“Can anyone confirm that? Was there roll call? Did you go straight to class?”
“I don’t understand. Why do you want to know?”
“Just answer the questions, please, Callum,” Kerry said.
“I got to school at about quarter past eight. I had History. We had a test in that class. I didn’t go straight to class. I went down to the locker room to get something I’d forgotten.”
“What did you forget?”
“My notebook.”
Kerry raised her perfectly groomed brows, as if assessing this answer.
“What time do you remember leaving school?”
“About ten past three. I remember because I looked at my watch.”
“And did you go home right away?”
Now Callum’s face darkened again. “I don’t have to answer.”
“What time did you arrive home?”
“I’ve told you enough,” he snapped. “I don’t have to tell you any more.”
“Do you ever use your dad’s car? I see it’s a pickup. There’s a good amount of trunk space there. Did you use it yesterday?”
“Not answering!” That question had struck home. His face was flushed red now, May saw.
“Tell me about your history with Shawna. Why did she file charges against you?”
“I won’t answer that. It was totally unfair!”
May realized they were getting back to the same situation they’d been at the beginning. And they didn’t yet have enough information to clear Callum in terms of his movements. The fact he was not willing to answer readily was definitely counting against him, she thought. Unfortunately, the window of time that remained outside of his school hours would have made it possible for him to grab Shawna.
And he wasn’t answering! Why not? What was he hiding?
“You’ve bullied my boy enough,” his father blustered. “He is not the killer. It’s totally obvious.”
Kerry now turned to him.
“We also need to piece together your movements. Where were you yesterday morning and yesterday afternoon, Mr. McGee? Can anyone confirm your whereabouts?”
“I won’t allow this!” Mr. McGee shouted. “We are both being wrongfully accused here. Go find someone who’s really guilty. I will not be bullied or trapped into answering, and I know how you police like to twist things. I demand we call our lawyer. Now. Before we say another word!”
May exchanged a glance with Kerry.
“Let’s step outside,” Kerry murmured.
May followed her out. Kerry closed the door behind her and then leaned back against it and exhaled slowly.
“He’s being very obstructive,” she said.
“He is,” May agreed.
Kerry nodded. “It’s highly suspicious that neither of them will properly account for their time. But we need more information. We don’t have enough yet.”
She sounded frustrated and May felt a surprising flash of sympathy. It was easy to forget, when up against Kerry’s competitive personality, that deep down she had her own insecurities.