Chapter 41 Jagg
JAGG
“Afternoon, Detective.”
Darby stepped into the room, dark circles under puffy, bloodshot eyes.
His hair, usually combed perfectly to the side, was mussed, his skin pale.
I observed him closely as he crossed the office, tapping a yellow manila folder against the palm of his hand.
He looked tired, but he was definitely amped up about something.
After officially staking a claim on Sunny Harper by laying a minute-long kiss on her in front of the entire station, I assumed his drop-in had something to do with that.
Or, perhaps he was going to come clean about following me.
Or maybe he was going to ask about the German Shepherd that was currently tied to my Jeep, snoozing in the shade.
I was wrong on all three counts.
He didn’t sit. “I’ve got a few things for you.”
“Make it quick. I’ve got a meeting in ten minutes.”
“With who?”
“What’ve you got for me, Darby?”
“I just got off the phone with Wesley Cross about the ballistics analysis. The gun used to kill Julian Griggs, the pastor’s son, was a Glock nineteen.”
I could practically feel the relief washing over me. “So, not Sunny’s, then. Sunny’s gun was a Ruger.”
“Right.”
I continued, verbalizing my thoughts so that the rookie would have something to my benefit to spread around the office that afternoon.
“So, according to Wesley’s analysis, this verifies Sunny Harper’s story that she did not kill Julian Griggs.
That someone else did. Most likely this mystery third person from her attack, which also verifies she wasn’t lying about that.
What about the casings from the Cedonia Scroll heist and Seagrave’s murder? ”
“Also shot with a Glock nineteen.”
My eyebrows popped up. Sunny was all but cleared from both shootings.
“Does he know if the same Glock was used at both scenes?” If so, that information would be huge and suggest the same person had killed both Griggs and Seagrave.
“He hasn’t confirmed that yet.”
I rubbed my chin. The gun that shot both Seagrave and Griggs was still at large, whether it was the same gun or a different one was yet to be determined. Either way, the news was huge for Sunny.
“Okay, what else do you have?”
Darby stepped forward. “I think I found a link…” The rookie’s voice lowered, for either dramatic effect or because he hadn’t shared what he was about to say with anyone else. Either way, I asked him to close the door.
“What link?”
“A link between Seagrave’s murder and Sunny’s attack. It’s Kenzo Rees.”
A shot of adrenaline surged through my veins. “Explain.”
“Lieutenant Jack Seagrave was the cop who found and arrested Rees after he attacked Miss Harper in Dallas.”
I stopped breathing, my shock too great to form a sentence.
Darby continued. “Rees fled Texas the moment Harper’s dad took her to the cops.
Dallas PD put out a BOLO and multi-state warrant for his arrest. Days later, someone here in Berry Springs called in someone sleeping in their car on the side of the road.
It was Seagrave who responded. He recognized Rees and arrested him on the spot.
Rees was extradited back to Texas where he was charged with first degree battery and sent to jail. ”
My heart was a steady pounding by the time Darby finished.
Revenge.
Kenzo Rees was going down the list of people who’d been responsible for putting him in jail.
Rees killed Seagrave.
Rees had Julian attack Sunny as initiation into his gang, The Collars. Maybe a scare tactic, or a failed kidnapping, I wasn’t sure, but I was certain on this.
I was also certain that Kenzo Rees was the Black Bandit.
“How do you know this?” I asked.
“I spent last night going over Sunny’s—”
“Miss Harper.”
“Sorry. Miss Harper’s file from her attack. Like you said, the fact that Rees had just been released and all of a sudden she’s attacked and her home vandalized seemed like too much a coincidence.”
How the hell had I missed Seagrave’s name in the report? You’ve lost your focus… too many balls in the air… Colson’s words slapped me in the face.
Darby continued. “I tried to find any link to Rees and witchcraft, or interest in the Cedonia Scrolls but found nothing. That’s the only thing that still seems odd.
I’m going to research the gang he’s associated with more this morning.
See if they’re connected to buying and selling pagan art.
Never know. I’m also gonna see if I can track down one of their members and ask if they know the Black Bandit. ”
“Why don’t you leave that part to me, Darby?”
“You think I can’t handle it?”
“I didn’t say that. But when you start poking around gang members, you best know what you’re doing.”
“I do.”
“You don’t. And I’m telling you to back off The Collars.
We need to place Rees at both scenes. We’ve got means and motive, for both Sunny and Seagrave, and now we need opportunity.
We need Rees to be linked to that damn blue sedan.
It’s his, I know. If we can verify the link, that puts him at both Seagrave’s and Sunny’s scene.
That’s where I need your focus. I need you to leave The Collars alone and follow up with the dealerships again.
Find where he got the car. Extend the search. ”
Darby’s lips pressed into a thin line, displeased with my orders. Bottom line, the kid wasn’t experienced enough to interview ex-cons or gang members. Gotta crawl before you walk. All of us had. I just happened to walk a bit sooner than most.
“What about—”
“No, Darby. Dealerships. Focus on the car. Go. I’ll find Rees.”
I glanced at the clock, then gathered my phone and keys and started out the door.
“Keep me updated, Darby.”
I didn’t wait for a response because I had an appointment to get to.