“So you have a day off tomorrow and can be here with your family,” Stella said. “That’s good.”
Banks nodded, noncommittal, looking down at the mug that he fiddled with in his hands.
“That’s a long drive to Rigby. How long does it take?”
“Varies. Depends on if you get behind a string of looky-loos on the pass. I figure an hour and a half.”
“And today?”
He looked up and met Stella’s gaze, a touch of belligerence returning to his posture and tone. “About that long. I stopped in Hightower. Told the sheriff about that already.” He glanced at McCoy as if to confirm.
McCoy nodded at him, an expression of what might be construed as encouragement on his face, the look he used to keep a person talking.
“I stopped at a bar and probably had too much to drink.” Burt’s nose reddened and his eyes welled. He swiped at his nose with the back of his hand. “I shoulda been here instead.”
At least that’s something you and your wife could agree on, Mattie thought.
She didn’t feel one bit sorry for him. People who shirked their parental responsibilities for the sake of alcohol would get little sympathy from her. Family should mean everything in the world to a person. It was a thing to be treasured.
“Which bar did you stop at?”
Burt’s eyes narrowed. “The Hornet’s Nest.”
Stella used a sympathetic tone to keep him going. “And what time did you get home?”
“Don’t know.” Burt paused, scratching his chin lightly and looking thoughtful. “I got here about the same time as the wife. Didn’t look at a clock. She was bent out of shape about Candace being gone and her inhaler being on the dresser. Upset way out of proportion.”
Mattie squirmed in place against the wall, trying to contain her anger. How can he belittle his wife’s concern, considering the fact that his daughter was found dead?
Looking up at her, Robo panted. Realizing that she was setting off his distress, she tried to relax. Her problem with claustrophobia kicked in, and she felt like the walls were closing in on her. She needed to get out of this room.
McCoy’s cell phone vibrated. “Excuse me,” he said, getting up from the table. He went to the door and stepped outside onto the porch, closing the door softly behind him. Mattie wished she could follow, but she wouldn’t leave Stella alone with Banks and no one as backup.
“Tell me what you think might have happened to Candace, Mr. Banks,” Stella said.
He stared at her for a long moment. “I have no freakin’ idea. That’s what I hope you can tell me.”
“I can assure you, we’ll do our best to find out.”
The sheriff came back inside, drawing everyone’s attention. “Do you need more time, Detective?”
“We’re done with what we need to do here tonight.”
“They’ve got Candace secure in the ambulance. We can take you and your wife to see her now.”
“I’ll tell Mrs. Banks,” Stella said, rising from her chair.
Relieved that she could go outdoors, where she could breathe, Mattie straightened, Robo rising to stand beside her. Making eye contact, McCoy moved his head toward the door, indicating he wanted to talk to her outside.
“Wait here for Detective LoSasso, Mr. Banks. We’ll leave momentarily,” McCoy said and then stepped outside, leading the way. With Robo beside her at heel, Mattie followed him a short distance from the house toward where they’d parked their vehicles.
“What have you found?” McCoy asked quietly.
Mattie summed up the evidence they’d gathered.
“Good work. Go ahead and clock out now. We’ll meet at the office at the regular time tomorrow.”
“I thought I’d take Robo back on the hill to search for Candace’s backpack.”
McCoy paused, thinking it over. “It makes more sense to do that during daylight. It won’t go anywhere tonight with the crime scene unit up there. I’ll post Deputy Garcia there to keep an eye on things so we can go over the scene one more time in the morning before we release it. Detective LoSasso will go to the autopsy early. Once we know exactly what we’re dealing with here, we’ll form a plan.”
Mattie hated to go home now. She felt an urgent need to be working, but McCoy was the boss. “All right. Call me back if you need me.”
“You’ve already put in extra time, Deputy. Get some rest tonight. If we’re dealing with a homicide, things will heat up during the next few days.”
Stella stepped out onto the porch, followed by Candace’s parents and Rosie Gonzales.
“Let’s all go in my vehicle,” McCoy said, hurrying to open the Grand Cherokee’s back door.
Juanita, still huddled over, leaned on her friend as Rosie ushered her to the Jeep and helped her get inside. Stella moved to the other side to get into the back seat, leaving the front passenger seat for Burt.
As Mattie loaded Robo into his compartment, she realized she’d dodged a bullet by being released to go home. The absolute last thing she wanted to see tonight was Juanita’s grief when she saw her dead child. She swallowed against the tightness in her throat and leaned forward to bury her face in Robo’s fur.
Chapter 6
Wearing cozy sweats and woolen slippers, Cole turned off the television and padded toward the kitchen. The kids and Mrs. Gibbs had gone to their rooms hours ago. When he’d last checked, Sophie was sound asleep with Belle on the bed beside her, and Angie was finishing up her homework. He assumed that by now, she would be asleep too.
Mrs. Gibbs had brought her own television from her daughter’s house in Denver, and she’d made it a habit to retire early to her room each evening. Cole suspected it was as much to allow him time to be alone with his kids as it was for her to have a break and some private time for herself.
The oak floor and spotless granite countertops gleamed when he flipped on the light. He hated to sully Mrs. Gibbs’s territory, but he needed a snack before he turned in for the night, and besides, he’d learned that she didn’t bat an eye at dishes left in the sink or footprints left on the floor. Though she kept the space clean, she never scolded him or the girls for living in it. In turn, he’d noticed they all pitched in and did their part to help out. Once again, he felt grateful for the gem he’d found as a housekeeper.
He opened the refrigerator door, leaning against it while he examined the leftovers. Before he could decide, his mind drifted to Mattie, and he stood staring at the food while cool air from inside the fridge washed over him.
He missed her. Last October, she’d rescued him from a killer who’d stalked him through the forest, and then she’d rescued him again when he had to tell the kids about it. She seemed to know the right way to explain the seriousness of his situation without terrifying them. Afterward, she’d visited his household often for dinner, and they’d all enjoyed it, even Mrs. Gibbs. But then, Mattie seemed to withdraw. Though she returned his phone calls, she made one excuse after another to decline his invitations. He’d given up after a while.
Maybe it was time to try again. He closed the refrigerator door, pulled his cell phone from his pocket, and texted: “If you’re still awake, give me a call.”
His cell phone rang just as he’d gone back to trying to decide what to eat. He checked caller ID.
“Hi, Mattie.”
“You’re up late.”
It was good to hear her voice. “I was about to have a snack before bed and decided to call you. It’s been a while since we checked in with each other.”