Page 18 of Deputies Under Fire
“The lab will contact you if they find anything,” the CSI added.
Rory hung up. And cursed.
“Yes,” Eden muttered, and she expressed what had caused this latest round of frustration. “Ike will use this to say he was set up.”
“He will,” Rory confirmed.
And, heck, it was possible he had been.
The killer could have used the info gained from the bugs to determine where Ike would be, to ensure he didn’t have solid alibis for the murders.
“Who would have had the opportunity to plant bugs?” Eden asked.
“Too many people,” Rory replied. “All the cleaning staff and the cook have the entry codes. And just last week, Asher and Kitty had a group of friends over.”
That meant getting that list of friends, along with any maintenance or repair people who’d been in the house… Rory stopped, groaned. Because the bugs could have been there for months. Whover had planned these murders could have started the process ages ago.
Even though Rory was nearly at the police station, he went ahead and called Livvy to let her know about the listening devices. She would have to bring them up during the interview if for no other reason than to get Ike’s take on them. He might be able to pinpoint who could have planted them.
While gloating that the bugs “proved” his innocence.
Yeah, that’s exactly how it would play out.
With that thought and this whole dangerous mess weighing down on him, Rory parked and, still keeping watch, they went inside the station.
Straight into the buzz of activity.
All of the day deputies were present, each of them on the phone. Their conversations clashed with the sounds of the printer spewing out pages and yet more phones ringing. In the middle of that bustle, the black cat came sauntering toward Eden.
Sherlock was the unofficial adopted mascot who only doled out attention to a handful of people. And Eden was one of them. The cat rubbed against her legs, and Eden leaned down to give him a scratch on the head. Apparently, that was all Sherlock intended to tolerate because he turned and headed in the direction of the breakroom, where his litterbox and food dish were located.
Rory glanced in Grace’s office and saw Livvy. Not alone but with someone he recognized.
Frank Mott.
The man was in his midfifties with salt-and-pepper hair, but he still sported the build of a wrestler that had apparently won him some state competitions. Photos of him were displayed in the gym at the high school.
Rory was glad the man was here so they wouldn’t have to track him down. Good. They could alert him that he might be in danger.
When Livvy looked at them, Frank followed her gaze, and then he immediately started in their direction. “I just listened to your voice mail,” he said, directing the comment at Eden. “I was just up the street at the hardware store and came right down.”
Eden nodded, and she motioned for Frank to go back in the office. They followed, and Rory shut the door.
“Something has come to our attention,” Rory began, “and it’s possible you could be in danger.”
Rory didn’t add more. He just waited for Frank to let that sink in. Of course, it didn’t sink in well.
“In danger from Ike,” Frank muttered. Not in a tone of someone lashing out in anger but rather as if this was the exact news he expected to hear.
“We’re not sure of that yet,” Rory said, settling for caution.
Frank sighed. “It’s Ike. You know it is.”
Rory wished he did know for certain. But for now, he had to look at all potential suspects.
And that included Frank.
Like Helen and Diedre, there was no love lost between Ike and him, and that was the reason Rory had to ask Frank a few questions.
