Page 18 of Craving Sin (Touch of Evil 13)
Theo and Sylvie had finished their meals a while ago. Time had dwindled to a point where they couldn’t continue to sit in the booth and twiddle their thumbs. Besides, he preferred not to be idle. Sitting still for too long allowed images of Mia to take Kate’s place on the tarmac, and it was all he could do to keep his breakfast down.
Mia had become a significant part of his life. His grounding force, in a way. She was untouched by the harsh realities he and the team experienced on a daily basis. Her optimism and innocence were the reasons behind his sense of responsibility for her well-being.
How many times had he emphasized to Brook that she wasn’t responsible for her brother’s sins? Yesterday, as he stared down at what remained of Kate, he realized just how hollow his words must have sounded.
That level of culpability was utterly soul-crushing.
“It’s like they are all waiting for something to happen.” Sylvie glanced over at the counter, tucking some blonde strands that had escaped her bun behind her ear. “I genuinely thought Mekhi would take the bait.”
Theo finally noticed some movement outside the display window.
The distraction allowed him to push aside his thoughts and focus on a beat-up old truck that had rumbled to a stop in front of the diner. The faded paint and rusted edges were evidence of its hard labor. Although the side window was covered in a film of dust, he could still make out the older gentleman just fine.
“Jackpot,” Theo muttered as he monitored the man’s movements.
Mekhi Hale took his time getting out of the driver’s seat. His weathered skin reflected decades spent in the harsh sun and unforgiving Alaskan waters. A slight limp suggested that his body had endured the toll of such a life. Though the most recent picture they had of Hale was from a few years ago, he was easy to recognize.
A knitted cap protected his silver hair, and his worn work clothes hung loosely on his lean frame.While he clipped his truck keys to his belt loop, he met Theo’s stare. Mekhi’s eyes narrowed in agitation, but it was the sneer on his thin lips that expressed the severity.
He wasn’t pleased that his dirty laundry was being aired for all to see.
Thinking about Brook all morning had Theo dismissing the fisherman’s ire. At some point, Hale had figured out that the man who worked for him years ago was a serial killer. He should have come forward immediately.
Before too long, the bell above the door jingled, causing Mekhi’s arrival to stir the room. Though he was one of them, that knowledge didn’t stop the whispers and watchful stares as he stood there glaring back at them.
“Mind your own damn business,” Mekhi exclaimed gruffly to the other diners before he began to make his way across the tiled floor with annoyance. He didn’t speak again until he grabbed a chair from a nearby table and swung it around to face the booth. “Well, you got me here. Ask your damn questions, and then be on your way.”
Theo and Sylvie exchanged knowing glances, and her slight nod indicated that she was leaving the approach method to him. She and Bit hadn’t gotten far with their strategy yesterday. Theo waited until Mekhi was settled in the seat, then got directly to the point, as requested.
“You hired a murderer to work for you eleven years ago, Mr. Hale. Why?”
Mekhi's jaw tightened at the accusation and follow-up question. His mouth pressed into a thin line of frustration.
“I didn't know at the time that the man had killed someone.”
“Multiple someones,” Theo corrected somewhat casually. He had made his point, and that was all that was needed in this situation. “When did you know? When Lusa Kalluk went missing in 2014? A year later? When?”
“Not until a few months ago,” Mekhi finally admitted, his voice rather hoarse. His index finger and thumb on his right hand were tinged yellow, indicating he was a heavy smoker. “Look, I like my privacy. I prefer peace and quiet. I get my news either on the radio or when I come into town once or twice a month.”
Mekhi gestured toward the counter over his shoulder. Tucked into the corner, a small television set was tuned to a local channel.
“I saw Walsh’s face on the news, but it wasn’t like I could add anything else that the police didn’t already know,” Mekhi explained before crossing his arms. “He worked for me on some private fishing charters a couple of summers. I paid him under the table. I haven’t thought about the guy since.”
Theo subtly tapped the table.
Sylvie would understand his signal that she should take over.
“Mr. Hale,” Sylvie said softly, “you’re right, in a way. We figured out that Jacob Walsh was here in 2014 and 2015, but there are still many unanswered questions. You may feel as if too much time has passed to recall anything of significance, but you might know more than you realize.”
Mekhi’s gaze slid toward the display window. He stared out toward the dense forest in the distance before giving a slight nod of concession.
“Ask your questions so that I can be on my way.”
“How did Jacob come to work for you? How did he approach you?”
“I used to work for a large fishing charter in Whittier, but I would take the weekends for myself and bring tourists out on my fishing boat for some extra cash.” Mekhi raised his left hand to rub his right shoulder, as if he were recalling the consequences of such strenuous work. “Anyway, I hit a local bar one night. Jacob was there. He asked if anyone knew of some private charters that might pay under the table. A larger company had just folded, and he was out of work. I said that I could use a hand, and that was that.”
Theo was certain that Bit had covered all the large fishing charters. Jacob had clearly lied about being laid off, but it had been a genius way to take advantage of the situation.
