Page 41 of Whispers Left Behind

Kinsley managed to take three steps before Beck’s next inquiry had her stopping and shifting her weight. She debated being drawn back into another discussion, but it would only serve to delay the inevitable.

“It seems as if your memory has failed you, Mr. Serra.” Kinsley still held her cell phone in her hand. She took her time slipping it inside the pocket of her sweater before turning to face Beck. “Calvin Gantz is a free man. While it is true the department performed a wellness check after receiving a phone call from Gantz’s employer, no foul play was discovered at Gantz’s home. It was obvious from the officers’ findings that the man simply left town…as is his right.”

“You don’t find it odd?”

“I find many things odd, Mr. Serra,” Kinsley replied with a slight shrug. “Gantz leaving town isn’t one of them. A free man has the right to come and go as he pleases. Given what took place last year, I’m sure he wanted a clean break.”

“Gantz never hinted in our interview that he wanted to leave town, Detective Aspen.” Beck wasn’t backing down, and it was apparent that there wasn’t a thing Kinsley could do or say to change his mind. “Considering the hate the man received after his arrest, I’m surprised that the department isn’t a little more concerned with the man’s wellbeing. Unless, of course, you discovered evidence in his home last Friday to heissafe and sound.”

Kinsley didn’t care for the way Serra’s last statement had been worded, and she found herself even more cautious than before. His demeanor suggested that he had some sort of knowledge of the truth, but that wasn’t at all possible. He was fishing for a story, and she needed to make sure he didn’t end up with one.

“You’ve already indicated that you’ve read our press release from last week, Mr. Serra.” Kinsley casually shrugged to indicate there wasn’t anything more to disclose. “I have nothing more to add. Have a safe trip back home.”

Kinsley strode toward the elevator where Officers Blake and Hendricks had managed to time the parting of the elevator doors. She stepped inside, purposefully avoiding any eye contact with Serra. Nothing about their conversation had made sense.

“Isn’t that the journalist who had a one-on-one interview with Gantz?” Hendricks asked as he pressed the button for the eighth floor. Kinsley noticed that Blake pinched the bridge of his nose in disbelief. “And your dad?”

“One and the same,” Kinsley responded as she wished for the elevator to move a bit faster. “Would you mind going back out to the parking lot to wait for the forensics tech? If all goes well and Ms. Baird cooperates, I’ll send Drew down with the car keys and the location of where she parked her vehicle.”

The elevator passed another floor with a muted beep.

“I can do that, but wouldn’t it be easier to—”

“Kendricks?” Officer Blake stepped forward when the doors slid open. He put out an arm and gestured for Kinsley to step out. “Go wait for the forensics tech.”

“Thanks, Drew,” Kinsley murmured after the doors closed. Seeing as the two of them ran the softball team for the department in the summers, he was aware of the toll last year’s trial had taken on her. “Let’s check the waiting room before bothering the staff.”

Kinsley came to a stop just inside the doorway. She spotted Louise and Douglas talking in hushed tones near the corner. Fortunately, there was only one other person in the waiting room, and she had a pair of earbuds in while speaking softly into her phone.

“Ms. Baird. Mr. Glynn.” Kinsley didn’t doubt that Tobias had gotten ahold of his daughter. If it was at all possible, the woman’s eyes appeared more bloodshot than yesterday. “I have a warrant to search your vehicle.”

“I need to explain that—”

“Don’t, Louise,” Douglas warned as Officer Blake handed Louise the thin piece of paper. “We should wait to hear back from our lawyer.”

Douglas took the warrant from Louise’s hand, but Kinsley didn’t think the woman noticed in the slightest.

“We should have been upfront in the first place,” Louise snapped back before turning her attention toward Kinsley. “Detective, we didn’t mean to lie to you. We didn’t lie. We simply didn’t tell you the whole truth because we knew you wouldn’t look for anyone else.”

“Why don’t you hand over your keys to Officer Blake, and then you can explain to me why you attempted to obstruct the investigation into your daughter’s murder,” Kinsley stated civilly despite her reluctance to do so. She truly empathized with Louise’s loss, but not at the expense of doing her job. “It might be best that we conduct this interview down at the station. I can—”

“No, please,” Louise pleaded, stepping forward and grabbing Kinsley’s arm. Officer Blake reached for the older woman, but Kinsley raised her other hand to stop him. “I can’t leave Gage. Please.”

“Sit down, Ms. Baird,” Kinsley directed quietly so as not to cause a scene. The other woman in the waiting room was no longer focused on her phone. “Where are your keys?”

“Louise, don’t—”

“Enough, Douglas.” Louise shot him a glare as she retreated a few steps to the chair where she had set her purse. She collected her car keys before handing them over to Officer Blake. “Here. Do you need Douglas’ keys, as well?”

Kinsley had to amend the warrant to exclude Douglas’ truck after the judge made it clear he would only sign off on Louise’s vehicle. She kept that detail to herself, responding that the woman’s keys were all that was needed at the moment.

“Do what you have to do, but please do not make me leave my son’s bedside.”

Kinsley nodded to Drew that he could leave the waiting room. It wasn’t like they had any evidence for an arrest, and Kinsley wasn’t about to drag a mother away from her son’s bedside just because of a mistake. At least, she was hoping that was all there was to the decision to omit the truth.

Douglas seemed torn between staying with Louise and accompanying Officer Blake down to the parking lot. He chose the former and claimed the seat next to Louise.

Kinsley took her time positioning one of the empty chairs so that she could face the couple. She even removed her sweater and laid it over her lap before getting straight to the point.

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