Neighing with Fire: A Mystery (Colleen McCabe Series) (24 page)

Snelling considered what they had said. “All right. I’ll talk to him. Don’t know what good it will do, though.”

“You sure you don’t want to call your lawyer?” Bill asked.

“Yeah yeah. Let’s get this over with.”

“Right this way,” Bill said, and led Snelling down the hall toward the interview rooms.

Bill and she had decided that an interrogation room might allow father and son to communicate freely without law enforcement personnel in the room to inhibit them. By having them meet in there rather than the holding area, they could observe the men from the other side of the two-way mirror and hear everything they said. With any luck, they’d find out Greg’s motivations for either killing Denny or fabricating the story.

Bill reached the door. “We’ll be observing, so don’t try anything stupid or you’ll be joining your son in the cell.”

Snelling nodded.

Bill opened the door wide. “You got a visitor.”

“Send him away,” Greg said, seeing his dad.

“Just talk to your father, Greg,” Bill said. The man didn’t respond. “Do you want a lawyer present?”

Greg shook his head.

Bill motioned for Mr. Snelling to enter. As soon as he did so, she and Bill moved to the room next door where they could watch and listen.

“Hey,” the father said, taking a seat in a chair opposite his son.

Greg turned his chair so that he faced away from his father and folded his arms.

“I’m talking to you,” the father said, raising his voice.

“What’s wrong with that man?” she muttered.

Bill looked at her with raised brows. “You’re feeling bad for Greg?”

“Actually … yes.”

“The cops think you may be lying … that you didn’t rub out Custis like you said. Is that true?” asked the senior Snelling.

Greg stole a quick glimpse at his father. “What do you think?”

“I think only a chump—” Snelling stopped, glanced at the two-way mirror, and began again. “I don’t understand why you’d do that.”

Not great, Colleen thought about the father’s tone with his son, but better. Bill turned the volume up on the speaker to the room.

Greg shifted in his chair to face his father. “Are you playing me, Dad?”

“Playing you?” Snelling said, puzzled. “What are you talking about?”

“Here we go,” Bill said, quietly.

She held her breath. Their strategy had worked. The Snellings were communicating with one another. She crossed her fingers, hoping the father could maintain a civil tone with his son long enough that they could learn the truth.

“Don’t you know?” the son asked, this time leaning closer to his father.

“Know what?”

The two men locked eyes, each seeking the truth, and then Greg’s welled with tears and he looked away. The father slid his chair closer and took his son’s jaw in his hand. Colleen tensed.

“Did you kill Custis?” the father asked. “I want the truth.”

Greg paused a moment and then said, “No.”

Snelling released his son’s jaw. “Why’d you tell them you did?”

“Because,” Greg said, wiping away a tear. “I thought you had.”

“Why the hell would I do a dumb thing like that?” the father asked.

“You said Custis was on to us. That he knew you had someone snooping into his company. I thought—”

“What? That I’d kill the man to get it? Bring all that attention down on our business? Do I look like an ignoramus to you?”

Yes, Colleen silently answered. You’ve got a son that loves you enough to take the fall for murder and arson, throw way his future, and you can’t see it.

Greg hung his head. “I didn’t want you going to the pen.”

She sighed. The only thing Greg was guilty of was trying to protect his unworthy father from going to jail.

“Wonder why he’d think that?” Bill asked.

“You think the father may have killed Custis?” she asked, surprised.

“His son obviously thought so. Gonna keep an eye on him.”

Snelling peered at the two-way mirror. “I’ll be calling our lawyer now.”

Bill moved toward the door. “Fathers and sons,” he said with empathy, and exited.

The door to the interview room opened. Bill signaled the father, took Greg by the arm, and escorted them out. She stared blankly at the empty interrogation room, mulling over the information of the last few hours.

Agent Morgan’s and Sparky’s noses had been correct. Snelling wasn’t their suspect … which meant the arsonist and murderer was still out there. They were back to square one. Or were they? Snelling and Denny had been at odds over … What exactly had they been fighting about? Denny had been blackmailing Snelling over his tour company’s interference with the horses as a way of getting Snelling to pay for use of the land. Snelling had apparently been prying into Denny’s company—maybe even had someone on Denny’s crew doing the snooping—provoking Denny’s paranoia and suspicion that he had an informer amongst his employees.

Everything and everyone seemed to be connected to Denny and his construction business. Even Denny’s own men had had trouble with him. What about Fuentes? He had been an employee of Denny’s. How had he felt about his boss? If the reactions of the other men were any indication, it wasn’t positive. Fuentes had been long dead by the time Denny met his fate. Could the same person have killed both men? Or were they looking for more than one killer?

The door to the observation room opened. “You okay in here?” Rodney asked.

“Just thinking. Say,” she said, suddenly remembering the comment Rodney had made about Denny on the beach. “You didn’t care for Denny Custis. You mind telling me why?”

“Am I a suspect now?” he asked, good-humoredly.

“No,” she said with a smile.

He leaned against the door, holding it open. “You ever encounter someone who rubs you the wrong way?”

“Sure. But if you don’t mind my saying, it seemed like your feelings ran deeper than that.”

“Let’s just say I’ve known some Dennys in my life. They don’t have a clue about things like loyalty, friendship, integrity, respect. In my opinion, that lack of understanding is what did Custis in.”

“You could be right.”

“So, are you done in here or should I bring you a chair to do more thinking?”

She chuckled. “I’m done.” She exited and walked down the hall with the deputy.

“You ready for the wedding?” Rodney asked.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she said. “Fortunately, there’s the rehearsal dinner, so I can practice.”

“You’ll be fine.”

“Do you know me?” she said.

“Okay, maybe a little practice wouldn’t hurt.”

They laughed and Bill emerged from his office. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” she said. Rodney gave her a quick wink and headed down the hall. “How are the Snellings?”

“The lawyer is on his way, but I’m still keeping my tabs on that father. If Greg is telling the truth then that means the older Snelling could be our strongest suspect.”

Bill ran his hands through his hair. He was tired. Maybe it would be good to take a break.

“I’ve got to get back to the station, go over duty assignments, and pick up Sparky. You think you’ll be done soon?”

“I wish. I told Rodney I’d stay on tonight.” He lowered his voice. “But you know what I’m looking forward to?”

“What?”

“Spending time with you tomorrow night.”

She blushed. “You’re actually looking forward to the rehearsal dinner?”

“Sure. You’ll be there and it will be a break from the case.”

“I guess I’ll see you at the rehearsal dinner then?”

The phone rang in his office. “You can count on it,” he said, and crossed into his office to take the call.

She strolled from the building. She had a new errand to run at the TimBuck II shopping center before picking Sparky up from the firehouse and going home.

Chapter 23

As she drove
through Carova on her way to the rehearsal dinner, Colleen recited the quote she had found for the wedding. She wasn’t sure if she would be reading it tonight or only at tomorrow’s ceremony. She should have paid more attention when Autumn had been explaining the schedule for Fawn and Chip’s big day.

She traveled the road that led to Autumn’s house and was surprised to find the dunes near Autumn’s home lined with vehicles. She was twenty minutes early and yet it appeared everyone had beat her to the rehearsal dinner. Perhaps it was the excitement about the unique ceremony or the promise of Aaron’s delicious North Carolina barbecue or the fact that people had carefully juggled schedules to be able to attend, but whatever the reason, it was evident by the early arrivals that everyone was eager to celebrate the special event.

She inched as far against the dune as she dared, leaving room for vehicles to drive by if necessary, and cut the engine. “Ready?” she asked Sparky, and he held up a paw. She checked the back bumper to be certain she wasn’t blocking the road to the beach and strolled toward Autumn’s house.

Sparky sniffed tires and grasses as they cleared the dune and reached Autumn’s driveway. Colleen smiled. The celebrity statues lining the entrance had been adorned with flower crowns and necklaces and colorful balloons with ribbons had been tied to the wrists, giving the viewer the impression of musical notes floating to the heavens. Cool jazz and the smell of food cooking on a grill drifted from the ocean side. Sparky’s nostrils twitched and he picked up his pace. She ducked under a string of decorative lights and followed Sparky, the music, and the sounds of merriment to the back.

“Hello!” Autumn called, an empty tray in hand. Sparky bounced toward the woman and inspected her sandals. “And who is this fella?”

“Sparky,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind that I brought him. I should have asked.”

“Nonsense. All are welcome. Bring him tomorrow if you’d like.”

Colleen felt a wave of guilt wash over her. How could she have suspected this woman?

“I see you’re wearing the crystal,” Autumn said.

“I thought I’d try it out. And don’t worry, I won’t be in these tomorrow,” she said, indicating her jeans and boots.

“What’s wrong with what you have on?” Autumn asked.

“I’ve been made aware that I need to expand my wardrobe,” she said with a chuckle.

“Contrary to popular belief, clothes do not make the person. It’s what’s on the inside that counts.”

“Well said.”

“So,” Autumn said. “Everyone is set up on the ocean side. I was just coming back to get more wine and beer.”

“Would you like some extra hands?”

“No. Go mix,” the woman said, gesturing toward the beach. “Antonio’s inside. He’ll help me.”

The back door opened and Pinky emerged with a silver ice bucket and wine bottles. “Did I hear my name?” he asked, smiling down at them. “Ah, two visions of loveliness,” he added, descending the stairs.

“He’s such a flirt,” Autumn said, tickled.

“Part of his charm,” Colleen said.

“What can I say,” he said, joining them. “I enjoy the company of interesting women.”

“You sure you don’t need any help?” Colleen asked.

Autumn tilted her head toward Colleen. “Is this one always so stubborn about not having fun?” she asked Pinky.

“Never beyond reason,” he said.

“Okay, I’m going.” Colleen mounted the stairs to locate the rest of the party.

She stole a look back and saw Pinky whisper in Autumn’s ear, briefly rest his hand on the small of her back, and then remove it before anyone other than Colleen noticed. She grinned. There was something about a wedding that put everyone in the mood for love. She reached the top of the stairs. Cheers and calls of “There she is!” filled the air. She surveyed the crowd and spotted Bill yakking with Jimmy.

Card tables decorated with colorful tablecloths had been set up in an area between Autumn’s house and the frontal dune that butted up against the beach. A short distance away, Aaron and Bobby were cooking on a grill. Chip and Fawn’s friends gathered around the couple sharing stories, and Pastor Fred from the Corolla Chapel was huddled in deep conversation with Chip’s parents. Beyond the tables and dinner participants stood the gazebo, outfitted with ribbons that billowed in the ocean breeze. She descended and joined Bill and Jimmy.

“You made it,” Bill said.

“We were starting to worry,” Jimmy added.

“I’m early,” she said, feeling defensive even though she knew Jimmy was teasing.

“Are you actually wearing a necklace?” Jimmy asked, and reached to inspect it.

“Would you stop,” she said, blocking his hand.

“Seriously, it’s nice.” He moved away to talk to Chip and the other guys.

“You see the grief I get?” she asked Bill.

“You want me to say something?” he asked in a stern voice as if he would reprimand Jimmy.

She smiled, knowing he wasn’t serious. The dinner was a welcome break from the investigations. She observed the guests. “I see Pastor Fred will be presiding. I’m surprised.”

“Why’s that?” he asked.

“It’s rather traditional for those two,” she said, indicating the happy couple.

Fawn and Chip laughed at something a friend had said. Fawn spied Colleen and excused herself from the group.

“I’m so pleased you’re here,” Fawn said to Colleen. “I see you’re wearing the necklace Aunt Autumn made you.”

“I didn’t know she made it,” Colleen said, and inspected the necklace with new appreciation.

“With a little input from me,” Fawn said, proudly.

“Of course. My pink aura,” she said, and winked at Bill.

“Exactly!” Fawn said, delighted. “You know, Sheriff, I can read your aura, too, if you’d like. To make sure you two are compatible.”

Bill’s cheeks flushed a deep red. “I think I’ll leave a little to mystery.”

“Ah, yes,” Fawn said. “That’s fun, too.”

“Fawn,” called Chip. “You never told me you wore braces.”

“Are they telling stories on me?” she asked, and left to celebrate with her friends.

Autumn and Pinky appeared at the top of the stairs. “Is everyone ready for the rehearsal?” Autumn called down to them.

The group enthusiastically responded in the affirmative.

Pastor Fred excused himself from his conversation with Chip’s parents and motioned for Fawn and Chip to accompany him. “If everyone is ready, I’d like to begin going over the ceremony, or rather spiritual union as the young lady has requested I call it.”