“We’ve got to contact them, too,” Grace said, and Mac nodded. “They’re probably waiting for an update. We have to speak to Charles Gaines again, too. And Roger. Okay, well, thanks again.”
Raven mustered up a hint of a smile. “Hope you find what you’re looking for.”
“Hey.” Mac stopped before he reached the door and turned to Raven. “Did I tell you? Your tip helped Kenzie. The thing with the cream.”
“Oh, good.” A genuine smile graced Raven’s face, and her eyes lit up. “What did the doctor say?”
“Same thing you did, but we had it under control by then.”
“Great.”
“You’re the best,” Mac called before opening the door and holding it for Grace.
“You hang in there,” Grace whispered to Raven as she passed. “Call if you need me.”
Raven squeezed her shoulder, and Grace passed Mac with an oblivious smile on his face. He followed her back down the hall and out to her car.
“What was that about cream?” Grace asked.
“Oh, my daughter had a rash, and I didn’t want to go to the emergency room with her—it’d rattle her mom up, so I called Raven, and she gave me a great recommendation. Did she seem weird to you? Like different?”
“Remember what I told you about that guy you looked up for her? Never mind. I’ll tell you about it tonight.” She got in her car. “Or more specifically, Madigan will.”
“Oh-kay. So, to see Charles Gaines, then? Or Roger?”
“I doubt Gaines will be open to talking, regardless of how we approach this. I’d prefer Roger first. We can surprise him. Then we’ll see about Gaines. We need to know where they were during the day and early evening before Tyler’s accident. If they have alibis, we can look elsewhere. Maybe that will entice them—the thought of not having to see us again. Or me, at least.”
“Can’t relate,” Mac said with a smile, and shut the door after her.
Eighteen
Roger Ellis removed his welding mask and strode over to Grace and Mac, standing in the entryway of the shop.
“Roger,” she called above the loud whooshing static of the blowtorch another man operated on the other side of the room. “We have a few questions for you from the other night. Could you give us a few minutes?”
He tossed his mask onto the workbench beside them and led them back to the gravel lot just outside the shop. “How can I help you?”
“Roge?” an older man called to him from the back corner, turning off his torch.
“It’s okay, Dad! I got it.” Roger turned back to them and folded his gloved hands under his armpits. “I can’t talk for long, but I want to help.”
At least he’s cooperative. More than I can say for Gaines. Start with what I already know.
“When was the last time you saw Tyler Gibbons?” Grace asked.
“Last weekend. Went golfing with him and Joel.”
“Oh, right. Did you all do anything after that?” Grace asked.
He pouted and shook his head. “Nah.”
“Did you speak to him anytime after that? Phone call? Text?”
He hasn’t called or texted, but maybe he communicated online.
“Leaving the clubhouse. That’s the last time I saw or talked to him. What’s going on? I thought what happened was an accident. I don’t get why you’re asking when I last saw him.”
“We’re investigating the circumstances surrounding Tyler’s death. Where were you on the day and evening he died?”
“Here. Working. Went home with my dad at six. You know, he was one of my best friends, and I feel like you’re implying I could have had something to do with this. I wasn’t with him. Haven’t seen him since that weekend. This is ridiculous.”
He’s defensive, but I won’t get anywhere with him if I keep on him.
If he wants to show what great friends they were, he’ll want to help find answers for Tyler’s parents.
“I am sorry for the loss of your friend. I’m tying up loose ends here, and I could use your help. We are trying to give his parents the answers they need. You understand that, right?”
He nodded.
“Mac, could you speak to his father and confirm his whereabouts?”
Mac left her side as she spoke, “When did you become friends?”
“In college, pretty much right away. He was captain of the basketball team, and he’d come to my booth when he wanted to announce try-out dates and times.”
“Your booth?”
“I worked for the school radio.”
“Oh, nice. You wanted to be a DJ?”
He shrugged. “Pretty much always knew I’d end up here, working with my dad. Fun while it lasted, though.”
“And when did you become friends with Donelle Gaines?”
“We went over this last night.” Roger frowned.
“Please answer the question.”
“Second semester of first year.”
“Through Tyler, Joel, and Mia?”
Roger nodded, swaying his weight from one foot to the other, keeping his hands tucked under his armpits as Mac passed him and took her side.
I need him to take off those gloves to see his knuckles, but I don’t want to deter from the questions yet.
“Did you and Donelle ever date?”
“Nah.” He shook his head and stared at the concrete floor. “Now, seriously, if you’re not going to tell me what this has to do with anything, I gotta get back to work.”
“Did Tyler and Donelle ever have anything going on?” Grace asked.
He looked at her and shrugged. “I really wouldn’t know.”
Grace cocked her head to the side.
Why is he being so defensive and short if he just wants to help?
“You were close with Tyler,” she said, “and you expect me to believe you wouldn’t know?”
“What?” Roger asked, his face relaxing into something almost forming a smile. “I dunno, maybe. We were all together a lot, them the most probably. They never said anything. Never would either—her dad woulda killed her.” As the words left his mouth, his jaw slackened, and his eyes opened wide. “Man, I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Just an expression.” Mac leaned inward, folding his arms over his chest. “No harm done.”
“Her dad was strict?” Grace asked.
“The worst. Still feel for the guy, though.”
“Even after he attacked you guys at the memorial?” Mac asked.
Roger squinted at him. “Well, he’s a father, right? She was his daughter. Of course I feel bad for him.”
“You weren’t upset about being blamed?”
“Nah. Never took it to heart, and he was mostly referring to Tyler. If I had a daughter, I probably wouldn’t want her hanging out with the guys we were in college, either. Especially not Tyler and Joel.”
“Why do you say that?”
“They were party boys. I did my fair share of that too, but they didn’t take much seriously, and I dunno, they were pretty reckless back then. They didn’t have any responsibilities, but I was working here, even then. None of this happens now, but I know they both drove drunk sometimes. Neither respected authority figures. That kind of thing. Tyler, Joel, and Mia would go pick up Donelle from her dad’s house, and it’d be a scene every time he wasn’t at work. She’d run out and slam the door behind her, and he’d come out yelling.”
“Yelling what?”
“I don’t know; I wasn’t there, but you can use your imagination. I think Tyler and Joel laughed at him. If that were my daughter, I’d have been pissed.”
“Would you say Mr. Gaines took out most of his anger and blame on Tyler?”
He pursed his lips. “Yeah, maybe that’s why when he got loud after the memorial, it didn’t faze me as much. Ty was the one with her that night. I’m sure he wishes he could have stopped it, but…” He turned over his shoulder, looking back into the shop.
“But?”
“Nothing. I should get back to work.�
�
“Please, Roger.”
He turned back to them and sighed. “At first, I would have thought maybe something was going on between Tyler and Donelle. You could tell she liked him, and he loved the attention. Near the end, though, Tyler told me he was getting sick of her good girl act. That she was always had a curfew, could never really let loose, and she was kind of a buzzkill, you know? I mean, I never said that, but he did. She was always bugging him in class, trying to get help. Joel was pretty tired of it all too. They stopped picking her up at her place ‘cause it wasn’t worth the hassle. Mia was the only one still wanting to see Donelle outside of school in the weeks before she died. I feel terrible saying this, but I was tired of the drama too.”
“When did Tyler tell you all that?”
“I don’t remember. Maybe when her dad found out about her partying? Sometime there, that second semester before she…”
“Do you think she killed herself?” Mac asked.
“I know her dad put a lot of pressure on her. I don’t know if it was enough to do that over though.” He shrugged and stepped inside, grabbing his mask and turning back to them. “Wait—you don’t think Tyler…”
Grace stared at him, waiting for the complete sentence, but Roger stared back.
“I can’t speak about the case,” Grace said. “Is there anything else you think we should know about Tyler?”
Roger shook his head. “He was a good guy—became a great guy. Really made something of himself.”
“One last thing.” Grace tilted her head. “Could you take off those gloves?”
He frowned, shoving the mask under his arm, and yanked off the gloves. “Do you… want the gloves?”
“Can you show me your hands? Like this?” She held hers up, palms toward her.
He mirrored her, his dry hands cracked and stained with black smudges.
No redness. No cuts.
“Thanks for your time,” Grace said and nodded before they turned back to the lot.
“No one ever said they were getting tired of Donelle,” Mac muttered. “Do you think that’s why she seemed withdrawn? She sensed they didn’t want to be around her anymore?”
“Why would Tyler have offered to partner up with her for that assignment, then?”
“Joel said he offered to help her get a good grade so she could justify having fun. Maybe he was still trying? Donelle and Tyler seemed to be close, most can agree on that, right?” Mac stopped at her car. “So Roger’s dad said he was here working, started at eight, left with him at six, but Roger went out and got lunch for them.”
“This shop is close enough to Tyler’s office building. Twenty minutes away? Fifteen in good traffic? If he tampered with Tyler’s brakes, it wouldn’t have taken too long.”
“No solid alibi for Roger.”
“And no markings on his hands that suggest a fight, either.”
“We’ve spoken to Tyler’s friends. I think we need to go back to Charles Gaines and see about that alibi. With his temper, I want to be with you.”
“You’re my back up, huh?” Grace smirked.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Let’s go. After that, I need a shower.”
“I’d join you,” Mac smirked, “but I have to go home and grocery shop. Kenzie’s coming this weekend, and I need to make sure I have her favourite things. But I’ll see you tonight—and we’re still on for dinner with Madigan, right?”
Grace got in the car. “Drive safe.”
Mac gave her a warm smile and shut her door with a gentle whoosh and jogged across the lot to his car.
Nineteen
Grace’s front door opened, and Mac appeared in the doorway with a nervous smile.
It’s so weird to have someone else besides Grace open this door.
“Hi,” he said, waving her in.
She smiled and entered the living room to smells of cooked onions and garlic. “Am I late? You’ve already started cooking?”
“No.” Mac shook his head as she kicked off her boots and followed him into the kitchen with Buster trailing behind her.
“Yes!” Grace called over the sizzling pan on the stove. “But that’s alright. Oh, hi, Buster! Mac, where’s Waffles?”
“Ran down the hallway as soon as Madigan knocked.” Mac sighed, joining Grace behind the counter, and took a sip of his beer as Madigan set a bottle of wine down between them. “I think he’s been warming up to me.”
“I guess it’s just as well with Buster here.” Grace tucked some hair behind her ear and set the spatula down. “Thanks for the wine. Mac, what were you saying?”
Mac took a box of vegetable stock out of the cupboard and slipped past Grace, smiling at her. “I think you should call him, and that way, we won’t waste our time trying for a surprise visit again.”
Grace sighed. “I thought it would be good to catch him off guard like we did with Roger. Do you think it’s odd Gaines wasn’t at work or at home?”
Mac shrugged. “I think you need to call him.”
Madigan mused at the cooking team before her. “How can I help? What are we making?”
“I thought I’d try something new,” Grace said, a lightness to her voice. “So is curried cauliflower and lentil stew with garlic toast alright?”
“Oh, wow.” Madigan leaned inward. “Sounds great.”
“If you could put the rice on the stove, that’s what we’ll use for the bottom of the bowl.” Grace pointed to a package of rice. “And, Mac, could you wash that cauliflower and chop it into florets?”
“Florets?” Mac laughed. “Is that what they’re called?”
“I think so.” Grace smiled as she exchanged a look with Mac.
Oh, this is big. This thing between them. And she’s happy.
“How was your day?” Madigan asked.
“Long.” Grace added some minced garlic cloves to the pan. “We couldn’t find someone we need to question, and then I had to update the family from the case I’m investigating, and that’s always difficult when you don’t have good news, or much to tell them at all.”
“Yeah, I bet.”
“I think we’re getting somewhere, though.” Mac looked down at Buster, who sat by his feet, staring up at him with his tongue out, panting. “Hey, Buster. Look at that smile.” He turned back to Madigan. “What’d ya do, run him all the way down the beach on your way here?”
“He chose to run on his own.” Madigan smiled, staring down at Buster.
I haven’t been around for him as much as I should, and yet, I should also be spending more time watching out for Raven. This surveillance balance is a tough one, and I feel like I’m not helping anyone.
“That update you had to give today? I know what it’s like to feel like you’re letting people down,” Madigan said.
Grace turned to her. “So, is that an indicator of how things are going with Raven? I filled Mac in on some of it.”
Madigan nodded. “Someone left a bracelet on her windshield this morning, just a bit before you guys got there. I’m watching so much of the time, but it’s not enough.”
“That’s why she seemed off today.” Mac turned to Grace. “I haven’t seen her like that before.”
“Well, I might not have done much for her thus far.” Madigan poured the rice into the simmering water. “But Raven had an idea. She wants to confront Paul Rothman.”
Mac frowned. “How?”
“Literally finding him, at his home or work I’m guessing, and confronting him about what he’s doing.”
“But you don’t think it’s a good idea,” Grace said.
“I don’t know if it’s him for sure. She texted him, asking if he was leaving her things and never got a response. It’s weird. I don’t know what to make of it, but I haven’t ruled out the possibility it was someone else. Her assistant, Melanie, she got there in the morning and had time alone near her vehicle. Could have been someone else, too, in the early hours of the morning at her place. I feel like I can’t be with her all the time, but
that’s what she needs.”
“Has she received any threats?” Mac asked.
“No, but the random gifts with no letter, tag—they’re disconcerting.”
“Is her home secure?” Mac asked.
“Yeah, and it’ll be even better once she gets a security system installed. She’s taking it more seriously now, and since I haven’t been much help, she wants us to go together and confront Paul.”
“Hmm.” Mac chopped up the cauliflower and held a piece up to Grace. She gave him a thumbs up, and he continued. “A confrontation might deter him from what he’s been doing, but if it is him leaving those things, and he hasn’t responded to that text, there’s a good chance he’ll deny he did it—and like you said—you wouldn’t know if he were lying.”
“Right.” Madigan crouched and scratched Buster behind the ears. “I feel stuck.”
“I think it’s a good time to look at this from a different angle.” Grace scooped up the florets and added them to the pan. “You’ve been keeping your eye on Raven, but maybe instead, it would be beneficial to try to follow your person of interest.”
“I guess I’ve been concerned with Raven’s safety more than finding out who’s behind it, but you make a good point.”
“Once she’s doing all she can to protect herself,” Mac said, “that frees you up to follow your lead. Then, if something else is left for her while your person of interest is accounted for, you’ll have one of your answers. Or maybe, you’ll catch them in the act.”
“What are her options at that point? If it’s him for sure, I’ll have proof. I’ll take pictures.”
“Depends.” Mac exchanged a look with Grace. “If she feels threatened, she might be able to go in front of a judge for an order of protection. Otherwise, the police in his city should be notified, and they can pay him a visit. Let me know how serious it is.”
“That’s it?”
“Unless something else happens…”
Madigan grabbed a spoon from the counter to stir the rice. “Thanks guys.”
If only I had a lead for my mom.
“Hey,” she turned to Grace, “I don’t mean to bother you, but have you had any time to follow up about my mom?”
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