Page 36 of Whispers Left Behind

“I’m driving into town for those supplies,” J.J. said once he had closed some distance to the doorway. He came just close enough to be in Tobias’ view all the while avoiding eye contact with Kinsley. “Do you need anything else, Mr. Z?”

“No, no,” Tobias muttered as he glanced toward the floor. It was as if he were running through a list in his mind. He eventually focused his gaze on J.J. “Take my truck. Keys are in the ignition.”

J.J. nodded his understanding before vacating the house. He closed the door quietly behind him, leaving Kinsley with a choice to make.

“Mr. Zayn, would you excuse me for a moment? I need to obtain a statement from J.J.” Kinsley stood, leaving her coffee on the table. “It’s just standard procedure.”

“Of course.” Tobias rose from his seat, as well. “I’ll use the time to call Louise and check in on Gage.”

Kinsley crossed through the living room and out the front door. She had worn her long thick sweater, leaving her blazer in the back seat of her Jeep. The cold gusts of wind blowing across the field were strong, and the sky was now a pitstop for charcoal clouds. The threat of rain had arrived, and she could only hope to keep the upcoming discussion brief and to the point.

“Mr. Callahan,” Kinsley called out right before he could open the driver’s side door of a black pickup truck. “Do you have a moment? I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

She closed the distance between them, taking notice of the dull paint covered with dust and mud. There had been no paint transfer in either Hanson crash. Whoever had run Rachel off the road had done so with expertise. Still, Tobias’ truck didn’t appear to have any dents or scratches consistent with forcing someone else off the road.

“What would you like to know?”

Kinsley had hoped J.J. would just spit out the information he so obviously wanted to share with her, but she suspected his reluctance had to do with loyalty. She started by being direct due to the undercurrent of anxiety in his posture.

“How well did you know Rachel Hanson?”

“Not well. I talked to her a few times here and there, but I mostly work with Gage. Besides, Rachel usually visits on the weekends. I’m not here on Sundays.”

“Usually?” Kinsley pressed, noticing his Adam’s apple shift as he swallowed hard. “You didn’t happen to see Rachel last Wednesday, did you?”

J.J. ran his hand down the front of his jacket. His gaze also swung to the farmhouse, as if he was second-guessing his decision to speak with her.

“Mr. Callahan, I’m doing my best to give Mr. Zayn closure. Not only has he lost a granddaughter, but there is a very good chance that his grandson doesn’t pull through.” Kinsley was mindful not to bring Tobias’ health into the conversation. “I can’t imagine the grief that Mr. Zayn is going through right now. If you have information that can help me, spit it out.”

“I saw Rachel driving through downtown on Wednesday night,” J.J. reluctantly admitted as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket. “I had attended the church’s fish fry. I was standing in the parking lot talking with some friends when I saw her drive past. I want to go on record that while I thought she was headed here, she didn’t. I brought it up to Mr. Z, but he said I must have been mistaken. No one came out to the farm that night.”

“When did you bring this up to Mr. Zayn?”

“Thursday morning,” J.J. reluctantly admitted as he pushed his hands farther into his pockets. The front material of his jacket was strained against the weight, and his regret at beinghonest was noticeable. “I didn’t even know Rachel was killed until Friday morning.”

“And Gage?” Kinsley turned her head slightly when a gust of wind whipped around the truck. The chill was sharp, and she fought the chatter of her teeth. “Where was he on Wednesday night?”

“Leeds,” J.J. replied without hesitation. “He got back to the farm on Friday morning. I’m assuming Mr. Z called him about Rachel at some point, because Gage was upset when he drove up to the farm.”

Several scenarios raced through Kinsley's mind, and none of them were good. If Rachel had been in Halliday, why not call her brother-in-law to say she couldn’t meet him at the Plow? Was Tobias being truthful when he claimed Rachel never came by the farm that night?

“Mr. Z wouldn’t lie, Detective.” It was almost as if J.J. worshiped the ground Tobias walked on. “Besides, all you have to do is ask his daughter.”

“Louise? I was under the impression that the relationship between Mr. Zayn and his daughter was somewhat contentious,” Kinsley stated carefully so as not to cause J.J. to go silent on the subject. “Why would Louise be able to verify Rachel’s movements on Wednesday night?”

“Ms. Baird wasn’t that far behind Rachel.” J.J. must have finally realized that Kinsley hadn’t been aware of that fact. He backed up a step, but the truck didn’t allow him to go too far. “You talked to Ms. Baird, right? Didn’t she tell you all this?”

“What vehicle was Louise Baird driving that night?”

“Her blue Honda Accord.”

“What time did you witness Ms. Hanson and Ms. Baird driving through Halliday?”

“I guess it was around eight o’clock.”

“And where did you go after the fish fry?”

“Back to my house.” J.J. shrugged, not seemingly at all concerned with her question. “I have two roommates. We played video games until after midnight, but then I fell asleep on the couch. Woke up around four-thirty, took a shower, and then drove here.”

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