Alex Barclay - Time of Death

‘If the system is run well, no one is ever deleted from the database,’ said Glenn. ‘Anyone who has ever had access to a building remains on the database.’

Ren nodded. ‘I know…’ She let out a breath. ‘I’m sorry, gentlemen, but for now, no, I cannot prove where I was.’ She stood up. ‘But I can sure as hell tell you where I wasn’t.’

Glenn stood up. ‘I’m sorry about this, guys. I have to do what I have to do.’ He nodded and left.

‘What the fuck was that all about?’ said Ren.

‘All I know,’ said Gary, ‘is that I feel like my office is your time-out space.’

‘Hey, you can’t blame me for this,’ said Ren, sitting down. ‘But when I came in, I thought he was talking about my details in the psych files. Phew.’

‘No, Ren…nothing as serious as that — just the details of you accessing a murder scene around the time a body was dumped…’

‘But I know I didn’t do that.’

‘With that rationale, you shouldn’t be worried about anyone knowing the contents of your psych file.’

‘My mind, you mean,’ said Ren. ‘“Denver PD — come on into my mind, you’re very welcome. Keep your hands inside the…” whatever that announcement is at the start of a rollercoaster ride.’

‘Beware of flying puke,’ said Gary.

‘That’s the one,’ said Ren. ‘OK, I’ll get back to work.’ She stood up. ‘That was all a little creepy…’

‘I would imagine it’s just one of those strange computer glitches. I’m sure Glenn Buddy feels the same way.’

Not from where I was sitting.

Colin was the only person in the office when Ren walked back in.

‘Here’s a weird one,’ said Ren. ‘Glenn Buddy just stopped by. My security pass was used to access the warehouse where Helen’s body was found.’

Colin looked up. ‘When?’

‘The night she disappeared.’

‘Since when do you have a security pass for there?’ said Colin.

‘Since the DNC,’ said Ren. ‘I had to go question some banjo players about “not wantin’ no black man in the White House”.’ Ugh.

Colin paused. ‘So…a year ago? And what’s been going on with the place since then?’

‘Nothing,’ said Ren. ‘It was closed up. In nine months, only one card has been used to access the property: mine.’

‘What?’

‘Gary thinks it’s probably just some computer glitch.’

‘You reckon?’ said Colin. ‘Do you not think it’s strange that it was your card used to access a crime scene. And that the victim was your friend?’ He went back to his computer.

Thanks for that. Ren felt a flash of fear. ‘But how would that work?’

‘Any number of ways,’ said Colin. ‘Someone literally has your card. Someone went in and accessed the computer at the warehouse…which, in fact, they couldn’t have done if your entry was the only one in nine months. So, the alternative is that someone hacked the system…’

But why?

Ren’s cell phone rang and her mother’s number flashed on the screen. She picked up.

Her mother was sobbing. ‘Oh, Ren…’

‘What? What is it?’ Ren stood up and ran to the conference room.

‘They came back and searched again,’ her mother said between sobs. ‘The police. And they found something. They found a T-shirt belonging to Louis Parry.’

‘Whoa,’ said Ren ‘What?’ She sat down at the table.

‘Yes!’

‘Where?’

‘In Beau’s room!’

‘What?’ said Ren. ‘When?’

‘They came back this morning. After I had just tidied everything back up from the last time.’

‘But I don’t get it,’ said Ren. ‘Where did they find it?’

‘In some hole he had cut into the headboard of his bed. It was under the covering of the headboard.’ Her mother cried harder. She was gasping for breath and when she finally caught it, she said. ‘What if…what if…?’

‘Mom, listen to me. I don’t know what the hell is going on there, but I am going to find out. You stay put, don’t do anything. Leave this with me. Where’s Dad?’

‘At tennis.’

‘Are you serious?’

‘There’s no need for him to be here, Ren. I’m fine. I can handle these things. Your father is not as strong. Tennis helps him unwind.’

‘For God’s sake, Mom, there is nothing wrong with needing emotional support. Why don’t you get Matt or Lauren to drive up there?’

‘I can’t ask Lauren to…with the pregnancy…and…’

‘Mom, she’s not ill,’ said Ren. ‘You know she’ll be wonderful. Just call her. She’ll be happy to drive up if Matt can’t.’

‘OK, OK.’

‘But don’t do anything else.’

‘I feel like marching right over there to the Parrys. If Rita Parry wasn’t so sick-’

‘Mom, stay where you are,’ said Ren. ‘When will Dad be back?’

‘In about an hour. I’m glad he wasn’t here to see all this…’

‘It’s not like it would hit him any harder than you.’

‘Can’t you come to Catskill or…or…something?’ ‘I can’t right now,’ said Ren. ‘But I will try and get to you as soon as I can. I promise.’

‘Thank you, Ren. This is…I thought losing Beau was the worst thing that could happen to us.’

‘No, having me was the worst thing that happened to us.’

Her mom laughed. ‘Thank you. Oh, Ren. My heart…’

‘Mine too. Look after yourself. Sit tight.’

Ren dialed Daryl Stroud’s direct line at Catskill PD. It took a while for someone to pick up.

‘Daryl?’

‘This is Detective Reed. Lieutenant Stroud is not in his office right now.’

When Caller ID attacks… ‘My name is Ren Bryce. I believe some of your detectives searched my parents’ home this morning? I just got off the phone to my devastated mother and she told me that you had found a T-shirt belonging to Louis Parry in my brother’s room.’

‘That’s correct, ma’am.’

‘And were you one of the detectives there at the time?’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

‘Well, you have made a huge mistake.’

‘I’m afraid not, ma’am,’ said Reed. ‘The T-shirt was where we were told it would be.’

‘By whom?’ Ren’s volume shot up.

‘A person who called in the tip.’

‘So this T-shirt,’ said Ren. ‘Would that be the one Louis Parry was wearing the day he went missing…’

Silence.

‘Yeah, I thought not.’

‘It was not that exact T-shirt,’ said Reed, ‘but it did belong to Louis Parry. We have photos of him wearing it. His family also identified it.’

‘Think about that for a second,’ said Ren. ‘What’s the scenario? My brother gives Louis a piano lesson, takes off his T-shirt and sends him home bare-chested? Or he asks Louis to ask his mom could he bring an extra T-shirt to piano class? Or, let me see, he jumps over seven garden fences and takes it from Louis Parry’s washing line…’

Silence.

‘What do you think, Detective?’ said Ren. ‘Seriously. Let me help you out, here: someone is setting my brother up. That cold-case deck hit Rikers with major publicity. So I’m guessing you have a sheriff, a mayor, up for re-election? You have a new cold-case department that needs a collar? Or someone somewhere has a personal vendetta against my family. Or maybe some sick fuck in your department did it-’

‘Or maybe your brother was a-’

‘Don’t you fucking dare,’ said Ren. ‘You are either ignorant enough not to notice that you are being played by one of your colleagues. Or you are ignorant enough to think you have the right man for this crime. Either way, you are a fool.’

She hung up. She stretched out her arms and laid her head down on the cool glass of the table. The door opened behind her.