Oh boy. So much for my hopes this was just dumb luck as the news van happened to drive by.
“I’m afraid I can’t comment on anything like that yet,” Sam said. “For the moment, I’m going to have to ask you to move off. You’re in danger of impeding official law enforcement business, son.”
Son. It was a nice touch. Rob Ellery looked like his journalism degree might still have wet ink.
“We’re parked on a public street,” Ellery said. “I’m not breaking any laws.”
“Well,” Sam said, flashing his killer smile. “I’m asking you nicely.”
“I’m afraid I don’t care how nice you are, Sheriff. I have every right to be here. I have information that your office has received actionable leads on the murder of Ellie Luke. I’m giving you a chance to comment.”
“There will be no comment,” Sam said.
“Ms. Brent?” Ellery turned to me. “Would the prosecutor’s office care to comment?”
“Not at this time,” I said. “You’ll have to direct your questions to the acting prosecutor, Howard Jordan.”
Even as I said it, I felt myself wince. The last thing Hojo needed … that any of us needed … was having the office flooded with press requests on this case. Not yet. It was far too soon. Someone had leaked something. There was no other way this kid could have just fortuitously shown up here. Bennett Cutler had yet to march over here and get his face on camera. It led me to wonder whether he set this whole thing up.
Deputy Drake drove right behind the news truck and around the corner out of sight. I breathed a sigh of relief knowing Hayden, at least, was protected for the moment.
“Just keep rolling,” Ellery told his cameraman. Gus’s deputies were beginning to make their way out the front door, carrying items from the Simmons’s household. Cutler had stashed Jamie and Erin into his car. He had windows tinted dark enough their faces couldn’t be seen.
“Will you be making an arrest today?” Ellery asked.
“No comment,” Sam said. He put a hand on my shoulder and turned me away from the cameras.
“We need to go,” he whispered. “Gus can handle this. The kid can’t interview people who aren’t here.”
“Good point,” I said. “Only he’s about to watch us get into the same car together. You sure you want that?”
“We’re not the ones doing anything wrong,” Sam said. “You feel like sticking around for whatever show Simmons’s lawyer intends to put on?”
I climbed into the passenger seat. Thankfully, Sam had parked in such a way he wouldn’t be blocked getting out.
“I need to get back to the office,” I said. “I need to prepare Hojo for what’s about to happen. And you need to get with your press liaison and figure out some kind of statement.”
“This is getting away from us already,” Sam said as he made the turn away from Gulliver Street.
“It’s going to be national news,” I said. “All anybody’s going to have to do is run a picture of Ellie Luke next to one of her sister.”
“Yeah,” Sam said. “Dammit. Yeah.”
“Sam, I can’t have this case tried in the press. The minute that starts to happen, we’re sunk. No matter what Hayden found in that box. No matter what Gus finds in the house today.”
“We’ll get a handle on it,” he said.
I turned to him. “Great. You mind telling me how?”
7
It was after seven before I finally walked in the door. The heavenly scent of roasted meat went straight to my stomach. I realized I hadn’t eaten anything since half a cheese Danish from the pastry box Caro brought in this morning.
“My God,” I said. “Do I even have to use a plate or can I just stick a fork in the crock-pot?”
Kat stood at the sink, wiping it down with a red-and-white-checkered hand towel. “I mean I won’t stop you. But there’s gravy too.”
I leaned over the crock-pot. Kat had made a traditional pot roast with carrots, potatoes, and onions. I grabbed the fork next to the pot. The meat came apart.
