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“You guys are a riot,” Cassidy said. “I’m taking you into custody because there was a shooting and because nobody’s exactly sure what happened yet. I’d be remiss in my duties if I let a couple of strangers wander out of here, without even trying to figure out if they were who they said they were, if their guns had been used in any previous crimes, that kind of thing. Now, don’t get your feathers ruffled; I’m sure we can sort it all out in a day or so, and if you’re clear, we’ll send you on your way.” He waited a beat. And then he smiled.
Because, North knew, they wouldn’t be clear. An eyewitness to an old crime would miraculously appear and identify them. Or their guns would yield a ballistics match to an old case. Or, easiest of all, a pound of coke would be discovered inside the Focus. Twenty-four hours was a lot of time for a piece of shit like Cassidy to work.
“Now, we’re going to take you back to the cells,” Cassidy said, his smile growing. “And then maybe we can have a talk. A nice, long one. See, you know one of my old pals, and I’d love to hear what you can tell me about Emery.”
“Imagine an asshole with its own center of gravity,” North said, “and then give him a perfect life—this great guy for a husband, a couple of kickass kids, beautiful house, good job. You ask yourself, ‘What’d that asshole do in another existence to get all this stuff?’”
“He saved my life,” Shaw said. “But that was in a different lifetime, when we were both temple prostitutes in Corinth.”
Nobody said anything to that, but Deputy Bonilla did look a little wide eyed again.
“Oh wait,” Shaw said with a laugh. “He saved my life in this lifetime too! Remember, North? You were playing grab-ass, and Emery had to tackle me to—”
“I was not—” North began.
Before he could finish, though, the door to the station opened, and Emery stepped into the room. He looked exhausted, his already pale face washed out, amber eyes bruised with fatigue. He was still in the jeans and tee North had seen him wearing—when? Sometime the night before? John-Henry entered a moment later. He’d lost the uniform and wore a Wahredua PD polo not too different from Cassidy’s, and he looked, if possible, even more worn out than Emery—his golden complexion gray, his eyes bloodshot, a hint of blond stubble. Both men looked at North and Shaw and then at Cassidy. It reminded North of elementary school, his mom and dad showing up after North had gotten caught scrapping on the playground.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” North breathed as he sank into the seat, fighting the urge to cover his eyes.
“Let them go,” Emery said.
“Emery,” Cassidy said. He’d slapped on a smile, but it didn’t look right, and his eyes kept moving around the tiny station. “I didn’t expect you—”
“Chief Cassidy,” John-Henry said, “these men are currently employed by the Wahredua PD. I understand there was an incident. I’d love for you to debrief me, and then I’ve got to get these men back to work. We’re dealing with two high-profile murders, and I know you understand how valuable every minute is at the beginning of an investigation.”
His eyes shot to North again, and North heard the rest of it, what was left unsaid:Time I’ve lost driving an hour and a half across the state to pull your asses off the coals.
“Well, I don’t know—” Cassidy began.
“Then I’ll explain it to you,” Emery said with the ghost of a smile.
“Then I’ll call Lieutenant Mendez in the Highway Patrol,” John-Henry said firmly, “and you can tell him why you’re jamming me up.”
Cassidy’s gaze swung from one man to the other. His expression soured.
“All right,” he said as he yanked on North’s cuff. He unlocked it and let the bracelet fall away, then he repeated the move with Shaw. “Here you go. They’re persons of interest in a shooting, but that’s no big deal, I guess. Not for a couple of bigwigs like you.”
“And their vehicle,” Emery said when Cassidy stepped back.
“And our guns,” North said.
Emery shot him a look, but then he turned back to Cassidy and nodded.
“Those guns are potential evidence, but what do I know? You want ’em? Sure, have ’em. Leah, you’re seeing this, right?”
Deputy Bonilla didn’t say anything.
Cassidy returned with their guns, which Emery collected. He tossed the keys for the Focus at North, who snagged them out of the air.
“Anything else?” Cassidy asked. “Suppose they killed someone out there, and we haven’t found the bodies yet. You want me to bury them for you?”
Emery snorted as he inspected the guns and passed them back to North and Shaw.
“I’m curious to know if Eldoria PD has any idea who might have been shooting from the trees,” John-Henry said.
“Why don’t you ask them yourself?”
“I’m asking you.”
