Page 67 of The Last Grift
“Then what does Snowcap Estates have to do with it?”
Casey lifted his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose; he didn’t know if Snowcap had anything to do with the murder, but it was possible. “Look, mushrooms are worth money. A lot ofmoney. Maybe there’s a whole magic mushroom patch on Gordon’s land.”
“Okay. But why shoot DwayneandGordon? Dwayne was executed. Middle of the forehead. Boom.” Gabe pointed at his own temple and mimed pulling a trigger. “They seem very different to me. Not that I am an expert on this kind of thing.”
“If it’s two shooters, that complicates things.”
Gabe shrugged. “Sorry?”
“The important thing right now,” Elton interjected, “is that we find some kind of proof that Gordon wasn’t the one who killed Dwayne. And fast.”
A ruckusin the hallway caught everyone’s attention. Raised voices and the sound of footsteps coming quickly toward Gordon’s room. Casey winced; he’d hoped they had more time. The door was pushed open, and Deputy Deter Nolan invaded the room.
“Sir,” the young nurse following behind him was saying, “this is out of the ordinary. Even with paperwork, our patients have a right to care.”
“You said he’ll be fine.” Nolan finished tucking folded papers into his breast pocket as he stepped to the middle of the room. The nurse stopped next to him, clearly not sure of the protocol.
“This patient is dangerous,” Nolan told the nurse. “The sooner I get him out of here and into custody, the better off you all are. He’s already murdered at least one man.”
“Oh, um.” her eyes widened as she glanced uncertainly at Gordon and took a step back.
For fuck’s sake. Casey rose to his feet. He was bigger than Deter Nolan and liked to remind him of that fact. Karne stood too and walked around the bed to stand next to Casey.
“Can I see the warrant?” Casey asked. Technically, it was Gordon who needed to ask, but from the expression on his face, he was too scared to open his mouth.
Ignoring Casey, Nolan crossed over to the bed. Gordon shrank further back, trying to disappear into the meager mattress, his good eye wide with fear. Casey thought he heard him whisper, “No.”
“Gordon MacDonald, you are under arrest for the violent murder of Dwayne Perkins. You are coming with me. Now. You can get dressed or I can take you in that hospital gown.”
“Now?” Elton asked. “Why now? Can’t it wait until morning? He’s not going anywhere. I vouch for him.”
“Now. It’s obvious he’s not so badly injured that he needs hospital care. I’m not endangering the lives of others by letting a cold-blooded murderer stay where there are vulnerable patients.”
“What the fuck, Nolan?” Casey stepped toward him, hands clenching into fists. Karne grabbed his arm holding him back. Nolan’s hand had started for the butt of his service weapon.
“Because you’ll be a thorn in my side, Lundin. Dwayne Perkins was killed—executed—on MacDonald’s property up The Valley. We have a credible witness who saw him fleeing the scene not long after we think the murder took place.”
“What witness?” Casey demanded, trying not to sound angry. The problem was he was furious. “What reason on earth would Gordon have to kill Dwayne?”
“We found several buckets of chanterelles on the property. The working theory is that Gordon interrupted Dwayne, got angry, and shot him.”
“That is extra thick horse shit,” Elton growled.
Casey narrowed his eyes. Why was Nolan answering his questions? He had considered the mushroom angle, but now itseemed too easy. Just like Charming Fucker had hinted at. Dammit.
“We’re going to process his fingers for GSR.”
“Come on,” Casey said. “Even if he did do it, it would have worn off by now, right? GSR only lasts four to six hours. We’ve been looking for Gordon for a couple days now.”
There was the question Nolan was going to not answer.
Casey changed tactics. “What does Calvin claim happened? He had to have been somewhere close by.” He didn’t believe Calvin would off his own brother, but where was the unpredictable man?
“Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to ascertain Calvin Perkins’s location. Come on, MacDonald. It will go better for you if you comply.” Nolan eyed Gordon, who’d sat up and reluctantly pulled the cover away. He was wearing jeans but had no shirt on under the blue gown. “Hurry it up, the doc said you’re going to be fine. Wear the goddamned gown.”
Casey sighed inwardly. There was nothing they could do tonight. The three of them were forced to watch as Nolan cuffed the now crying Gordon and pushed him out of the room ahead of him.
“I don’t know about you two, but I’m not letting Gordon go to the station alone.” Elton shoved himself to his feet and determinedly marched out of the room. “I’ll call my lawyer on the way.”
