“I already did that.”
“Oh.”
He laughed. “There’s this newfangled contraption called the telephone. We use it a lot in my line of work. Also computers. Those can be helpful sometimes.”
“Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.”
“Is it, though? Because you’re pretty sarcastic yourself, Professor Brennan.”
I didn’t dignify that with an answer. “What did you find out?”
He looked thoughtful.
“Or can you not say?”
Rory said slowly, “This is not for public consumption. Right? This is not to be shared on any form of mediaorin conversation with anyone.”
“Understood.”
“I’m dead serious.”
“You have my word.”
Since we were strangers, that probably didn’t mean much to him, but after a moment, he nodded curtly. “The case is technically still open; however, Hastings PD believes they’ve identified Deirdre’s killer and that he’s deceased.”
“Deceased?” I whispered.
Rory nodded.
“Who is—was—it?”
He shook his head.
“You don’t know?”
“They declined to say.”
“Theydeclined?”
“They don’t have to share that information. Or any information. It’s not a federal case. I have no authority to insist.”
“Sure, but professional courtesy…”
Rory grimaced. “Maybe. If it was any other case, probably. But Hastings PD has taken a lot of heat over this case through the years. A lot of abuse. And, while mistakes were made early in the investigation, not all the criticism was justified.”
Not all, no. Some of it, yes. But HPD was a small, rural outpost, and they had neither the experience nor the training to deal with a case like Deirdre’s.
He said, “Part of their decision is based on consideration for the family.”
“Whose family? Not Deirdre’s, clearly.”
“No. The suspect’s family.”
I struggled with the idea that the suspect’s family deserved consideration. But after all, this person was simply a suspect. And in any case, the family wasn’t guilty of any crime. Even if they had known or suspected this person’s involvement, it’s our instinct as humans to protect the people we love. IthoughtI knew what I’d do faced with such a situation, but I’ve never been anywhere near that kind of situation.
“Was this information shared with Pat?”
“Apparently, it’s still under debate.”
