“Stop,” Cutler said. “Not another word out of you.”
“You’re not her lawyer,” Gus said. “You don’t get to tell her anything.”
“Ms. Brent,” Hayden said. “I can’t be here. I can’t stay here. I just came back so I could pack a few things. Can I do that?”
Hayden stepped off the porch and around her mother. She looked ready to collapse. I wanted to throw my arms around her and take her home with me. If what we believed about her father was true, the depths of betrayal Hayden must have felt … it was unconscionable.
“We need to let the deputies and Detective Ritter do their job,” I said to Hayden as I led her out of earshot of Bennett Cutler and her mother. “But yes. You’ll be able to pack a bag. I think it’s a good idea for you not to be in this house anymore.”
“She’s going to throw me out anyway. She’s completely taken his side. I don’t understand it. Why would she do that? How could she? I know what he did. How could it be anything else?”
“We’ll get to the bottom of it,” I said. I wanted to tell her everything would be all right. Though I knew it wouldn’t. How could it ever be again for this family?
“I don’t have a car,” she said. “I was borrowing my dad’s. I know they’re going to search it.”
“Where have you arranged to stay?” I asked.
“I have friends with an apartment near the community college. I’ve been taking a few classes. They said I could crash on the couch for a little while until I figure out what to do.”
“Okay. That’s a good idea. Let me talk to Detective Ritter and see if we can have one of the deputies go inside with you to pack your things. Wait here in the meantime.”
Sam flashed me a quick thumbs up as I led Hayden to the backseat of his cruiser. She could park herself there until I could get her away from here.
Bennett Cutler had pulled Erin away from the front door. She, Jamie, and Cutler huddled together on the other end of the driveway.
I walked in the front door. Gus stood in the living room barking orders to his deputies. Simmons had a desktop computer against the wall. It would be secured, bagged, and taken away today.
“Hayden wants to pack her things,” I said. “She can’t stay here tonight. Or maybe ever.”
“That woman is a menace,” Gus said. “The mother. How the hell could she treat her kid that way?”
“She’s in shock,” I said. “Her sister was murdered. We’re basically telling her that her whole life might have been a lie and she’s been harboring a killer. Took his name. Bore his child. I don’t know how anyone could handle that.”
“Yeah,” Gus said. “Deputy Linsky’s upstairs. She can work with Hayden about packing her things. I’m afraid we’re gonna have to take her laptop, too. It’s registered under her father’s name. It’s included in the warrant.”
“Hayden’s online activity might be relevant to all this, too. She understands that, I think. It sounds like she’s got a place to land, at least for now. I’d like to refer her to a social worker. I can call someone from the Silver Angels.”
“Good idea,” Gus said. “Let the experts help that poor kid out.” The Silver Angels were a local victim’s advocacy group.
“Experts,” I repeated. “I don’t know, Gus. Not even they have expertise in this mess.”
I heard a new commotion outside. Gus and I looked out the bay window at the same time.
“You gotta be kidding me,” he muttered.
A local news live truck pulled in alongside the curb.
“I better get out there,” I said. “I don’t want anyone sticking a camera in Hayden’s face.”
Sam beat me to it. He made a beeline for the truck. I wasn’t sure whether that would make things better or worse. Having the sheriff himself here at a search warrant wouldn’t do much to persuade any reporter that this wasn’t a newsworthy event.
“Sam,” I called out. He caught my eye. I grabbed one of the deputies as he was making his way back to the house.
“Drake,” I said. Deputy Pete Drake leaned in as I whispered to him. “I need you to as discreetly as possible take Hayden Simmons out of Sheriff Cruz’s car and put her into yours. Then get her out of here. Drive her around the block. I don’t care. I just don’t want her face appearing on any news stories tonight.”
“You got it, Ms. Brent,” Drake assured me. He headed for Hayden. By the time I got to Sam’s side, the reporter had stepped out. His cameraman was already recording.
“Sheriff Cruz,” the reporter said. He was new to the area. He identified himself as Rob Ellery, Channel Three. “Can you confirm that a new arrest has been made in the murder of Ellie Luke?”
