“You know full well I can’t tell you details about the case, Congressman. The trail leaves off here at the farm and that’s where I intend to pick it up. Let’s please not make a scene about this.”
“Are you arresting him?” Molly asked, her green eyes wide in horror.
“Did he say that, Molly?” Ken said, easing up stiffly from his chair. “He just said he had questions. I’d have questions if I were in his shoes, but there’s nothing to worry about.”
“I don’t like this, Dad,” Xander said. “You’ve already answered all their questions. What’s really going on, Sheriff?”
Sheriff Duke tightened his jaw and sighed. “Someone killed a kid on your property, Ken. People want to see some progress on this case.”
“So you’re hauling in an innocent man to make your department look more effectual?” Rose couldn’t keep the words from flying from her lips, unhelpful as they might be.
“We’re narrowing down our suspect list,” Sheriff Duke said, his brow furrowing in irritation.
“Oh, Lord,” Molly wailed. “You can’t possibly think Ken killed Tommy.”
“Someone did, Molly.” Sheriff Duke took off his hat and ran his hand over the bald dome of his head in exasperation. “Should I bring Julianne in for questioning instead? Maybe Heath? They were only thirteen when Tommy disappeared, but you never know with kids anymore.”
“This is ridiculous,” Xander said, cutting off his mother before she gave the sheriff a piece of her mind for daring to insinuate her babies were involved. “Dad, that’s it. I don’t want you going in. Not without an attorney present. We’ll call Frank Hartman first. If the sheriff wants you to answer questions, let him arrest you. Otherwise,” Xander said, turning to face the barrel-chested man, “we’re done here.”
Sheriff Duke sighed and reached to his belt for his handcuffs. “Fine. Ken Eden, you’re under arrest for the murder of Thomas Wilder. Anything you say can and will be u—”
“Grandpa!” Joey yelled in alarm.
Everyone turned to look at Ken, whose face had drained of blood and looked an ashy white. His breathing was labored, his hand reaching out to steady himself on Xander’s shoulder.
“Ken? Are you okay?” Sheriff Duke asked.
“I can’t...” he gasped. “My h-heart...” he managed to say before losing consciousness and slipping to the porch with a dull thud.