Chapter 20 #2
Darren and Alice didn’t speak, but Tate hadn’t expected them to. It was clear that the older couple was torn apart by their only son’s tragic death.
The service concluded, and everyone started heading toward the parking lot. Leo caught up with Tate and Cat as they were leaving.
“You’re going to the Arnolds?” he asked.
“We are,” Tate replied. “You, too?”
“Can’t. With Josh out, the business has been crazy. I need to get back to work. I never got a chance to talk to Tyler’s parents. Shelly ordered a ham to be sent for today’s gathering, and of course, a sympathy card.”
As with most Midwestern after-funeral parties, there would be food. Lots and lots of it. Whenever someone passed away, there would be a dining table groaning under the weight of casseroles, shaved ham, and desserts. Maybe even a green Jell-O mold. There would definitely be brownies.
“Are Josh and Rachel?—”
“No way,” Loe said with a shake of his head. “They pumped Josh full of pain medication so he could be here, but it’s already starting to wear off. Rachel is going to take him home. It’s just as well, because he’s acting goofy while everyone else is crying.”
It had been jarring to see Josh grinning during the serious speeches about Tyler’s life, but almost everyone there knew why.
“He probably should have stayed home and healed,” Tate said.
“He wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” Leo replied. “Hell, Josh and Tyler were best friends. They were buddies.”
Tate doubted whether Josh would even remember being there today. He wasn’t trying to be catty or mean, but simply realistic.
“Did Josh know about Alexa? Tyler never mentioned her to me.”
“I dunno,” Leo said. “But she was certainly making a scene, wasn’t she? I guess she really loved him. Listen, tell everyone hello, and that we’re sorry we couldn’t make it.”
“Sure, no problem.”
Leo jogged off towards his vehicle, and Tate and Cat climbed into his car.
“I can drop you at your mom’s,” Tate offered when they were back on the road and heading to the Arnolds. “You don’t have to go, Cat.”
“I know I don’t, but I will. I just hate memorial services.
I hate that Tyler was gunned down when he was so young.
I just…I don’t know how to put it all into words.
But seeing his parents like that. It was so sad.
I don’t know what to do with my sadness and anger at this situation.
Going home and ignoring it won’t work. It might for a while, but it’s not an answer. Not a real one.”
It was only a short drive to the Arnold home, and cars were parked up and down the suburban street. Cat paused to refresh her lipstick in the sun visor mirror before turning toward him.
“How do I look?”
“Absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous,” he replied.
He was completely serious. She made it hard to breathe. How on earth could one woman be that beautiful?
“You might be biased but thank you. Are you ready?”
“Let’s do this.”
As expected, it was a full house. Family, friends, neighbors. Tate recognized almost everyone, but there were a few unfamiliar faces. He assumed they were friends of Tyler’s from Seattle, as they were chatting with Greg, who had spoken at the service.
“If you don’t mind, I’m going to talk to Winnie,” Cat said. “I won’t be gone long.”
“I’m going to grab a drink and go outside to get some fresh air.”
“Too many people?”
“Too many people,” he agreed.
Grabbing a water on the way, he headed for the patio doors to the back deck. There weren’t many people outside, one stubbing out a cigarette and brushing past Tate to return to the warmth of the kitchen.
“I don’t think he likes me very much.”
The voice came from behind Tate, but he’d heard it many times before. It was Finn, nodding toward the retreating figure of the man.
“He doesn’t like you? Is he avoiding you?”
“He is,” Finn agreed. “I arrested his brother about a month ago for cooking meth. He told me that I’m an asshole out to ruin a young man’s life.”
“What did you say?”
“I said that I wasn’t the one who decided to cook meth. It went over about as you’d expect. He hates me, and I guess that includes not wanting to breathe in the same oxygen.”
“You don’t seem bothered by it,” Tate observed.
“I’m not. Just part of the job. It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last.”
Tate and Finn stood off to the side, where the hosts had set up a portable heater for those who came outside to smoke or escape the crowd.
“How is the investigation going to find who did this?”
“That’s a tough question,” Finn replied with a loud sigh.
“We’re in the midst of it. The forensic team feels like they’ve pinpointed where the shots came from, and we have several suspects with no concrete alibi, but I don’t feel strongly about any of them at this point.
They don’t have a strong motive for wanting to kill Josh. ”
“Where did the shots come from?”
“There’s a group of large oak trees across the street,” Finn replied. “They think the shooter was hiding behind them.”
“The person who hit Josh on that road could have killed him that day, but they didn’t.”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Finn agreed. “I’ve been thinking about it a hell of a lot. There was no one around. That vehicle could have simply backed up and taken another shot at Josh.”
“But they drove away instead,” Tate said. “Are you sure no one else was around?”
“That’s what Josh says.”
“Is he a reliable witness?” Tate queried. “He was heavily sedated at the hospital.”
“I’ve talked to him since, and he stands by his statement.
I have no reason not to believe him. Listen, I think I know where you’re going here.
Why didn’t they finish the job? I’ve been wondering, too, but let’s look at the simplest explanation.
They got spooked and drove away. It doesn’t matter if no one was actually there.
They thought someone was, so they left. It doesn’t need to be complicated. ”
Tate was aware that the simplest explanations were usually the best, and he didn’t want to overcomplicate the situation.
“We can question why they didn’t back up and hit Josh again, but we know for a fact that they fired a gun and shot Tyler,” Finn explained.
“They wanted to kill that morning. We know that for sure. Hell, that’s why we’re all here today.
Tyler was in the wrong place at the wrong time, wearing Josh’s clothes.
In the meantime, I’ve put a deputy on Josh just in case someone tries again. ”
If they were determined to kill Josh, a third attempt was a distinct possibility.