I looked over at Bobby, currently having his own frantic phone call. Hopefully with a lawyer. He had one arm around Jade’s shoulders while she bounced Molly on her hip. She’d rushed home after he’d called and told her what happened.
“He’s not under arrest yet,” Tate said warily. “But there was enough for the search warrants.”
“My friend is not a murderer,” I hissed.
A few of the evidence technicians glanced over at me, faces hidden behind their goggles and masks.
“Reece…” Tate sighed.
He couldn’t be. Bobby was kind and gentle and stopped to help turtles cross the road. He’d cried when he accidentally stepped on a snail when we were seven.
He’d cried the day he married Jade, too, and again when Molly was born. He’d held her so gently, so tenderly, like all of a sudden the whole world rested in the palm of his hand, and he couldn’t do anything but stare at her in awe.
Bobby was there for me on my lowest fucking days, when the Thing squatting on my shoulders told me I didn’t deserve his friendship anymore because I could never be a good enough friend in return.
It wasn’t him. It couldn’t be him.
“What about tonight? Why couldn’t you have waited, huh? What if Charlie remembers something important? Something that could change everything?”
“I still want to hear what Charlie remembers, but that was thirty-nine years ago. He may not be able to remember anything at all, and I couldn’t keep ignoring the evidence we have for the most recent murders.”
“What evidence?”
“You’re not the only one who’s seen his truck in the area. Janine logged it, too. She also logged a camo-colored ATV driving on restricted park trails near her tower the day before she disappeared.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Well, that’s… I mean, that doesn’t mean anything, though. Just because he was nearby?—”
“The ATV is new, Reece,” he said, frustrated. “There’s no evidence of transportation in the first six murders. The FBI profilers say the first guy wouldn’t change how he kills—he liked it too much. Everything points to it being a different suspect. I know you don’t want this to be your friend. I know you want to make it right for Charlie. And maybe he will have somethingimportant to say, maybe not. But I can’t tip the scales of justice for you in the meantime.”
“You’re an asshole, Tate. A real fucking asshole.”
His voice hardened. “I’m trying to do my goddamn job and hold the right people accountable. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t defend a past injustice and hate me for pursuing the person who should be held responsible in the same breath.”
“Bobby isn’t the one responsible!”
Tate sighed. “I’m not going to argue with you anymore. Wait for my call, okay? I’ve gotta go.”
He hung up, leaving me ready to throttle someone.
Fuck him, and fuck his justice. Too many people I loved had been hurt by it.
I turned just in time to see that Leonard and Joan had arrived.
“Reece,” Bobby said when I walked over. Frazzled, his attention snagged on every box carted out of his house. “We’ve gotta go meet with the lawyer. Are you good to drive home?”
“Yeah, of course. Is there anything you need? Anything I can do for you?”
He shook his head. “No. Mom’s going to take the baby for the night. I can’t think of anything else right now, but I’ll let you know if I do.”
“Sure. Okay. Whatever you need.” I turned to Leonard. “I’m not sure when I can get back out to the lookout, maybe a couple of days? I want to be here in case I can help.”
He patted me on the shoulder. “No problem at all. Just let me know when you need a ride back out. Hopefully, this is all over by then.”
Before I could go, Bobby grabbed my arm, eyes pleading. “I didn’t do this, Reece. Please believe me.”
I searched for a killer in his eyes, but all I found was my friend. “I know. I believe you.”
At least, I wantedto.
