Page 69 of Silent Grave

Sheila studied her father's face, looking for any hint of what he really thought. "And you're sure he's telling the truth?"

"I've known Hank since the academy." Gabriel's voice grew distant, remembering. "We worked patrol together, had each other's backs more times than I can count. He was the first person I called when..." He stopped, swallowing hard. "When your mother was killed."

"That doesn't mean he's innocent."

"No. But it means I want to believe him." Gabriel pulled out another page of notes. "He broke down during our talk, Sheila. Actually broke down. Said he keeps thinking about all the signs he missed, all the times Tommy's behavior should have raised red flags."

"Like what?"

"The questions Tommy asked about old cases. His interest in Internal Affairs files. The way he'd steer conversations toward certain topics." Gabriel shook his head. "Hank says he thought Tommy was just being thorough, trying to learn department history. Now he wonders if he was gathering intelligence all along."

"Or that's what Hank wants us to think." Sheila leaned back in her chair, considering. "He's been in law enforcement over thirty years, Dad. That's plenty of time to learn how to sell a story."

"You think he's lying?"

"I think someone in this department wanted me dead. Someone helped Tommy get close to me, gave him access, covered his tracks." She met her father's eyes. "And Hank's either part of it, or he's the most conveniently oblivious former sheriff in county history."

Gabriel was quiet for a long moment. "When your mother died," he said finally, "Hank was the one who pushed hardest to keep the investigation going. Even after the higher-ups wanted it classified as a random burglary gone wrong."

"Maybe because he knew it would never lead anywhere. That the evidence would be too corrupted, the trails too cold."

"Or maybe because he truly wasn't involved. People can surprise you, Sheila. Sometimes they're exactly what they appear to be."

"And sometimes they're wearing masks so convincing even their closest friends can't see through them. What else did he say? About Tommy's activities, his contacts?"

"Claims total ignorance. Says Tommy kept his private life private. Lived alone, didn't socialize much with other deputies." Gabriel paused. "Though he did mention something odd. Said Tommy would sometimes disappear for hours, claim he was following up leads. But there'd be no record of the calls in dispatch, no notes in any case files."

"Meeting his real employers?"

"That's what I thought. But Hank says—"

Her phone buzzed, interrupting him. A text from Roberts. Sheila had to read it several times to absorb what it was saying. As she did so, her blood ran cold.

Medical emergency in Tommy's cell. Not breathing. Possible cardiac arrest.

She jumped to her feet.

"What is it?" Gabriel asked, alarmed. "Something happen?"

"Tommy," she said as she hurried to the door. "Someone doesn't want him talking, and it sounds like they might've just found a way to silence him."

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