Page 39 of Peak Suspicion
“None,” Carter said.
“I’ll add it to the file.”
“Why do you think Mitch had anything to do with Bryce’s kidnapping?” Mira asked.
“I can’t share that at this time.” He stood. “Now, you need to go.”
Carter followed her out of the sheriff’s office, through the lobby and onto the sidewalk. “I need to check on Shayla,” Mira said.
“Do you want me to come with you?” he asked.
“No thanks.”
He started to turn away, hiding his disappointment. She put out her hand and touched his arm. “Thank you,” she said. “For all your help. And for being patient with me.”
“Patient?”
“I like you. But it’s hard for me to trust people. I have my reasons.” She leaned in, the citrus and vanilla scent of her momentarily stunning him. She kissed him, the softest brush of her lips against his cheek.
Then she was gone, walking away, leaving him in a fog of desire and hope.
Chapter Twelve
Saturday evening, Shayla let Mira into her small rental home on the other side of town from Mira’s apartment. A small white dog barked at her from the sofa and two cats wound around her feet as she greeted her friend. Shayla rubbed at the streaks of mascara beneath her bloodshot eyes. “I’m sorry I’m such a mess,” she said. “I can’t stop crying.”
“Don’t apologize,” Mira said. “You have every reason to be upset.”
She followed Shayla to the sofa, where two more cats had settled in beside the dog. Shayla sank down next to them, while Mira took the adjacent armchair. A black cat—one that had greeted her at the door—immediately joined her. “I can’t believe Mitch had anything to do with this,” Shayla said.
Mira stroked the cat, who began to purr, and tried to think of something comforting to say. She had been in Shayla’s shoes, not believing a man she loved had been capable of such evil. In her case, police had shown her undeniable evidence of his guilt. And even George hadn’t denied his guilt. He had only asked her to understand that he couldn’t help himself and he had never really hurt anyone—a rationalization that had sickened her further.
But what proof did they have of Mitch’s guilt? “Carter and I went to the sheriff’s office,” she said.
Shayla looked more alert. “Did you find out anything? Did you see Mitch? Is he okay?”
“We didn’t see Mitch and the sheriff wouldn’t tell us anything about the case. But I told him about seeing Mitch here at school during pickup at the end of the day, and again about an hour and a half later when he came to tell the two of us about Bryce’s kidnapping.”
“I don’t see how he could have snatched Bryce, driven him up to Galloway Basin and gotten back to school in that time, do you?” Shayla asked.
Mira thought it might just be possible, though it didn’t seem probable. “The sheriff will interview other people at the school,” she said. “I’m sure someone will have seen him. Wouldn’t he have track practice after school?”
“Not on Thursday,” Shayla said. “That’s the day junior varsity competes, but they had a bye week, so he was free that afternoon.” She hugged a pillow to her stomach. “My mom called.”
“She was probably worried about you. What did she say?”
“That she hoped I would stay far away from a man like Mitch.”
“Oh, Shayla.”
“I told her I knew he was innocent and she had no right to judge him.” She rocked back and forth. “But what if I’m wrong? What if he really did do it?” She burst into sobs.
Mira moved over to the sofa, displacing one of the cats, and rubbed Shayla’s back, knowing there was no comfort she could offer but her presence. And maybe the benefit of her own experience. “What are you doing tomorrow?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Probably what I’m doing right now. Sitting at home. Crying.”
“Come hiking with me. You’ll feel better if you do something active, outdoors.” After George’s arrest, she had walked miles and miles in the mountains around Santa Fe. It was the only thing that kept her from completely falling apart.
“I don’t know,” Shayla said. “I’d be terrible company.”
