and never came out alive. So how much do you think she loves the Baron family?”

“Excuse me, but why should she be different from anyone else here?” retorted Baron.

Jamison stepped forward. “John, you are in deep trouble. Lassiter is building a case against you for four murders. We’re just trying to make you understand the gravity of the situation.”

“I’ve been in deep trouble for most of my life.”

“Not this deep,” said Decker. “You could get the death penalty.”

“I’ve actually had that ever since I was born here. It’s just a matter of time.”

“You really need to take this seriously,” snapped Jamison.

Baron stood. “And how exactly should I take it seriously?” he said, his eyes flashing dangerously in a way that neither of them had seen before. “If people have a hard-on for me like your friend said, then what does it matter what I do or what I don’t do? The result is inevitable. So now maybe you see why I drink so much.”

“Did you kill those people?” asked Decker.

Baron held Jamison’s gaze for a beat longer and then looked at Decker. “Well, if I had, it’s doubtful I would confess my guilt to the FBI.” He looked back at Jamison. “Do you think I killed them?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think. It matters what can be proved.”

“That’s such a pat response. Frankly, I expected better from you, Alex.”

Decker said, “Did you clear Swanson’s things out of the potting shed?”

Baron glanced at him.

Decker said, “We told you we found evidence of Swanson staying in the potting shed. And the drug paraphernalia there. Did you get rid of it?”

“I’m not sure I should answer that.”

“You’re going to have to at some point.”

“I think I’ll defer for now.”

“They’re going to search every inch of this place. Odds are very good they’re going to find something, including anything that you might have rehidden.”

“Do I need a lawyer?”

Lassiter had stepped into the front doorway right at that moment.

“Oh, I think you do, Mr. Baron.”

She held up a gun in a plastic evidence bag.





Chapter 53



BALLISTICS MATCHED THE gun found at Baron’s property to the bullets that killed Costa and Swanson,” said Decker.

He was sitting at the Mitchells’ kitchen table with Jamison.

“Lassiter just called me. She sounded the happiest I’ve ever heard her,” he added. “And they also found all of the drug stuff in the potting shed. They ran prints and matched it to Swanson. Baron obviously just left it there even after we told him about it.”

“So, Lassiter finally nails the Baron family,” said Jamison. “But do you believe he did it?”

“Anyone could have planted that gun there,” noted Decker. “And Lassiter found it pretty fast.”

“She never said where she found it.” noted Jamison.

“She told me later. It was in the gun room, in one of the glass cabinets with some of the other pistols.”

“So was he counting on the fact that hiding a gun among other guns was a smart idea?”

“Well, it didn’t turn out to be.”

“With all the grudges people here have against him, I don’t see how John gets a fair trial.”

“Hopefully he’ll lawyer up and they’ll probably end up changing venues for the trial.”

“What’s his story?” asked Jamison.

“That he knows nothing about the gun and doesn’t know where it came from.”

“Prints?”

“Lassiter said no. But it could have been wiped clean.”

“There are too many moving parts to this whole thing, Decker.”