‘Sort of.’
‘Ah, U.S. military,’ Dawes said. ‘Big macho man. What are you doing all the way out here?’
‘I retired.’
‘Retiring doesn’t usually mean travelling halfway across the world and ending up here.’
‘I wanted to see the world.’
‘Your standards have hit the ground floor if you’ve resorted to exploring Jameson. Especially harassing local women.’
‘I wasn’t harassing her.’
‘That’s not what she said.’
They knew nothing about the package she delivered, King thought. Kate had decided not to inform them of anything he had asked her.
‘She’s very reactionary,’ he said. ‘I simply knocked on her door to ask her something. She panicked.’
‘What did you ask her?’ Kitchener said.
King hesitated. It would not be wise to divulge anything he knew so far. A slip-up could lead to the location of the bodies in the metal-work factory. He wanted prying eyes as far away from there as possible. If they were discovered, things would turn serious very fast.
‘I was chatting to Billy earlier today…’ he started.
‘Post office Billy?’ Kitchener interrupted.
‘Are there multiple Billy’s in this town?’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘That’s a dumb question then.’
She gave him the evil eye. ‘Continue.’
‘We talked about a lot of things. He told me that Kate was a regular at his post office. He told me she was single. I thought I’d head over and introduce myself. That’s all.’
‘You realise how that might intimidate people?’ Dawes said. ‘Especially someone of your size.’
‘I do. But I was nothing but pleasant. I apologise if my actions were taken out of context.’
‘That’s a weird thing to do,’ Dawes said. ‘Knock on a total stranger’s door because one of the locals mentioned her.’
‘I’m sorry if you think that.’
‘I don’t know if I believe it.’
‘I couldn’t imagine why.’
‘It seems like there’s more to you than that,’ Kitchener said. ‘Where have you been staying?’
‘Last night I stayed at the motel. I don’t know what it’s called. The one on the left when you come into town.’
‘Where did you come from?’
‘I walked from Queensbridge.’
‘That’s a long walk.’
‘I stopped at Ale House. The pub near here.’
‘How late was this?’
‘Around midnight.’
‘Late to be walking through the woods,’ Dawes said.
‘I can handle myself.’
‘Did you run into anyone?’ Kitchener said.
‘Not a soul.’
She stood up from the table. ‘I think we’re done here. Ms Cooper seemed more spooked than scared for her safety. We’ll let you go, but we have to note that we brought you in. Give us five minutes to sort that out. Okay?’
‘Not a problem.’
‘Just to make her comfortable, please don’t go back there,’ Dawes said. ‘Makes this whole thing easier.’
‘Not a problem,’ King repeated. ‘I’ll be on my way soon anyway. I don’t like to spend too long in one place.’
Dawes nodded.
They shuffled out.
Silence.
King took the time to ponder over what he had so far. Two construction workers murdered by hitmen. A terrified local woman who had delivered a package to the post office and then panicked when questioned about it.
So far, that was it. Kate was the only lead he had, and the likelihood that she would open up to King about her experience was dangerously close to zero. It was a reluctant conclusion to come to, but he began to accept that there was not enough information he could acquire about the situation to achieve anything meaningful. Not without resorting to desperate measures.
It was time to move on.
He made up his mind to leave Jameson when the steel door of the interview room opened and a man stepped in. A police officer King had not seen before. His features were plain. Black slicked-back hair, a pale complexion and wider-than-usual eyes. His beady pupils flicked around the contents of the room, taking everything in. He sat down opposite King, where Dawes had previously sat.
Then everything changed.
CHAPTER 14
‘Afternoon, sir,’ the man said. His accent was strange. Australian, but slightly off. As if he were disguising his natural voice.
The breast pocket of his blue uniform was bare. No name badge.
‘Afternoon,’ King said. ‘Who are you?’
‘I’m Officer Brandt. I’ve just got a few questions for you.’
‘Okay.’
‘I’ve heard that you were picked up outside Kate Cooper’s house. Is that correct?’
‘Correct.’
‘May I ask what you were doing there?’
‘I already explained this to the other two.’
‘I’d like you to clarify it to me, please.’
‘Why?’
A scornful smile spread across Brandt’s face. King had never seen an expression so fake.
‘Just for procedure, sir.’
‘I stopped in to say hello.’
‘Is that it? Nothing else?’
‘That’s it.’
‘What were you doing at the post office earlier today?’
King kept his mouth shut. Something was off. Kitchener and Dawes had talked informally. They had said they were letting him go. Their general demeanour did not align with the man sitting across from him, who was re-iterating many of the same questions King had heard a minute earlier.
‘Hey!’ he roared. He screamed the word at the top of his lungs. It reverberated around the walls of the small room. Deafening. He was sure the entire station heard it.
Instantly, Officer Brandt panicked. His pale skin turned a shade paler. His eyes boggled in their sockets. Like a deer caught in headlights. He kicked his chair back in one visceral motion, wrenched the door open and disappeared from sight.
Gone in seconds.
King sat still, waiting for movement. It didn’t take long. He heard urgent footsteps in the hallway outside, from the opposite direction Brandt had fled. Then Kitchener and Dawes burst into the room. They knew something was awry. King could see it in their eyes.
‘What?’ Dawes said instantly.
‘Who just came in here?’ he said.
‘What are you talking about?’ Kitchener said.
‘One of your officers just tried to question me.’
The pair exchanged a glance.
‘We haven’t talked to any of the other officers since you got here,’ Dawes said.
‘Then who’s Brandt?’ King said.
The pair visibly froze.
‘What the fuck?’ Dawes said, his professional demeanour gone. ‘How do you know that name?’
‘A man just came into this room and started asking me questions you two had already asked. Said he was Officer Brandt. Seemed like he was doing his own investigation. He left when I caused a commotion.’
‘Brandt didn’t show up for work yesterday,’ Kitchener said. ‘We haven’t been able to get a hold of him since.’
‘Well, he’s here now.’
‘Why would he come back without showing his face?’
‘Oh, shit,’ Dawes said, coming to the realisation at the same time as King.
‘That wasn’t Brandt,’ they said in unison.
From the end of the hallway came the sound of a door slamming. It echoed through the station. An urgent noise. The sound of someone fleeing.
Kitchener went pale. ‘Stay here.’
She and Dawes turned and bolted out of the room. The steel door swung shut behind them. King heard it click closed. He stood up and reached for the handle, but it didn’t budge. Locked. He was trapped until someone came to get him.
Which would prove disastrous if Brandt’s imposter killed everyone in the station.