Chapter 9
NINE
GABE
“I should’ve said something about what happened this morning. Something about Roy Wilson,” Gabe said. He was back to staring out the window. The birds had flown off, leaving the guardian on its own again. “Casey’s gonna hear it from someone.”
“He’s on his way here, and who’s he going to talk to in between?”
“Greta.”
“If Greta knew about Wilson, Casey would already know, and you would have immediately known he knew.”
After parsing out who knew what from that sentence, Gabe considered this truth. “You’re right. Any word from Knute?”
“It’s been fifteen minutes since the last time you asked. Maybe he’s indisposed.”
“And yet, you’ve been checking every thirty seconds.”
Elton shot him a dirty look, which only had Gabe wondering even harder what the heck their deal was.
“Knute was a cop in Westfort for thirty-odd years. If he’d just return my damn text, we could start figuring this out.” Elton peeked at his cell phone again.
There was that we again, the one Elton insisted on using about this case. “I’m sure there’s a legitimate reason he hasn’t responded yet. Be patient.”
Gabe had met Knute a couple times. It was impossible to tell if he was older or younger than Elton, but Gabe figured younger.
He briefly envisioned two old coots chasing down leads and generally getting in the way of any proper investigation, Elton and Knute climbing slowly out of Elton’s truck and shambling after the suspect, only to have the perp skip away and disappear into the shadows while they were rounding the vehicle’s hood.
Meanwhile, Gabe would be forced to corral both of them like he was the Senior Citizen Brigade’s lone chaperone.
Elton wasn’t getting any younger, his movements even slower than they were last fall, which was the number one reason he didn’t want the older man involved in this case.
As if you have any choice about that, Chance.
Elton waggled his head, reaching for Gabe’s laptop again.
“Knute’s a bit bored since leaving the force.
And I have no doubt that he had plenty of run-ins with Roy Wilson over the years, especially in the eighties and nineties before Wilson’s miraculous turnaround.
What’s the password? This thing went to sleep. ”
Gabe leaned in and tapped his index finger against the right button.
Elton frowned. “Roy was trouble in these parts before he could walk and not much changed once he was out of short pants. When I learned he’d gotten Leia pregnant, I wanted to kill him myself.”
Gabe had the feeling that Elton’s response may not have been typical for his generation, considering his own mother’s decision to leave the area.
Heidi had never talked about what it had been like for her, but Gabe figured being a young, unwed mother wasn’t fun and games, especially in small towns back then.
We did alright, Chance.
He liked to think they had.
“So, was Wilson’s propensity for underage girls well known? I mean, had there been other instances?” At this point, nothing he learned about this guy was going to surprise Gabe. “Maybe that’s what got him killed. But if that’s the case, why involve me?”
“There were always whispers about him. I admit, most of what I recall was speculation about stolen property, drugs, minor assault. The man always had a get rich quick scheme going. But I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that his underage habit was never broken.”
Gabe mulled this over before pointing out, “He cleaned himself up enough to become pastor of a church.”
Had Heidi brushed shoulders with him? She’d been around Wilson’s age, after all, so it didn’t seem much of a stretch, especially considering the population of Westfort and the Olympic Peninsula in general back then. He shivered, hoping she had avoided Roy Wilson.
“Roy’s church, his rules, I’d imagine.” Elton’s tone dripped with disgust as he scanned the Abundance of Light website.
“He founded this chapter, says so right here.” He jabbed a bony finger at the screen.
“I can’t bring myself to read his ‘life story.’ Looks like he actually wrote a book about family values.
” Elton made a choking, vomiting-like sound.
Gabe wondered if he should let this whole thing go, let law enforcement do their job. Maybe he would have, too, if it weren’t for that phone call, if he didn’t have the nagging worry that he was being set up.
“I remember one summer Roy was going door-to-door here on the island, selling magazine subscriptions or something. Not long after that, some of the rental homes were burgled.”
“Huh. Sell subscriptions to the suckers who were home, rob the ones who weren’t. Oldie but goodie scam.”
“Again, there was no proof, but fingers pointed Roy’s direction.” Elton shrugged. “The family moved soon after, I believe.”
“Sounds like Roy Wilson was a thief and morally corrupt and deserved what he got. The murder weapon was a nine iron, by the way. What are the chances he was a changed man?”
Snowball in hell, Chance.
“I haven’t laid eyes on Roy Wilson for”—Elton rolled his eyes up toward the ceiling to do some sort of mental calculation— “twenty-five years or longer, but I still flipped him the bird when our cars passed at the intersection the last time we crossed paths. Bring me hard proof that he turned over a new leaf, and I may change my mind. Until you do, I’m of the opinion that Wilson carried on with his wicked ways and has paid the price, years later than he should have. ”
“So… you don’t want to know who offed him?”
Elton sighed. “Fine. Yes, as much as it pains me, yes, I do want to know. Can’t have citizens dispensing their personal version of justice, even if I do think he deserved it. More’s the pity.”
Gabe’s phone vibrated, derailing his response. Dreading that it might be the Sheriff’s Office, he squinted at the screen. When he saw Casey’s name, he let out a small sigh of relief. Not TCSO, thankfully.
“Hang on,” he told Elton.
RM: Incoming. New flavors from Jewel Creamery. Home in fifteen.
G: Still at Elton’s. Stop in here. Houston, we have a problem.
With a sigh, Gabe tossed his phone back onto the couch cushion.
“Casey’s on his way.”
Setting Gabe’s laptop off to one side, Elton pushed himself up from his chair. “I’ll get another pot of coffee started.”
“Don’t forget the popcorn,” Gabe grumbled.
“Popcorn? I’m breaking out my stash of Red Vines for this,” Elton said as he creaked into the kitchen.