All the Dark Places(86)
“Well, it got even better. I began stopping off at different local bars after work, and eventually, I saw you, having a drink with a man, who I recognized. Jay and I were in the same hockey league. Different teams, but I definitely had met him a time or two. Well, it was all easy after that. I made a point of getting to know him. After games, guys often went out for drinks. Jay and I got to be friends. I hesitated when I found out that he was a psychologist. Didn’t want him looking into my psyche, but it was a challenge too. Made things a little more interesting actually. One night, he let slip that his grandfather had been a detective on the Boston Strangler case. I was fascinated. He didn’t like to talk about it too much, but after a few drinks, and some coaxing, he’d tell us stuff. He insisted he only described what had been released to the public. Jay was such a boy scout. Anyway, in no time, Jay and I were buds. You weren’t married yet, but I remember the first time I met you, I was blown away. This is Melinda Wright, I kept thinking. Wow. Anyway, you hit it off with Laken, and the rest is history.”
“Why did you kill that woman?”
He rubs his temples. “I don’t feel like talking about that right now.”
“How did Jay know it was you?”
“Later, maybe.”
“Were you calling me?”
“That was me.”
“Why did you bring me here?”
“Enough for now.” He stands and reaches inside a bag. “Drink before you dehydrate.” He twists the cap on a water bottle. “Oh, I’ve got cookies too. Oreos. Your favorite.”
He sets the bottle on the floor. Suddenly, I’m filled with rage and hit him as hard as I can with my left fist, but I only clip the side of his leg. He grabs me by the shoulders and knocks my head against the wall and bursts of light float before my eyes.
“Don’t do that again, Melinda.” He kicks the water over, and I grab for it before it all spills out. “I’ll be back later.”
CHAPTER 67
Rita
JOE AND I ARE GATHERING OUR NOTES WHEN JOSH PEARSON IS ESCORTED into the room. His eyes are wild, and he’s biting his lips. “I wanted to tell you that I lied earlier,” he blurts out. “Don’t bother going to Walmart and Lowe’s. I wasn’t there.”
Just as I suspected. “Okay. Have a seat.”
He flops into a chair, runs his hand through his neat sandy hair. I pull my phone back out and hit record. “Say that again, Mr. Pearson.”
He does.
“You want to tell us where you were last night?” Joe asks, his hands clenched, his anger barely tamped below his words. Pearson has wasted our time, and that doesn’t sit well.
He heaves a deep breath. “I was driving out to the Cape to meet somebody.”
“Who?” Joe leans toward him.
“Laken Ferris.”
Interesting. “Why was that, Mr. Pearson?” I ask.
He hangs his head. “I was having an affair with her.” He glances up, meets my eyes. “But I broke it off.”
“Then why were you going to meet her?”
“She called me. She was upset. We just met at a coffee shop to talk. That’s it. But I couldn’t say that in front of my wife.” His eyes dart between Joe and me, begging us to believe him.
“What time was that?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “I left right after I dropped off my in-laws. Five-thirty, six maybe.”
Not long before Mrs. Bradley went missing. “What did she want to talk about?”
“Her husband.” He blows out a breath and drops his head in his hands.
“What about him?”
“They were having problems. That’s why she took the kids and left.” His gaze rests on the floor. “Cal’s been a bit of a bastard lately.”
“But you didn’t see or talk to Mrs. Bradley?”
“No.” His eyes widen. “I have no idea where she is. I swear.”
“Will Mrs. Ferris corroborate your story?” I ask.
“Yes. Call her, please. I’m not guilty of anything except being a cheating asshole.”
He’s more believable now than he’s been up to this point. “Okay. Cheating asshole it is. You mind waiting here with Agent Thorne while I give Mrs. Ferris a ring?”
“No.” He hangs his head, his gaze on the table.
*
Mrs. Ferris tearfully details the meeting at the coffee shop. So Pearson was on the Cape, over an hour away, when Mrs. Bradley went missing. We cut him loose, and Joe and I sit in my office away from the noise and bustle of the rest of the station.
“We can cross Mr. Pearson off our list,” I say.
“Yeah. That leaves us Mr. Ferris, Mr. Branch, and Mr. Westmore.”
I draw a deep breath, flip back through my notes. “Let’s put a tail on those guys. What do you think?”
“Good idea,” Joe says. “I’ll take care of it.” He heads out the door.
I make my way to the conference room and peruse the map on the wall where Lauren and Detective Schmitt are busy ex-ing off quadrants that have been cleared. Teams of officers have been searching in an ever-widening circle around the gas station, coordinating with FBI agents that Joe has called in to help.
Everything in here is under control, and I’m just stepping on toes, so I wander out to the small station lobby. It’s dark out. News trucks huddle under the streetlights. The reporters will want an update, and I hope the chief holds them off until we have some concrete news. As it is, phones are ringing nonstop throughout the building adding to the chaos.