“Look at them, Mr. Hawkins.”
“I’m not and you can’t make me.”
But Decker had noticed the man glanced sideways at the photo of Abigail Richards and grimaced, almost looking like he might be sick to his stomach. Back then Decker had taken that as an indication of a guilty conscience.
But now?
“Give us a name, Mr. Hawkins,” Lancaster had said. “Of anyone you might have seen or met with tonight. Or who might have seen you. We can follow that up, and if it checks out, you’re a free man.”
Hawkins had never given a name. And as Decker focused his memory on that exact moment, he recalled seeing something on the man’s face that he hadn’t necessarily seen before.
Resignation.
“Hey, Decker!”
Decker looked over at the car that had pulled up beside him. The driver had rolled down the window and called out to him.
Decker mouthed a curse under his breath.
It was Blake Natty looking cocksure, as usual.
“I thought I made myself clear, Decker.”
“You’re going to have to explain that, Natty.”
Then he looked past Natty and was surprised to see Sally Brimmer in the passenger seat looking very uncomfortable.
Natty said, “I told you that you cannot investigate these cases.”
“No, you told me I couldn’t interfere withyourinvestigation.” Decker made a show of looking around. “Not seeing any interference. I’m just out for a stroll. How about you, Ms. Brimmer? You see any interference with a police investigation going on here?”
Brimmer looked like she wanted to melt into the car’s floorboards. She smiled weakly and said, “I’m not getting in the middle of this, guys.”
“Smart gal,” said Natty with a slick grin before turning back to Decker. “Maybe you should be that smart. I don’t want to have to lock you up.”
“I’m sure. I mean why would you want a federal lawsuit landing on the department like a nuclear bomb? Even all the brown-nosing you’ve done with the superintendent all these years wouldn’t be enough to save your butt.”
“You better watch yourself, smart-ass.”
“I do, Natty, every day of my life.”
“And you give me any more lip, your fat ass is going into a cell. Guaranteed.”
“Then you get a First Amendment lawsuit on top of the other one. I don’t think the department has enough lawyers to cover all that crap, and it would probably hit the national news pipeline.” Decker peered past him to look at Brimmer. “You do PR for the police. You care to wade into the middle ofthatone, Ms. Brimmer?”
She held up her hands in mock surrender and looked away.
Decker looked down at Natty’s ring hand and then over at Brimmer. “Wait a minute, Natty, aren’t you still married?”
Natty barked, “What’s it to you?” He glanced quickly at Brimmer. “What the hell are you insinuating? I’m…I’m just giving her a ride to…her apartment.”
Decker glanced at Brimmer again, who was staring out her window now. Then he made a show of checking his watch. It was nearly eight p.m.
“Well, tell Fran I said hello, when you get back from Brimmer’sapartment.”
“Stay out of my damn way, Decker, or youwillgo down.”
Natty hit the gas and the car sped off.
Decker stared after it and thought he saw Brimmer looking back at him through the rear glass. Though in the darkness, he couldn’t be sure.
Natty and Brimmer. Who saw that coming?