“Where did he go?” I asked patiently.
“At first, he headed toward Janelle, but then he veered off and went around the side of the restaurant.”
I frowned. “Did he go to the gazebo?”
“How the hell would I know?”
Gritting my teeth, I asked, “After you struck him, did he try to hit you back, or did he just take the punch and storm off?”
“You mean after I hypothetically hit him?”
I could almost hear my patience snapping like the strings of an antique violin. “Could you please just answer the question?”
He smirked. “He stormed off. A real man would’ve hit back, but Archie was a pussy.”
“Perhaps he just didn’t feel right about punching his father-in-law,” I said tersely.
“You’re entitled to your opinion.” He shrugged. “But I could tell he was afraid to fight me.”
I was really beginning to dislike Mr. Raiden. He was draining what little energy I had left. I felt like I was trying to cycle up a mountain with no chain on my bike. Drawing in a breath, I asked, “So, you don’t know where Archie went after you hit—”
“Hypothetically hit him, you mean?” he interrupted.
I had a vision of my chainless bike flying off the side of the mountain. He was making me workwaytoo hard for the amount of information I was getting. I was struggling to keep my cool, which wasn’t a good thing. I decided it might be best to revisit Mr. Raiden and his statement another time. “You know what, Mr. Raiden? I think I’ll just bring you in during the week to finish our discussion.”
“Wait. What?” He looked startled.
“Maybe when you’re in a more cooperative mood, we can have a more useful conversation. This just feels like you’re wasting my time. I’ll be speaking with Angela tomorrow. Perhaps she’ll be more forthright in answering my questions.” I tucked my pen away, indicating I was wrapping things up.
For whatever reason, he didn’t seem pleased with me ending the interview. “I don’t want to come in again. I want to get this over with now.”
I studied him, wondering if he was the most contrary man I’d ever met. He’d fought me tooth and nail about answering any questions at all, and now he was offended I was letting him leave. “I don’t have the energy for you right now.”
He sputtered, “What does that mean?”
“It means I’m exhausted, and getting answers out of you is too much work.” I stood. “I’ll bring you in later in the week. You’re free to go.”
“No.” He scowled. “Sit down, Sheriff. I’d rather finish this interview right now.”
“I suspect my time will be better spent elsewhere.”
His demeanor changed from combative to conciliatory in an instant. He forced an obviously phony smile. “You’re getting the wrong idea about me. My bark is much worse than my bite, Sheriff. Please sit down. I guess the stress of the situation isn’t bringing out my best traits.”
To put it mildly.
I frowned. “If I continue this interview, are you going to cooperate? Because I really am serious; I do not have the patience for your attitude. I’ve got a lot of people I need to talk to, and I don’t want to waste my time.”
“What was it you were asking me?” he asked agreeably. “Something about why I hit Archie?”
I sighed and sat down again. “I was asking where he went after that.”
“That’s right. I’m afraid I didn’t see where he went.” He exhaled, looking pained. “The worst part is apparently he didn’t do anything with Angela.”
“No?”
“I thought they had fooled around when I saw them sneaking out of the gazebo together. Archie denied it, but I didn’t believe him. However, Angela later admitted he’d rejected her advances.”
“So… you hit Archie for no reason?”
