Page 21 of Caught
Reuben Cowley was polite, soft-spoken, and utterly confused when he arrived at the VCC to collect his “four old friends.” Leilah linked her arm through his and kept up a constant stream of chatter as they hurried him outside.
He stopped and dug in his heel right in front of the doors. “I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else,” he began.
Leilah shook her head. “We’re friends of Natsuo Ito’s.”
At the mention of Natsuo’s name, Reuben’s cherubic face turned pale. “No, you aren’t. He never talked about any of you to me. What is this?”
Great. Now you’ve scared him.
Before Leilah could placate him, Olivia gave him a close look. “What are you afraid of, Sergeant Cowley?”
“Nothing.” He clamped his mouth shut.
Marielle rubbed her forehead. “Listen, we can’t help you if you don’t talk to us.”
He frowned, then said, “Do I need help?”
“Yes,” Leilah told him emphatically. “You do. Do you know the name Grover Anderson?”
He eyed her for a moment before answering. “Yes, he was Nat’s boss.”
“Well, now he’s dead. He was murdered last night.”
Reuben choked, panting for air.
“Try a little finesse next time,” Chelsea murmured. Then she rubbed the sergeant’s back. “Take a breath.”
He gasped. “Why?”
“Why was Grover killed? We think because of what he knew—or what someone thought he knew—about the Cortez case,” Leilah said, feeling more than a bit guilty for the shock she’d caused.
He swallowed hard. “Nat was killed, too. Wasn’t he?”
Leilah flicked her eyes toward Olivia. She had the most experience dealing with this sort of thing. Should they tell him their suspicions? Or would that be counterproductive?
Olivia let out a breath. “His death was suspicious, but I imagine you already know that.”
He nodded.
“We’re looking into it. Marielle has obtained some files that raise more questions than they answer.”
“Who are you people? I mean, really?” The color had returned to his face, and interest supplanted fear.
“Is there somewhere we can talk without being disturbed?” Leilah countered.
He thought for a moment, then nodded. “Follow me.”
Reuben lived in on-base unaccompanied housing. He led them to his townhouse and ushered them inside the tidy, sparkling-clean residence.
“Nice place,” Chelsea commented.
He shrugged. “It’s too big for one person. But I didn’t want to buy a place off-base. This is fine for now.”
He flicked on the lights and walked into the kitchen. “Can I get anyone a glass of water?” he asked, already removing a pitcher from the refrigerator.
They answered with a chorus of yeses. Then they gathered around his kitchen table. He gave them the four kitchen chairs and pulled a stool over to perch near them.
Leilah took a sip of her water. “You asked who we are. Do you know the name Ryan Hayes?”
