What was coming next was no surprise. After being escorted to an isolated area, two glove-wearing deputies waited to strip-search him. The first deputy asked, "Bailey, do you have anything on your person that is unauthorized or may cause an injury to us?"
"No, sir."
"Empty your pockets. Please shake out your hair."
"Not much to shake." Martin laughed, but the guards were stoic. He did what he was told.
Once the deputy observed his ears, nose, and mouth, the humiliation continued. "Please remove your pants and underwear and pass them to the deputy."
Martin resisted a comment about his mother always making him wear clean underwear.
"Lift your feet." The deputy inspected between Martin's toes. "Please lift your testicles and squat, coughing three times. You a vet?" Martin put on the orange uniform they handed him; when he spun, the deputy spotted the trident tattoo. "You're a SEAL?"
"Ten years, Navy. Eight of them a SEAL." He dressed in his jail uniform.
As he rounded the corner, another deputy called to him, "Bailey, your lawyer is here." The noon news flashed on the TV with his picture.
After explaining the charges against him and the details of the arraignment, the report continued, “Also in the courtroom was the daughter of Governor Reed. Dr. Elizabeth Reed turned her back on the defendant and burst into tears as Mr. Bailey was escorted from the room. Outside the courtroom..." The report played the statements from Cecile Dufour, Elizabeth Reed, and Kieran Chase.
Martin shook his head before being escorted to a small anteroom. After the report, he did not expect to find Kieran with his attorney. "The news reported my termination. I'm sorry."
His boss simmered. "You are a wingnut. What are you apologizing for?" Kieran snapped.
"For..." Martin sat. He'd followed the plan, and he had no idea what happened.
"Well?" Kieran held up his hands. A small noise suppressor was visible between Kieran's fingers. "Brynn sends her best through Ian." Martin gave a slow blink in response.
"Mr. Bailey, I need you to tell us what happened, unless what you’re going to tell me might incriminate yourself. Mr. Chase will need to leave in that case."
"No, Kieran can stay. I didn't kill those men. I just wanted Elizabeth’s letter back. The door was ajar. I heard a crash and went inside." He concisely told the story. "I was groggy as I made it to my feet. I spotted Dufour first, a shot to the head and chest. Then I spotted Reed. Same thing. Phone by his hand. A P228 was on the coffee table. Did you find my gun?"
"How long were you awake before the police arrested you?" Cordelia asked.
"Thirty seconds or so?"
"You were groggy, but you noted all that in thirty seconds? Your recall surprises me," she said.
Martin blinked. "Mrs. Snow, you are wearing a navy blue suit, size twelve. The skirt hits one inch below your knee. The shoes are navy patent leather with red soles. I believe they are Louboutins. You are right-handed. You are married, and your wedding ring is an antique piece. The pearls around your neck have a sapphire, pearl, and gold clasp. Your briefcase is worn. I suspect it means something to you. You are wearing gold and pearl stud earrings. Shall I go on?"
"Your weapon? It was not the gun the police found?"
"What kind of weapon were you carrying?" Kieran asked.
"My usual."
"Martin carries a Heckler & Koch Mark 23 United States Special Operations Command Version, with laser arming module and suppressor. It is an offensive weapon good in close quarter battle," Kieran answered like he was reading a manufacturer's brochure.
"Have you ever used a P228?" Cordelia asked.
"Nah, the HK came out in 1996. I made the teams in 2000. Always used that."
"One more time, have you ever owned a Sig P228? Think, Mr. Bailey.” Cordelia looked at her papers.
Martin paled. "Twenty years ago, my family bought me a P228 when I joined the Navy. I... I left it behind. Personal weapons are not allowed at boot camp. Shit, the last time I had it was in Elizabeth's car. She drove me home from a surprise going away party.”
"The last time you owned a P228 was twenty years ago. You left it with your girlfriend, the daughter of the deceased. The police will confirm it, but I would bet the gun that killed Reed and Dufour is that weapon. What happened next?"
Cordelia took him through the arrest, then questioned Martin on specifics. "You never touched the gun?"
