Josh Lanyon - The Mermaid Murders

“Yes.”

“Good. Keep me informed.” Kennedy disconnected.

Keep me informed . Jason grimaced. Well, that would be one of them being kept informed.

Chapter Nineteen

The next time Kennedy phoned it was after two in the afternoon.

Jason was in their temporary office, eating a late lunch and once again poring over the crime scene photos from the original Huntsman investigation when his phone rang.

He swallowed a bite of dried-out turkey club and said, “West.”

“We’re on our way back to Kingsfield,” Kennedy said. “The Davies girl isn’t going to be able to tell us anything.”

“She hasn’t regained consciousness yet?”

“She regained consciousness. But she was hit from behind. Boston has a two-man protection detail on her hospital room until she’s released tomorrow. Then she’s flying out to stay with an aunt in Colorado.”

“Damn. She didn’t see anything ? She didn’t hear anything? Nothing?”

“No. There’s a possibility a stun gun was used to—”

“A stun gun. You mean a taser —?”

Kennedy continued, “Before you rush out to read Boxner his rights, if she was tasered, it was through her swimsuit, and there are no discernible marks.”

“So somebody knew what he was doing when he zapped her. That’s all that means. What about Rebecca? Her swimsuit was skimpier. Marks might have shown on her body.”

“I’ve already checked with the medical examiner, and there were plenty of abrasions but nothing to indicate she was tasered.”

“Okay, but then that fits in because I don’t think the killer wanted Candy dead.”

“West—”

Jason rose and closed the door to the office. He kept his voice down as he said, “I think we were meant to find Candy. That’s why she was put back in the same place as Rebecca. Because Boxner was right about that. It didn’t make sense to use the same dumping ground twice.”

“Let’s discuss this when I get back.”

“All right. But I’ve been going over the crime scene photos again. And I agree with you. We’re not dealing with a copycat. I think Candy was taken to make it look like Rebecca was the victim of a copycat killer. This case is all about Rebecca. She’s the key.”

“West.” Kennedy sounded as cold as he had on the day of their first meeting. “We will discuss this when I get back.”

“ Wait . Will you just hear me out? I know you don’t believe Boxner could be involved, but you can’t argue with the fact that he was on the scene. He was there . And he’s got access to those old files and the old evidence.”

Kennedy’s faraway voice said, “Can we pull over for a minute?” And then in Jason’s ear, a terse, “Hold on.”

Jason held on. He heard a door slam, heard what sounded like footsteps on gravel, and then Kennedy’s voice came on loud and clear.

“What part of leave it alone do you not get, West? Goddamn it. I am telling you leave it alone .”

“Leave what alone? The investigation we’re supposed to be working together ? Aren’t you the guy who said we needed to keep open minds?”

“You’re not keeping an open mind! You’re obsessed with proving Boxner guilty.”

That stung. “The hell. I’m not obsessed . This isn’t personal.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. The hell it isn’t. You need to take a step back, Agent West. A big step back. Do you realize what’s going to happen to this investigation if you start accusing members of Kingsfield PD? Do you comprehend what’s going to happen to both of us if you make these allegations without—”

“What if I can find physical proof?”

“ What physical proof?”

“Proof that the mermaid I found next to Candy originally belonged to Honey.”

Kennedy said very quietly, “What exactly are you saying?”

“When I picked up that charm, I recognized it.”

Why that would make Kennedy all the angrier, Jason wasn’t sure, but he could hear the effort he was making to keep his tone even. “How would that be possible?”

“It would be possible for someone who had access to the evidence room.”

“No. I mean how could you possibly, after sixteen years, remember a trinket from a keychain?”

“I…just do.”

“For the love of God. A hunch is not proo—”

“I’ll get proof,” Jason repeated.

“ How ?”

“I just told you. The evidence room. I can go through Honey’s effects. That mermaid charm should still be there. If it’s not, then someone took it to plant it on Candy’s body in order to make it look like either the Huntsman or an unidentified accomplice had returned. Or that Kingsfield had a copycat on its hands.”

There was a silence on the other end.

“Negative,” Kennedy said. “Do not request access to the evidence room.”

Jason heard it with disbelief. “Why?”

“Because every cop in Worcester County will hear about it within the hour. And every cop in Worcester County will put two and two together and conclude that we’re questioning the integrity of this investigation. That we suspect the involvement of local law enforcement.”

“That’s bullshit, Kennedy. And you know it. I could have any number of reasons for requesting access to the evidence room. No one is going to instantly assume—”

“You think Boxner isn’t going to wonder what the hell you’re up to? And if he is your guy, he’ll know immediately what you’re looking for. Right?”

“Well, according to you he isn’t my guy, so that shouldn’t be a worry.”

“Goddamn it, West. I am telling you to back off. You are to wait to do anything until I get back to Kingsfield, and then we’ll decide together on the best course of action. That is an order. The situation there is a lot more delicate than you understand.”

“An order?” Jason repeated politely.

“I’m the senior fucking officer on this case and yes, you’re goddamn right; I’m ordering you to back off. Do you understand?”

“Oh, I understand,” Jason said.

I understand that you think an order should be enough and you don’t have to explain yourself. I understand that you’ve treated me like your errand boy—when not a downright nuisance—throughout this entire investigation. I understand that you believe if you’re not here to tell me what to do and when to do it, I’ll jeopardize both the investigation and your job. I understand that you trust no one. Particularly not me. And, by the way, I understand you’re not my boss and can’t actually give me orders, you asshole.

“Defy me and I’ll break you.” Kennedy clicked off.

“ And I’ll break you ?” Jason stared at his phone in disbelief. “Did you just—? Did you—? Who the fuck do you think you are, Kennedy? You’ll break me?”

Jesus Christ. No wonder Manning wanted Kennedy’s head on a platter. The only surprise was that everyone Kennedy had ever met wasn’t ordering off that same menu.

It had been a long time since Jason had been this mad. So mad that he was standing in an empty office ranting to himself. In fact, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever been this angry in his entire life.

“You’ll break me. Wow. You are something else, Kennedy. Just be glad I’m not interested in breaking you , you asshole.”

He took a couple of calming breaths, plastered a pleasant smile on his face, and went to find Officer Courtney.

“Sorry to interrupt. What’s the protocol for the evidence room?”

“Oh! Well, biological samples are stored at State. We don’t have the facilities here. Guns, money, and narcotics are kept in a locker, and only the chief has the key. All other physical evidence is kept in the property room.”