Page 46 of Ranger Belief
“Great.” Laney made the word sound breathless, as if she couldn't quite believe her luck that Garrett had agreed to talk to her.
She hurried back inside the room. Jonah followed more slowly, keeping his expression neutral, and retook his position against the wall. This time, Garrett ignored him. His attention was locked on Laney as she offered him a Diet Coke before popping her own open. “I just love these.” She laughed lightly. “Probably drink far too many of them, if I’m honest.”
“Same.” Garrett flexed his forearm muscle before popping open his own soda.
Jonah's stomach turned. He wanted to haul Laney out of the room, as far away from this…this creep as possible. It wasn't just professional suspicion. Something about the way Garrett looked at women, especially Laney, set off every protective instinctJonah had. Even if Garrett wasn't their killer, he wasn't a good man.
He listened to Laney jabber on about technicalities and how Garrett had to be read his rights before they could talk. Then she purposefully misread the Miranda warnings. By the time she ran through them a second time—necessary to ensure proper procedure—she had Paul and Garrett convinced she was no threat to them. Both men visibly relaxed as Laney retook her seat.
“Now, let’s talk about Mitch Caldwell.” She bit the cap off her pen. “And don’t hold back. Any detail could be important.”
Garrett took a swig of his drink. “Mitch worked for me, off and on, for about three years. He was good with maps, and enjoyed camping, but…there was always something off about him. Especially when it came to women. He had a hard time understanding boundaries. I talked to him a few times, and he seemed to get better.” He shrugged. “Guess he forgot everything I taught him when he moved to Mississippi.”
A chill crept down Jonah’s spine. Mitch had been arrested for stalking in Mississippi. This time he couldn’t keep quiet. “Sounds like you were mentoring Mitch?”
“Mentoring is too strong of a word. Mitch had no game. He didn’t know how to interact with women.” His lips formed an arrogant smile. “I never had that issue, so I tried to help him.”
“Did he have a temper?” Laney asked.
“A pretty volatile one. That was another issue I tried to help him with.”
“Did you know he was back in town?”
Garrett nodded. “I saw him about two weeks ago, fishing on the lake. He had a broken pole and looked like he’d been camping out in the woods. He asked if I had any work for him, but I lied and said no. With his record, there was no way I could let him be around any customers. I haven’t seen him since.”
Laney pulled out a map of Piney Woods from her folder and set it on the table. “If Mitch wanted to hide out in the park, do you know where he would camp?”
He leaned over the map and studied it for a moment. He pointed to the area where Jonah and Laney had found evidence of an illegal campsite. “This is a good spot for that. Remote and not patrolled often by the rangers.” After Laney circled it with a red pen, he tapped on another spot on the map. “Or this one. This is out where I saw Mitch fishing a few weeks ago.”
Laney circled that one as well, tossing a discreet glance over her shoulder at Jonah. It wasn’t a guarantee they’d find Mitch in that spot, but it was worth searching. Then she smiled at Garrett. “That’s very helpful. Thank you.” She returned the map to her file folder. “Do you have a boat, Garrett? Or access to one?”
The attorney placed a restraining hand on his client’s arm. “Don’t answer that.” Paul turned his beady eyes on Laney. “My client has cooperated and told you what he knows about Mitch. Any other questions are out of bounds.”
“Garrett and Mitch worked together for years, by his own admission. The man who committed these murders also used a boat in order to gain access to my cabin and shoot at me. After spending six years in prison for rape and stalking, I doubt Mitch has the cash to purchase a boat. It’s more likely he stole it, and I’d like to know if it was Garrett’s he took.”
“It’s all right, Paul.” Garrett shook off his lawyer’s restraining hand. “I want to help.” He fixed his attention on Laney and nodded solemnly. “Yes, I have a small fishing dinghy that is stored on the lake in a cove. I’ve had it for years, and Mitch knows about it.”
Jonah read between the lines. Garrett was keeping the boat illegally in the cove. But had he taken it out this morning, or had Mitch? He stepped forward. “Where were you today?”
“Again, we’re getting into areas?—”
He slammed his hands down on the table. “Four people are dead, counselor. Two of them were Garrett’s friends. Supposedly.” He shifted his glare toward Garrett. “Don’t you want to help us capture the killer who murdered your friends? Or are you so heartless you don’t care?”
“Of course I care!” Garrett’s own temper flared as his cheeks heated.
Laney laid a hand on Jonah’s arm. Her touch was so familiar, and yet never failed to grab his attention. “Please, Jonah. Back off. Your accusations are unwarranted.”
He jerked away from her to prowl the room, and Laney offered an apologetic smile to Garrett and Paul. “I’m so sorry. He’s very protective, and this morning was rattling for us both.” She turned toward Garrett. “It would help a lot if you could confirm your whereabouts this morning, as well as for the times of the murders.”
“My client has already informed you he was home alone during both murders.” Paul sniffed.
“Of course. I forgot.” Laney tapped her head as if she was dense. “And this morning?”
His lawyer attempted to prevent him from answering, but Garrett waved away the advice. “I was hiking in the woods near Bear Creek. This entire thing…” He swallowed hard. “Nolan and Lisa’s murders…they were a shock. I haven’t processed it all yet and needed some time to be alone and grieve.”
“That’s understandable.” Laney tilted her head. “Bear Creek is pretty close to the second location you pointed out that Mitch could be using as a hideaway. Did you see him out that way?”
“No.” Garrett’s gaze narrowed, as if he was realizing that maybe Laney wasn’t on his side after all. “Like I said, the last time I saw Mitch was two weeks ago.”
