Merrville County

  Friday

  Castleton- At the edge of town

  Noonish

  Detective Mackey ends his phone call with Detective Samuels and races across the street to where Deputy Newsome is waiting in his behemoth pickup truck. Dave is too absorbed in his own phone call to notice when James slams the passenger side door. Mackey listens to the part of the conversation he is able to overhear.

  "Yeah. Okay," Dave says into the phone speaker. "Tell Markus we'd appreciate any information he can get for us. Love you too, Baby. I'll see you when you get in tomorrow morning. Tell the kids goodnight for me. Okay. You too."

  With a frustrated sigh, Dave ends his call. He turns to Detective Mackey with a solemn expression.

  "Markus is doing a thorough search on the names you provided. He said he'll talk to a few people...Maybe call in a few favors. Says he'll do everything within his power to keep our activities on the D.L. I wish i could do more, James. But...It could mean my job. I'm more use to you if I'm still on the force."

  "I know, Dave. I'm not blaming you for a thing. I appreciate the fact that you still believe in me at all."

  "Ha. Why wouldn't I? You're as straight-laced as they come, Mackey. I remember back when we were first investigating the Aquarius case...You had yourself listed as a suspect just in case. You even gave me a long ass speech about dissociative disorders and lie detector tests. There's no way you're guilty, Mackey. No way in hell. I'd stake my career on that simple fact."

  "I would never ask you to do that, Dave."

  "I know. And that's why I don't think you're guilty. Too much conscience for a guilty man."

  "Deputy Chastain said the same thing. Even talked about how we are so much alike. All it took for him to change his tune was a couple of witnesses, who claimed they saw me in the club. And, in the alley with Evelyn."

  "Deputy Chastain? Humph. Morris has crap for brains," Dave says with a grunt. "That kid has been trying to act like some sort of sage elder since Sheriff Northrop hired him. Thinks he knows everything about everyone. Kid doesn't know squat. He's kind of a nepo baby. Old blood in the department. Probably the only reason Morris has his job."

  "I don't know about that, Dave. The kid is pretty sharp. He just has no faith. Well, in me. Or due process."

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  "Because he doesn't know you like I do," Dave says, turning over the Nissan's engine. "Where to, now? You gonna have your own talk with the mayor?"

  "Nah. Mayor Gunther can wait," Mackey replies. "I wanna talk to the Corbin woman again. I got a feeling she was not quite hiding something...But maybe a little unsure about something she wanted to tell me. I gave her my card, but I think I'll go back to the club again tonight. Something definitely had her rattled. Might be related to the case. Might not."

  "Careful, Mack!" Dave laughs, pulling away from the curb. "It sounds like you might be liking the club scene a bit too much. I visited the Undying Rage a few times. About five years ago. Off duty, of course. It didn't have the big televisions on every wall back then. And the dance floor was a lot smaller. One time, I had a couple of really cute women start feeling me up. Like really feeling me up. Boy, did that give my ego a boost for about a month. I'd just ended a long-term relationship and was looking to drown my sorrows for a night...Or two. Never saw those fine ladies again. What a shame. Well, the next time...This woman was so drunk, she started undressing right at the counter. I'll admit, she was super hot. But at the bar was not the place for that sort of thing. Well, not that particular bar anyway. I had to put a stop to it pretty fast. Of course, we ended up back at my place later. But, it was..."

  "Dave? Enough. Please just drive," Mackey interrupts the large deputy, wanting exactly no more details. "Drop me off at Juniper Park. I'll walk the rest of the way to my car."

  "Are you sure, Mack? It's only a few more blocks from the park to your car. I can drop you off."

  "No. Juniper Park is fine. I wanna sit out there a while. You know, reminisce a bit. Juniper Park is me and Maddie's special place. We've shared so many memories there. I'll be fine, Dave. Trust me. Besides, we don't want to risk anyone seeing us together. We're already pushing it."

  "Damn!" Dave growls, "This is so stupid! How could the Chief even entertain the idea that you killed Officer Melbourne? Or that Reardon girl?"

  "It's pressure, Dave. The mayor's secret lovechild is suddenly out in the open for everyone to see. Simon spent years telling everyone that Evelyn wasn't his daughter. Claiming to be some white knight who saved a pregnant damsel in distress. Now, he's having to confront the truth. And it's all going down in the public eye. O'Leary must really be feeling the heat. Especially, after the failed attempt on Simon's life and the dropped security detail. It looks like gross incompetence all the way around."

  "It feels like gross incompetence. But to suspect you? Even with those damn bimbos as witnesses. Ha. Witnesses have been known to lie."

  "We'll have to wait and see what happens with the footage that forensics is attempting to clean up. Nothing I can do until then. Except try to figure out who's setting me up."

  "Well, be careful. I want you to coordinate with me every move you make. I'll let you know what Markus comes up with."

  Dave pulls onto the shoulder just shy of the entrance to Juniper Park. He wags a finger at James in warning.

  "Mind me words, Mack. Don't go anywhere without letting either me or Detective Samuels know. This fugger has already killed one cop. Don't think they won't kill you. Don't be a hero."

  "I won't, Dave. See ya," James says with a friendly shooing motion of his hand.

  Climbing out of the giant pickup truck, James carefully shuts the passenger door. Dave watches his friend stroll up the gravel path, noting the hunched manner in which the detective carries his wiry bulk. It's been a long time since he's seen Mackey in such a depressive mood. It isn't good.