Page 21 of Cold as Hell

“I take temazepam,” he says. “Restoril, to be exact. That’s what was used to dose Kendra?”

“According to what test?” Mathias says. “And who interpreted the results? To say it is a benzodiazepine is one thing, but to know which one?” He shakes his head. “I am sure that trick works on others, but I know drugs and their tests, Casey.”

“Since the person filling our medical supplies owns a drug company, we get only the best—and most cutting-edge. April said temazepam.”

“No one’s accusing me, Mathias,” Sebastian says. “Obviously, if it was temazepam, and I’m the only person taking it, then Casey needs to investigate. I know I didn’t drug Kendra, and I trust Casey to verify that.” He turns to us. “I’m guessing you’ll need to see where I keep the pills?”

“If you can just tell us, we’ll conduct the search.” I raise a hand to ward off Mathias’s protest. “If either of you is there, someone can say you hid the pills to pretend they’d been stolen.”

Sebastian nods. “Sure. I can tell you where I keep them. I can also tell you how many there should be. I don’t take them often—they’re really strong stuff. But I do get severe insomnia, which can mess with my brain and that’s never safe with me.”

“You do not need to explain,” Mathias says. “I prescribed what you needed. The rest is confidential.”

Sebastian looks at us. “Ignore him. Anything you need, just ask.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Sebastian and Mathias live in an apartment over the butcher shop. When Sebastian first arrived in Rockton, Mathias had balked at taking any responsibility for the young man. Now, obviously, things have changed.

It’s a platonic relationship—both men are straight and Sebastian has a girlfriend who lives back near Rockton. Mathias has taken Sebastian under his wing, as much as he’d hate that description. They get along well while giving each other as much space as they need, which can be “a lot” on both sides.

While Dalton and I conduct our search, both Mathias and Sebastian stand outside the butcher shop. People are bound to notice that, which is what I want. If someone later discovers we searched their quarters, witnesses can confirm that the occupants were outside while it was being done. One issue with such a tiny town is that residents are, unfortunately, quick to decide the police don’t know what they’re doing… if they’re even trained police at all.

We find the pills right where Sebastian told us to look—in a small box under his bed. There are other pills there as well, inbottles with only the drug name and directions on the front. I don’t look at the others. As Mathias said, that’s none of my business.

I took photos of the box while it was under the bed, and I take photos of the contents. Then I lift out the small bottle marked Restoril. While the fact that the bottle is still here—and contains pills—suggests this isn’t the drug used on Kendra, I still wear gloves as I work. I take more photos. Then I open it, shake out the capsules, and…

I look over at Dalton, patiently waiting. “He said there were sixteen, right?”

Dalton nods. “It was a bottle of twenty, and he’s only needed four since he rejoined us last fall.” Sebastian had spent the summer with his girlfriend, Felicity.

Sixteen pills. I only count fourteen. That could be a mistake—it’s easy enough to forget how many you’ve taken over five months—but Sebastian said he tracks them. These aren’t over-the-counter sleep aids. They’re serious stuff.

From what Mathias said, half of one in a drink would be enough to cause what Kendra experienced. So there would be no need to take Sebastian’s entire bottle. Two would be plenty… and the thief would likely expect they’d never be missed. Like I said, people don’t usually keep quite that careful a count of drugs they rarely take. They only notice when they’re low, and Sebastian isn’t.

I bag the bottle. Then I head downstairs to speak to Sebastian again.

While I believe Sebastian’s pills were stolen, I certainly can’t declare that as truth without proof. We’re back in the townhall, where I have my feet up, Storm by the fire, and Dalton at the desk doing paperwork. Sebastian sits across from me.

Mathias wanted to come, of course, but Sebastian shut him down, telling Mathias that he could handle this, and having his shrink present looks as if Mathias thinks his services will be needed. Looks as if Mathias thinks Sebastian might have done this and will require a psychiatric defense. That backed Mathias off fast, though not without grumbling.

As we settle in, I say, “I’m going to need a complete list of your whereabouts last night, from nine in the evening until you saw Kendra being attacked.”

“I was making fishing lures most of the evening. For Felicity and her settlement.” He shrugs. “They like my lures, and it’s an easy way to score points.” He pauses. “With her settlement, not with Felicity.” Another pause, head tilted. “It doesn’t hurt with Felicity either. I’m still a half-assed hunter, and I’m not much better at trapping and fishing, but I’m good at making lures and traps, so that keeps them from deciding I’m completely useless.”

I don’t point out that Felicity’s settlement thinks he’s far from useless. He’s young and strong, but mostly his appeal comes from his genetic material. A healthy young man who isn’t in any way related to anyone in their settlement. There is the sociopathy, of course, but that’s not considered hereditary.

Felicity’s grandfather—Edwin—would be thrilled with Sebastian even if he couldn’t hit a moose from two feet away. Sadly for Edwin, Felicity is in no hurry to get on with marriage and babies. She’s poised to take over leadership of the settlement, and that’s all she cares about. Well, no, she cares about Sebastian… as a romantic partner, not as a baby daddy.

Sebastian continues, “I can show you the lures, but that won’t prove when I made them. I was alone in the apartment—Mathias was off doing Mathias things. The shutters were closed, by regulation, so I can’t even hope someone saw a light on. Which also wouldn’t really prove I was there.” He glances at me. “None of this is helpful, I know.”

“When did you take Raoul out?”

“Ah, right. This might be more useful. Mathias came home before I left, and we talked for a few minutes. That was just after eleven. Then he went to bed at eleven thirty, and I took Raoul for his bedtime walk. That’s my usual routine. At that hour, the town’s quiet. Everyone’s in bed or at the Roc until last call. We took the perimeter trail. Again, that’s our usual. I was heading back to our place when I heard Kendra call out.”

“Did anyone see you?”

He considers. “I passed Grant. Well, actually, I avoided Grant. Not Raoul’s favorite person.”

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