Nod.
“I’m going to walk you to your car.”
Rebecca must have arrived early, sat in her car debating whether or not to go to class, because her old Hyundai was parked in one of the closest spaces to the front of the building.
“Ice those bruises. I’m going get this sorted for you. Zeke won’t hurt you again.”
Ivy waited for Rebecca to drive off before storming back inside.
Fuck you, Zeke. You and your father. ?
?Chapter 43
It took halfan hour to get the man in the backseat of Delaney’s car through processing. He again provided his name and DOB—Joshua Perry—but his prints weren’t in the system.
Vaughn let Delaney take care of this part, making Perry the cop’s collar, if he was actually responsible for the murders. Vaughn remained unconvinced. Either way, this was fine by him. Delaney deserved whatever credit was to be had. He’d been working his ass off.
But it was still their case.
During this entire process, Darnell hung back, saying nothing.
They put Joshua in Interview Room 2, let him sweat a little.
“I’ll talk to him with Darnell.” No argument from Delaney—he’d already gotten what he wanted. “In the meantime, let’s assume he is Joshua Perry. Delaney, look into his past. I want you to focus on his education. He said he got lost, right?”
“Yeah.”
“No phone on him?”
“No phone or wallet.”
“Okay, so I’ll ask him where he parked. If he gives up the location, head out there, see if you can find it. If you do and his phone is in his car, give it to Bowes.”
Delaney nodded.
“Darnell, I’ll do the talking, got it?”
Darnell grunted an affirmative.
“Okay, we’re going in. Delaney, make sure the camera’s recording.”
Vaughn Mirandized Perry the second he walked into the room. Asked the man three times if he understood. He said he did.
“Good. We’re going to start with the easy stuff. What’s your name?”
“Josh Perry. I told the—”
“What were you doing by the Cedar Ridge Preserve?”
“I was lost,” he said desperately. “It was dark, and I got lost.”
“What were you doing out there?”
“I just... I’m so tired, man.”
“What were you doing out there?” Vaughn asked again.
“I was playing this game. This... button game. And then the voice on the speaker says that I won, that I could go free. So I left. Got outta there.”
