Alex Barclay - Time of Death

‘And there are other, private, circumstances in connection with Douglas Hammond that put me in a difficult position. I know that I have done nothing wrong, but me knowing and everyone else knowing is a different story.’

‘Why would that concern me?’

‘It doesn’t,’ said Ren. ‘But I’m sure your budget does.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘OK, I would like to help you,’ said Ren. ‘Genuinely. When I came into your office that first time-’

‘The time you weren’t actually breaking in.’

Ren paused. ‘Look, I knew instantly that I had fucked up. I walked in, I knew that you knew your shit and there was something about you that I liked. But I knew I couldn’t back out at that point. And because of everything else that was at stake, I knew I had to keep going with my plan. I am not a person who breaks into places and steals things,’ said Ren. ‘I would not have jeopardized my position for something that wasn’t important.’

‘How did you know I wouldn’t have gone to the authorities about the break-in?’

‘Because I knew you couldn’t have proved it was me.’

‘I could have innocently called…’ Hooks glanced at a Post-It on her desk, ‘Gary Dettling with “that information you were looking for”.’

‘And I could have come up with a reason why that information was relevant,’ said Ren. ‘The point is this. Two things — I know about budget cuts here and I know the cold-case unit is under threat. I also know that you love your job.’

‘Blackmail. I love it,’ said Hooks.

‘It’s not blackmail,’ said Ren. ‘It’s for our mutual benefit. I could stand back and let you at this case yourself and I have no doubt you would work it all out. But I’ve found something in that file that I think is crucial.’

‘Oh, me too,’ said Hooks, gesturing to a stack of files on the desk beside her. ‘That doesn’t mean I get to follow through.’

‘We have different set-ups,’ said Ren.

‘Yes,’ said Hooks, ‘if you wanted to go and search, let me see, the four locations I feel could have been used as burial grounds by various killers in these files here, you could just go right ahead.’

‘Not necessarily,’ said Ren. ‘But yes, I obviously have access to a lot more resources, which is exactly how I would like to help, here.’

‘Go ahead.’

‘I just need you to get me to run some DNA.’

‘So,’ said Hooks, ‘you are going to tell me something, I pretend I came up with it myself and I ask the FBI’s help to speed the sample through their lab…’

‘Yes.’

‘Why would I do that?’ said Janine.

‘Because if I’m right, the case will be closed. And that will help your track record. And support any budget campaigns. I think your track record is excellent, by the way, but a poor economy still screws talented people and the more you can do to promote your cause, the better. I’m not in any way trying to be patronizing. This is actually something practical we can both do.’

‘What did you find in the file?’ said Hooks.

‘I don’t know yet, but…’

Robbie was smiling at Ren when she walked into the office.

‘Good morning, smiley face,’ she said.

‘I got some good news for you,’ said Robbie.

‘Shoot.’

‘Now I feel bad calling it good news,’ said Robbie. ‘I mean, it is for you, just not for the other person.’

Ren looked at him patiently.

‘I took a call for you while you were out,’ said Robbie. ‘From Hunt Memorial Hospital in Nogales, Arizona. They’ve just roused Luke Sarvas from an induced coma. Almost every bone in his body is broken.’

‘Wow,’ said Ren. ‘What happened?’

‘He says he fell from the border wall.’

The wall along the Mexican border had been heightened over the years to deter jumpers. The problem was that it didn’t. It just meant a longer drop and more serious injuries.

‘He was obviously trying to get the hell out of Mexico and couldn’t do it the legal way,’ said Ren. ‘Now, why would that be?’

‘Would I be right in saying you’re on a flight to Nogales to find out?’

‘You sure are…’ Ren paused. ‘What about his brother? Michael Sarvas?’

Robbie shook her head. ‘Unfortunately, there’s no word of him. Luke was alone.’

Gary stuck his head into the office ‘Ren, Glenn Buddy’s just shown up. He’s in the conference room.’

Please let it be more good news.

Glenn stood up when she walked in. His face was blank. But his eyes were hiding something. And whatever it was was not good.

‘You’ve been to Breckenridge, right?’ said Glenn Buddy.

‘Yes, last year,’ said Ren, sitting down. ‘Why do you ask?’

‘Why were you there?’

Hello? ‘You know why I was there,’ said Ren. ‘I was on the Jean Transom case.’

‘Did you know Douglas Hammond was also in Breckenridge last year?’

‘I’m sure a lot of people were,’ said Ren.

‘Do you know the Friends of Breckenridge?’

‘No.’ But I bet a woman in a hand-knit sweater came up with the name.

‘Hammond and his friends set it up. Anyway, they went there every year, some of them twice a year, some just came for ski season. There was always a group of them for summer and winter every year. They celebrated their fortieth anniversary President’s Day weekend last year.’

Good for them. ‘OK…’

‘Were you in Breckenridge at that time?’

‘I was.’ Ren paused. ‘Please don’t tell me you’re exploring some connection here…’ What the hell is going on?

‘I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt, so allow me to ask a few questions. I’m just looking at your links to Hammond.’

‘What links?’ said Ren. ‘There are none. It’s a coincidence, that’s all.’

‘Jesus, Ren…I’m going to come right out with it. What were you doing with Judge Hammond the night he died?’

Glenn Buddy’s expression was exhaustion edged with fear.

Ren let out a breath. ‘Hammond approached me in Gaffney’s one evening. He said he wanted to meet with me.’

Glenn slumped back in his chair. ‘Why did you not tell anyone this?’

‘I…he asked me not to.’ Lame.

Glenn’s look told her that he agreed.

‘I didn’t know that he was going to die,’ said Ren. ‘So, in my head, I was having a — yes, secret — meeting with Judge Douglas Hammond, but that was it.’

‘Right…’ said Glenn. ‘And where was this meeting to take place?’

‘In a rest-stop between Hiwan Country Club and his house.’

‘And this seemed totally normal to you?’

‘Of course not,’ said Ren. ‘But I knew it must have been something important.’

‘What did you think it was going to be about?’ said Glenn.

‘I…don’t know,’ said Ren.

‘And what did he say?’

‘Not a lot. I know none of this sounds good for me. I acknowledge that, but to be honest, I was at a loss as to what his point was. The best way I can put it is it was like he invited me over to tell me something, then changed his mind once I got there.’

‘Could there have been something…sexual involved?’

‘What?’ said Ren. ‘With me?’

Glenn nodded. ‘Yeah: like, was he hitting on you?’

‘God, no. No. He seemed afraid. There was something not quite right.’

‘Then why didn’t you-’

‘It wasn’t a “you’re going to die” bad feeling. Just that something was off.’

‘Could he have been drunk?’

‘Well, your tox reports will answer that. I smelled alcohol on his breath, but I wouldn’t say he was drunk.’

‘Had you met Hammond before?’