Walleye Junction (21 page)

“This is Montana. You can have all four seasons in a day.”

“Maybe we should quit our jobs and move somewhere warm.”

“I think we both love it here too much to leave.”

With all its lights on, the Crawley's house hovered over the valley like a spaceship. The first time she'd visited she'd thought it blended into the landscape. Now she wasn't so sure. It was out of scale. It was too much and yet it wasn't enough.

“I know what you mean,” she said, taking a moment to look north, where the storm clouds were massing. There was another lightning strike, but this one was closer. “It is beautiful up here.”

He put his hand to her lower back and guided her up the hill.

“This probably isn't the best time to commune with nature. We're going to get struck by lightning if we stay out here much longer.”

*   *   *

Ryan was waiting for them in the garage. They stood in the open door and watched hailstones pelt the parked cars. Ryan scrolled through some images of tire impressions on his tablet. He had to yell to be heard over the racket.

“We've got a match on the tire impressions from one of the bikes, but it's a popular brand so not exactly damning evidence. I've taken trace samples from the treads to see if there's anything specific that will tie it to the area where Philip Long was murdered.”

“Anything of interest in the house?” asked Macy.

“Nada. We've had a look at his laptop though,” said Ryan. “Turns out Daddy Crawley was into sugar.”

Aiden frowned. “Sugar Daddy Web sites?”

“Looks like he is running his own private University of Montana scholarship program.”

Macy gave Ryan a sharp look. “I know when you're exaggerating.”

“Not by much. He is a member of a couple of Web sites that specialize in matching financial donors with disadvantaged coeds. It's called an arrangement.” Ryan smiled. “We just don't know how much he's donated.”

“What happened to getting a job at a local coffee shop to pay your way through school?” asked Macy.

“A minimum wage job isn't going to cut it these days,” said Ryan. “These sites have become more popular than anyone could have ever foreseen.”

“Remind me to start saving up for Luke's education.”

Aiden pulled up the hood of his jacket before making his way back to the main house. “I wouldn't worry about that,” he said. “Your mom has already opened an account for Luke. I'm going to have a quick word with guys inside. I'll be back in sec.”

Ryan raised an eyebrow. “I had no idea Aiden was so well acquainted with your family's finances. Anything you want to tell me that I haven't already figured out?”

“That obvious?” asked Macy.

“Only to the initiated, but don't worry, your secret is safe with me—unless you want me to be the bearer of glad tidings. I love a happy ending.”

“Then you should stick to musicals.” Macy noticed that Gina's vehicle was gone. “Have you seen Gina?”

“Something came up, and she had to head back to Helena. I thought I'd give you a lift, but it looks like Aiden is already giving you a ride.”

“Ryan, that's quite enough.”

“I've been staring at tire treads all afternoon. You have to let me have some fun.”

“It's been fun, but I'm not feeling humored. I'm feeling anxious. Aiden just told me that he wants to know where our relationship is going.”

“Oh dear,” said Ryan. “That will mean you have to talk.”

“He's looking for clarity.”

“How do you feel about that?”

Macy closed her eyes. “Cloudy.”

“Not exactly a position of strength,” said Ryan.

“What should I do?”

“You have great instincts. Use them.”

“I'm not sure if I trust them anymore.”

“How long has it been since you were in a proper relationship?” Ryan held up a hand. “Ray and that redneck paramedic from Collier don't count.”

Macy sighed. “Six and half years.”

“And you want to walk away from someone you actually like who is willing to give it a go?”

“I do sound like an idiot when you put it that way.”

“I'm always here for you when you need to be reminded.” Ryan paused. “But in all seriousness, don't rush into anything. You've had a tough year. Aiden may seem like a safe bet, but he'll come with his own set of issues. We all do. Take an honest look at why you're hesitating and go from there.”

*   *   *

Macy scrolled through the women listed in Charlotte Crawley's e-mail.

“Where on earth does Bob Crawley find the time and energy for all this extracurricular activity?” asked Macy. “Doesn't he have a company to run? Millions of dollars to manage?”

Aiden checked the rearview mirror before pulling into the outside lane.

“Charlotte deserves better.”

“This is interesting,” said Macy, rereading the information to make sure she had it right. “This girl is barely eighteen. Unbelievable. It gets worse.”

“What?”

“Stacy Shaw attends the same high school as the Crawley's eldest son.”

“That's sinking pretty low.”

“If Crawley was with her on the night of the murder it could explain why he's unwilling to provide an alibi.”

“Age of consent is sixteen so he's okay from a legal standpoint, but I doubt that would matter in the court of public opinion. But is an affair with an eighteen-year-old girl enough of a reason for him to risk a murder charge?”

“If he's innocent maybe he's hoping he'll get off for another reason.”

“That's a pretty risky strategy.”

“He's screwed either way,” said Macy.

“Another angle we could look at is blackmail. If he's messing around with a girl from his son's high school, he would have made himself vulnerable. He's got a lot of money. Might be that Carla and Lloyd threatened him with exposure if he didn't cooperate. It's only a hunch, but maybe you should lead with his affair with Stacy Shaw when you question him.”

*   *   *

Bob Crawley was waiting in the same interview room where he'd met Macy earlier in the day. Macy was a little surprised he hadn't contacted his lawyer yet. She switched on the recording equipment and read him his rights again. It was all beginning to feel a little too familiar.

“Mr. Crawley, you weren't with your wife the night Philip Long was kidnapped and murdered. If you do not provide us with a sound alibi you will be charged. Do you fully understand what's at stake here?”

Bob scratched at the rough patches on his cheeks. His eyes were bloodshot.

“I didn't kidnap or kill Philip Long. I stand by what I said earlier,” said Bob. “I've never even met the man.”

“Where were you the night of the murder?”

“I can't say.”

Macy pulled out a photo the private investigator had taken. Bob Crawley and Stacy Shaw had been meeting regularly at a motel south of Collier. He'd not waited until they were safely inside before putting his hands up her skirt.

“Do you recognize the person in this photograph?”

Bob Crawley stared at the image a few seconds before closing his eyes. His skin had a gray pallor. It looked as if he was going to be sick.

Macy placed a few more photos on the table between them. She could only imagine how Charlotte Crawley felt when she'd first seen them.

“So how did you and Stacy Shaw meet?” asked Macy. “Did she come up to the house to hang out with your son and end up getting to know his daddy instead? Or was there a chance encounter at a parent-teacher evening at the high school? There are just so many possibilities. Each one more inappropriate than the next.”

He shook his head vigorously. “It was nothing like that. She was registered on a Web site I use. After exchanging a few e-mails we met at Murphy's Tavern in Collier. I assumed she was at least twenty-one. She'd lied and said she was a junior at the University of Montana.”

“How long before you knew her real age?”

“I've done nothing illegal.”

“She's barely eighteen and attends your son's high school,” said Macy. “You must be scared shitless that this might come out.”

“Where did you get these photographs?”

“Your wife gave them to us. It turns out she's not as understanding as you thought, but I guess everyone has a breaking point.” Macy had saved the most damning photograph for last. It was taken with a telephoto lens. Stacy Shaw straddled Bob in the front seat of his car. The Walleye Junction High School gymnasium could be seen in the background. “Just so you know, I've reached my breaking point too. No more fucking around. I need to know where you were the night of the murder.”

Bob turned the last photo over. “I was with Stacy.”

“All night?”

“Between ten and three.”

Macy didn't need to check her notes. She knew that Philip Long had died shortly before three in the morning. She was there.

“Mr. Crawley, you're going to have to provide proof that you were together. Where did you meet Miss Shaw?”

“Same motel as before. It's the Valley Inn near Route 93.”

“Did anyone see you together?”

“Maybe my wife's private detective was hiding out taking photos.”

“Not that night. Did the manager see you?”

“Stacy checked us in.”

“You better hope Stacy Shaw backs up your alibi. There's only so much more of your bullshit I can take.”

“This doesn't need to go any further than this room.”

“Your wife is free to do whatever she likes with these photographs. Ms. Shaw probably has her own plans. Maybe they'll both sell their stories to the press. Wouldn't be the first time that's happened.”

Macy put the photos aside and placed the evidence bag containing the doll on the table.

“Do you recognize this doll?”

He turned the bag over in his hands. There was a tightening around his eyes. His voice caught.

“It belongs to my daughter, Annabel.”

“Were you aware that it was missing?”

“Yes, she's been having trouble sleeping. We've been looking everywhere.”

“Could you be more specific about the time frame of when it went missing?” asked Macy. “We found it near the fire pit by the river on your property. It may be that your daughter saw something she wasn't supposed to while she was playing down there. If you weren't involved in Philip Long's kidnapping and murder, someone is taking measures to set you up.”

“Charlotte and I realized something was amiss three days ago when our daughter wouldn't settle down for the night. The doll is very special to her. I'm surprised she left it somewhere.”

“Are you aware that your children have built a fort down by the river?”

“They're not supposed to be down there on their own.”

“Which is probably why Annabel didn't tell you where to find the doll. The fort is only thirty feet from the fire pit. It's possible your daughter may have seen something.”

*   *   *

Aiden backed his patrol car into his driveway and nudged Macy awake. She'd drifted off in midsentence somewhere between Walleye Junction and Wilmington Creek. She was pretty sure she'd been rambling incoherently about her thoughts on everything from marriage to having more children to long-term commitment. Aiden kissed her lightly on the lips.

“Rise and shine, beautiful,” he said.

Apparently, she had yet to say anything that put him off. She eased out of the seat. For some reason her back and chest were hurting more than they did a couple of days after the accident.

“I'm sore all over,” she said.

“Might want to take something before turning in.”

“Thanks,” said Macy. “But I think I'm going to try to manage without.”

Aiden's house was as clean and well-ordered as it always was. She tried to picture the chaos that would result when Luke arrived on the scene. There was no doubt that Aiden had become accustomed to having things in a particular way. She'd caught him tidying up after her on more than one occasion.

He put his arms around her and she leaned into him.

“Do you want a drink? I could open a bottle.”

“I'd have one glass and pass out.”

He headed for the kitchen. “I've got orange juice.”

“Actually, I'd love a glass of water.”

“So,” he said, handing her a glass and leading her to the sofa. “Have you given any thought to what I said earlier?”

She settled her head on his shoulder and they stretched their legs out onto the coffee table. She made a point of holding his hand.

“Aiden, I'm not very good at this.”

“Take your time.”

“I'm afraid I've been badly trained in relationships. I have a long history of dating
unavailables
.”

“That's ironic.”

“Why is it ironic?”

Aiden kissed the top of Macy's head. “I have a long history of being an
unavailable
.”

“Is that what broke up your marriage?”

“Apparently, my heart was never really in it. My ex-wife's words, not mine, but she was probably right.”

“Then why did you marry her in the first place?” asked Macy.

“She gave me an ultimatum and instead of walking away, I married her. I'd never been in love before. I thought that maybe it was as good as things would ever get, that it was enough to really care about someone.”

“She shouldn't have forced your hand. You can't make someone want to stay.”

“Which brings us to us. I need to know what's really going on in that head of yours.”

Macy placed her hand on his chest.

“I'm afraid it involves Ray. The fallout from that relationship may never go away.”

“Dating a sociopath is never a good idea.”