Chapter 20 #2
The three exchanged glances, as if unsure who should answer her question. It was Lucas who shrugged first, as if to say their friend’s absence wasn’t a big deal.
“Ty’s been busy lately at the farm. I haven’t seen him since last week.”
“I actually saw him yesterday,” Kalen offered up after raising his hand to garner her attention. “He stopped by with a casserole. His aunt has been a big help with home-cooked meals since Dad died.”
Apparently, seeing as the other two had already answered, Brock didn’t seem inclined to add to their responses. The small lull gave her ample opportunity to make her request.
“Gentlemen, I’d like to speak with Mr. Luepke in private,” Hadley requested. Neither Lucas nor Kalen moved from their spots. They both stared at Brock, waiting for his reaction. “I’d like to do this here, but I don’t mind taking this to the station, either.”
“We’ll just go and get ourselves another round of drinks,” Lucas said before leaning his pool stick against the table. “Kalen?”
“Yeah,” Kalen muttered as he stood from the stool. “Right behind you.”
The two young men walked over to the bar, leaving Hadley alone with Brock. He monitored their retreat with barely concealed resentment, as if they'd abandoned him.
“I don’t know anything about Chief Langley’s murder.”
"Then tell me what you know about Missy Claymont.”
Hadley’s direct request had the desired effect, and Brock dropped the small blue piece of chalk. It landed on the pool table, but he didn’t even seem to notice.
“Look, I don’t know what Lucas has been—”
“Lucas? He hasn’t breathed a word about you making advances on an underage girl,” Hadley stated matter-of-factly, interrupting him to make her point. A subtle flinch crossed his features. “I think it’s time we had an honest conversation, don’t you?”
“I was just being nice,” Brock replied defensively, keeping the pool table between them. “Missy was taking guitar lessons from Lucas, and one day, she seemed down. I offered to—”
“If you knew that Missy was taking guitar lessons from Lucas, why not share that with Chief Langley or Sheriff Turner after her disappearance?”
“Why? Because Lucas had nothing to do with all that,” Brock exclaimed rather heatedly as he leaned over the table to get his point across. He’d gone from expressing shame to anger in the span of three seconds. “You people think—”
“What I think is information like that could have helped establish Missy’s movements, her state of mind in the days before she went missing.
” Hadley took a step closer to the pool table, causing him to straighten at the advance.
“You said yourself she was down. Sad, even? Did you ask her why, or did you just assume that such vulnerability would give you the chance to—”
“Is there a problem here?”
The deep and older voice came from behind Hadley, unexpected enough that she balled her fingers into the palms of her hands. Elijah Garber had approached the area without her noticing, indicating she wasn’t at her best.
“Mr. Luepke and I were just having a private conversation.” Hadley didn’t take her focus off Brock. “If you don’t mind, Elijah, I’d like to continue the discussion.”
Hadley had used the former chief’s first name to get her point across. He had no influence over this informal interview, and she made sure to send a clear message that his authority had expired long ago.
“Hadley, think about what you’re doing here.” Elijah turned inward so that they were mere inches apart. He lowered his voice for only her to hear. “It’s been a long time since you set foot in Whistlerun, and there are new dynamics that you're not fully aware of.”
“And what dynamics might those be, Elijah?”
“Brock Luepke is Warren Caldwell's nephew. His younger sister's boy.”
It was no wonder that Brock had a chip on his shoulder. Family connections were considered sacred around these parts, surpassing the truth and the importance of law enforcement.
“Are you suggesting I ignore a potential lead because he’s related to the mayor?”
“I’m suggesting you consider the larger picture, Hadley.
” Elijah had murmured her name in such a way that it garnered her full attention.
She realized that his concern had little to do with the mayor and everything to do with Brock.
“I've known him since he was in diapers.
Watched him grow up. He's a good kid with a short temper, sure, but he had nothing to do with Missy Claymont's disappearance.”
“You knew about the guitar lessons, didn’t you? Brock came to you, and you advised him to keep quiet.”
“I made a judgment call to ensure the investigation wouldn’t get sidetracked.” Elijah finally stepped away, giving her some breathing room. “I don’t regret doing it, either.”
“You should, Elijah,” Hadley replied with disappointment. “You should, because you can’t go around being judge, jury, and executioner. You say you’ve known Brock since he was in diapers, but the same could be said for Reed.”
Hadley gave her words time to settle as she pulled the keys to her SUV from her pocket. She studied the most recent key added to the ring. The one given to her by Reed so she could use the main level of the police station without having to disturb him if he were in the upstairs apartment.
“You knew Reed Langley all his life, too.” Hadley didn't need to raise her voice.
Her words carried enough force to cause Elijah to break their stare in regret.
“You gave him his first speeding ticket.
You watched him walk across the stage at graduation.
And you handed him his badge when he took over for you as Police Chief of Whistlerun.
So, tell me, Elijah—where does your loyalty lie now that he's dead?”