No Loose End by Slater Jack

Author:Slater, Jack
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-10-01T00:00:00+00:00

The door to the interview room swung open again almost five hours later, during which time Blake had passed through pretty much every stage of grief. She got hung up on anger for an unhealthy length of time. Depression hit while one of the department’s administrative staff entered and asked her if she wanted anything to eat or drink. She’d merely shaken her head and stared blankly back until the woman backtracked.

But now she had reached acceptance. This was happening, whether she liked it or not. Somebody was trying to frame her for the attempt on Aaron Weller’s life. Her theory that the killings of her parents, the Ventnors, and an unknown number of others were all connected was no longer just a hypothesis in her mind.

It was the truth.

And now she had to prove it.

Rogers and Crouch entered, as they had before. This time the SBI agent wasn’t carrying a folder for her to obsess over. His expression was pinched, almost angry. Some of the exhaustion she seen in Rogers’ eyes earlier was gone, though the captain still seemed weighed down by the day’s events.

Blake just waited for one of the two law enforcement officials to break the ice. She kept studying both carefully but said nothing.

“We contacted Amy Ventnor,” Rogers said as she sat down in front of her. “She confirmed your statement of events. According to her, she was pacing all night long. Kept stopping by the window and looking out onto the street. She’s certain she saw your car out front most of the night until you sped off to the hospital.”

Blake nodded, then turned her gaze on Crouch. “And the GPS data?”

When he said nothing, Rogers cut back in. “The location data confirms your story, too.”

“What about the Taser in my car?” Blake said flatly, still eyeing Crouch. “Is it missing any cartridges?”

Again, Rogers said, “No. They’re all there.”

“So I’m free to go?” Blake said, shifting her posture for the first time. The muscles in her lower half twinged from the sudden movement after so long seated in one place.

“You’re a person of interest in my investigation,” Crouch said.

“Understood,” Blake said. “Am I under arrest?”

He stared back at her for a long time, a muscle twitching on his left temple. Blake matched his gaze without blinking, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of besting her.

Crouch scowled as his eyes flicked toward the ground.

“Blake,” Rogers said softly. “I’m placing you on a leave of absence from the department. You will remain on full pay until we’ve cleared up this mess.”

Blake had suspected this would happen all afternoon. It was logical, and in Rogers’ shoes, she would probably have made the same choice. But the words nevertheless felt like a battering ram to her gut.

“You believe this shit, Captain?” she choked out.

“I believe in you, Blake. But I have to do my job. It would be best if you remained in Northern Pines for the time being. Can you do that?”

She gave a tight nod.

“What about the other thing?” Crouch said.

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