Pelican Court (Cedar Cove #3)(68)

The female deputy returned. “Sheriff Davis will see you now.”

Roy followed her to the small office. Davis was sitting behind his desk, frowning at something on his computer screen, when Roy entered the room. Troy stood, and the two men exchanged handshakes. Roy took a seat and so did the sheriff.

“What can I do for you?” Troy Davis asked, leaning back in his chair, giving a relaxed impression.

Roy wasn’t deceived. The lawman was intensely interested in his visit. “Like I said when I called, I came to talk to you about the John Doe.”

“You know something I don’t?” Davis asked.

Roy considered the question. “I might.”

“Tell me.”

That, of course, was the reason Roy was here, although he probably wouldn’t share everything he knew, and where he’d gotten his information would remain with him. Davis understood and accepted that, although Roy knew he’d do his best to trick him into revealing his sources.

“During your investigation, did you run into the names Max Russell or Stewart Samuels, by any chance?” Roy asked. Those were the other two men who’d been with Dan Sherman and Bob Beldon in that patrol in Vietnam. Bob had told him how the four had become separated from their squad and stumbled into the village. Four men, four lives, each marked by that afternoon. Roy had located Samuels, who’d remained in the military and had a distinguished record of service. Of the four, he seemed the least affected by the events in Nam. Russell, however, had lived a troubled life after his release from the army. Like Beldon and Dan Sherman…

“I might have.” Davis leaned across his desk, nudging a stack of files that tilted precariously.

Roy was sure Davis couldn’t have heard about the men and had to be bluffing.

Davis riffled through the files until he found the one he wanted and flipped it open. Roy wasn’t surprised that Davis kept the John Doe case file close at hand. The sheriff leafed through it, then raised his eyes to meet Roy’s. “Are you going to tell me where you came up with these names?”

Roy grinned and slid down in his chair, crossing his arms. “No.” He had to protect Bob as much as possible. Even now, he couldn’t be sure of the extent of the other man’s involvement. He wanted to believe Beldon was an innocent bystander, but too many of the dots still didn’t connect.

The sheriff chuckled. “Why did I know you were going to say that?”

Roy didn’t bother to answer.

“Can you tell me why I have the sneaking suspicion either Max Russell or Stewart Samuels is going to be listed as a missing person?”

Making an effort not to look self-righteous, Roy shrugged.

“Help me out a little, if you would,” Troy muttered, turning to face his computer screen. “Can you at least give me a state?”

“I could do that, but I’d hate to see you miss out on the fun of the chase. You might want to start with Russell, though.”

Troy glanced up, frowning darkly.

“California,” Roy said.

“Not Florida?” The dead man’s false ID had given a Florida address. Davis looked surprised as he punched a few keys, stared at the screen and then peered over the top of his reading glasses. “Are you planning to tell me how you got Russell’s name?”

“No.”

Troy exhaled slowly. “This is our John Doe?”

Roy couldn’t be sure of that, but he had his suspicions. “Might be.”

Troy continued to study the screen. “When did you find all this out?”

Roy gave him a halfhearted smile. “A while back. I dug up what I could and now I’ve decided it’s time to bring you into the investigation.”

Davis snorted. “I appreciate that, but I wish you’d come to me sooner.”

Roy still wasn’t a hundred-percent sure he was doing the right thing, as far as Bob or Grace Sherman were concerned, but withholding material information put him at risk of committing a crime himself. In his view, everything revolved around what those four men had done in Vietnam.

Troy tapped his fingers on the desk. “Before I go making an idiot of myself, did you talk to anyone in California?”

“Like who?”

His gaze went back to the computer screen. He did some more typing and glanced at Roy again. “Hannah Russell,” he said. “Says here she’s the one who filed the missing person’s report.” He scrolled down. “Probably the wife.”

“Daughter,” Roy corrected.

“Did you talk to her?” Davis demanded. The friendly pretense was gone now.

“And step into the middle of your investigation, Sheriff?” he asked. “Would I do that?”

“I hope to hell not, but I thought I’d better ask.”

“She’s all yours,” he said. His purpose in making this visit had been achieved. He’d leave the rest in Sheriff Davis’s capable hands. “I don’t suppose you’d like to thank me.”

“No,” Davis barked. “I’d like to know how long you’ve been holding on to this information.”

That wasn’t a question Roy wanted to answer. He’d kept it to himself as long as he dared. If possible, he wanted to keep Dan Sherman’s family out of this.

“Any idea why our John Doe arrived in Cedar Cove carrying false identification?”