Feeling as if she was nothing more than a chauffeur and not deserving of any police status, May set off for the Chestnut Hill police department.
She hoped she would have a chance to redeem herself during the interrogation, because so far, she’d proven ineffectual. Worse still, she’d embarrassed herself in front of two people who she knew wouldn’t forget in a hurry.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
May trailed behind as Kerry strode into the interview room at the Chestnut Hill police department. She still felt mortified at what had played out earlier, and how ineptly she’d acted in the moment. How humiliating that had been.
Adams was still searching the house, and when he’d finished, Owen was going to go and pick him up and bring him to the police department. There, the two of them would watch from the observation room. Kerry had decreed that May could join her for the questioning.
“You have local knowledge, too, after all,” she’d said kindly.
Personally, May couldn’t wait for Owen to join her. He was the one with the real local policing knowledge. And she needed moral support. She felt very much on the back foot here.
Her ear was still sore from the blow, her backside felt bruised, and she didn’t think that either of the McGees looked cooperative at all. Walking in, she saw that Callum was sitting next to his father, and she could see the family resemblance in their identical glares.
“Okay,” Kerry said briskly. “Gentlemen, I’m sorry I had to bring you in, but we have to have full answers to our questions, and at your house, I wasn’t getting them. Resisting an officer of the law unfortunately counted against you also, but at least it gave us cause to search your premises. Now, we’re going to allow you to sit together for now, but if we get further trouble from either of you, you’ll be separated and we’ll question you individually.”
She smiled at them smugly.
“You’re wasting your time again,” Callum scowled, but then he raised his eyes to May. “Besides, what are you doing here anyway? You’re the local sheriff. Isn’t this an FBI case?”
May had to stop herself from gasping aloud at that low blow.
Kerry gave him a quick, hard smile.
“FBI always cooperates with local police. Boots on the ground, you know? But anyway, we’re here to discuss you, not her. And I’d like to start by knowing more about your movements yesterday. We’re going to get straight on to how you accounted for your time, and if you can’t account for your time, you will be facing criminal charges.”
“I refuse to answer until I get a lawyer,” Callum said.
May had no doubt he and his father had been discussing this before they walked in.
“Your movements yesterday,” Kerry threatened.
“Not saying,” Callum snapped back.
May decided to intervene.
“Were you at school?” she asked. “I know you go to Chestnut Hill High. Were you there yesterday? If you were, you can say. You won’t get into trouble for it.”
“Yes, I was,” he said angrily.
“How do you get to school? Do you cycle? I think I’ve waved to you on your bike,” May said, memory suddenly helping her. Now she knew who the dark-haired man was that she’d seen on her patrols, whizzing through the school gates, usually late.
“I ride a bike, yes,” he agreed, clearly surprised by May’s personal knowledge of him, and remembering her wave.
Now Kerry was looking at her, astounded.
“So are you saying you cycled to school yesterday?” She quickly took over.
“Yes, I did.”
“And then home again?”
“Yes. I cycled home too.”
“What time did you arrive at school?” Kerry asked.
“After eight,” Callum said.