“What’s your take on Buck?” he said.
Katie sat back and gathered her thoughts. “I’m in the middle.” It was the only way she could describe it.
“Meaning?”
“I think he’s telling the truth, but with the number of bodies and something clearly having gone on in the Collins family at the time, I think he knows more than he’s saying.”
“That doesn’t mean he’s lying about the rest.”
“I know.”
McGaven studied his partner. “Is it because he’s been in the military? His accident? Or something else?”
“I don’t know.”
“Fair answer. Then for now let’s go talk to his twin brother.”
The detectives arrived at the state prison in a little over an hour. It housed some the worst and most violent inmates in the state. Katie drove to the designated area for visitors, attorneys, and law enforcement, cut the engine and waited.
“What’s up?” said McGaven.
“Nothing.” She paused. “It’s so hard for me to forget Buck’s condition, and now we’re going to be visiting his twin brother—there’s no telling what conditionhe’sin after almost ten years inside.”
McGaven frowned and remained quiet for a bit. “Crime has a way of destroying families.”
“Has he had any visitors?” she said.
“Not for over two years, according to the prison records. And then it was his attorney.”
“That’s terrible. No friends?”
McGaven shrugged. “I don’t know. No one that visited him anyway.”
“But he agreed to talk to us?”
“Yep.”
Katie thought about the best way to approach David Young. It might be best to begin with what they wanted to know.
“I think you should take point,” McGaven said. “You seem to have caught a liking for his brother.”
“That doesn’t mean he’s going to open up to me.”
“No, but let’s see what happens.”
“I’m hoping he might shed some light on our case. We’ll see if he recalls that night Buck described.”
The detectives entered the prison, surrendered their guns in a lockbox, and received visitor badges. Going through security was like entering another world of high-tech. It made Katie uncomfortable waiting for each set of gates to open, and then close, behind them. Finally, they were escorted to an area where inmates met with their lawyers. There were four rooms—each with locks and extra guards both inside the room and at the door.
Katie glanced to McGaven and nodded. It was customary to check before going into a situation of seriousness that they both were on the same page. Their partnership was based on respect, loyalty, and the ability to always have each other’s back.
The loud snap of the lock and then the clunk of the slide lock before the door opened had an unnatural quality. Katie entered first, followed closely by McGaven and the guard. Everyone took their places. The guard at the door, McGaven on his feet, moving to different spots around the room, and Katie at the meeting table. It was like a play—everyone knew their positions.
No one spoke while they waited. It was unusual for Katie to be nervous before an interview, but this one was different. She felt she had a connection to the crime she didn’t usually.
The entry door shut and was secured. It was up to Katie now.
The man sitting on the other side of the table was not at all what she had imagined. He was medium build with bulky muscles, had tattoos on both arms that went up to his neck, was clean shaven with piercing dark eyes that watched Katie, notout of curiosity, but like a predator waiting for its prey. There was definitely a resemblance to Buck, but it was clear they were on opposite sides of the spectrum.
