Katie got behind the wheel and quickly rehashed the conversation. “I think he was telling the truth…”
“But left some things out,” said McGaven, securing his seatbelt.
“Look into his background. My instincts are telling me he’s not the manager, but someone who takes his orders from a manager.” She looked at her phone where the text message from Grand indicated the address for Trey Roberts. She frowned and sighed.
“What’s the matter?”
“I was hoping there would be an email from forensics or the medical examiner’s office.”
“Soon,” he said.
She nodded. “Let’s go pay Roberts a visit.”
TWENTY
Wednesday 1130 hours
The address for Trey Roberts was on the border of Pine Valley and River Flats. It was a rural area—if you wanted to get food or supplies then you would have to drive into Pine Valley. Katie made sure that they had enough fuel to get to Roberts’ house and back.
“I think the cell reception is going to be sketchy out here.”
“I don’t doubt it. That’s probably why I can’t get through to Roberts,” McGaven said, watching the landscape change until they were driving on an unpaved country road. “I remember a couple of calls I had out here on patrol. It’s on a borderline but we were still dispatched out here.”
Katie glanced at him. “And?”
“Lots of drinking and drugs… unruly partygoers.”
Katie smiled. “Do you miss patrol?”
“Sometimes. But for the most part absolutely not. It could be a pain and—boy—the paperwork if I ever had to draw my weapon or run a suspect down.” He shook his head.
“You wish you had a differentpartner?”
“You mean like Hamilton or Garcia?”
“I don’t know… just a different one.”
McGaven turned toward her. “What’s going on, Katie? Having some doubts?”
“No. It’s just that many detective partners don’t last more than a few years. Usually one of them wants to move into something else. I don’t want to stop you from pursuing another position at the department.”
“I’m going to only say this once, Detective Scott. I couldn’t imagine being partnered with anyone except you. We make sense. Besides, there’s never a dull moment on our cases.”
“That’s for sure.”
“Why, all of a sudden, are you concerned about my position at the sheriff’s department?”
“I want you to thrive and not get stuck with me,” she said.
McGaven laughed. “At the very beginning, I was asked if Iwantedto transfer to the detective division.”
“I see,” she said, raising her eyebrows. “So there wasn’t a huge line of people waiting to partner up with me?” She wasn’t surprised since she just showed up and didn’t ride patrol to begin with. It was obvious at the time there were officers who felt nepotism was a big factor in her position in the department.
“I’m not sure where all this is coming from, Katie, but I want to be here and I’ve always got your back.”
“Same here, partner.”
“And I don’t want to hear any more of this whining.”
