I shook my head.
“I’m going to postpone Dylan’s hearing until we get this sorted out,” he said. “I’m really sorry, Clyde.” He came around behind my chair, put his hands on my shoulders, and leaned forward to kiss the top of my head. And then he was gone.
*
After Diana was taken away for booking, I stumbled out of the police station and stood catching my breath in the frosty air.
The shock passed and was quickly replaced by anger. I was furious with Diana for what I was sure was a stunt or a misplaced sense of duty. I didn’t believe for a moment that she had killed Rafe. Mac should know better. How could he arrest her when it was obvious she was lying? I didn’t know what to do next, so I went to find Alex.
If I had been thinking clearly, I would have realized that Alex would need his own support when he heard the news.
I found him in the kitchen of Everyday Grill getting ready for the dinnertime rush. He glanced up as I walked in. One look and he rushed forward and helped me to a chair.
“Clyde, what happened?”
I put my head in my hands, took a deep breath, and then felt myself coming back together. I couldn’t help Diana if I fell apart. I looked up to see Alex’s staff hovering nearby.
“Let’s go to your office.”
Alex nodded and led the way. I fell gratefully into his visitor chair.
“It’s Diana,” I said after he shut the door.
“Is she hurt? Where is she?” He grabbed the doorknob, ready to go.
“She confessed. She’s at the police station.”
“Confessed to what? She hasn’t done anything.” He crossed his arms and glowered as if I had arrested her.
I explained the visit from Charla and Diana’s request to talk to Mac.
“I thought she just wanted to try to get some information from him about Dylan and what kind of a case they had against him,” I said. I rubbed my arms to ward off the chill that was creeping up my body. “I had no idea she was going to confess and get herself arrested.”
Alex nodded. “She didn’t do it.”
“I know that.”
“Mac must know it as well. Why would he arrest her?”
I shook my head. “He must be following some sort of protocol. You know how he is about following the rules. I don’t remember what the procedure would be for something like this. It never came up when I worked there.” I had worked in the Crystal Haven department for a short time before going to Ann Arbor after police academy but no one had confessed to murder while I was there.
“Okay, we have to figure out how to get her out of jail.” Alex sat in his chair and pulled his desk phone closer.
“I don’t think he’ll be able to keep her long without evidence, but a confession does warrant investigation.”
“How bad does it look for Dylan?” His hand paused over the phone. I had no idea who he thought he was going to call.
“I don’t know. We never got that far. She just said she wanted to talk to Mac and then confessed. She must think she can protect him somehow.”
“Can you get anything out of Mac?”
I shook my head. “He’s likely going to tell me to get her a lawyer and keep out of it.”
“Maybe Tom?”
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
We made a plan to call Rupert and assign him the task of getting Diana out of jail, and to meet at my house that evening after the dinner crowd.
I walked to my Jeep feeling shaky and unfocused. Knowing I’d have to tell my family the news in person, I drove to my house to pick up Seth and the dogs. I just hoped to get to my family before the gossip chain reached them.
23
There was no way to prepare for my family. Even after years of perfecting my technique, they always surprised me.
My announcement was met with a stunned silence, which was astounding in itself. Then, everyone started talking at once.
“I did not see this coming,” Vi said.
“It wasn’t on the scanner,” Dad said.
“The cards haven’t shown anything like this.”
Only Seth was silent. He sat with Tuffy and Baxter on the floor, all three with long faces and sad eyes.
“What should we do?” Mom asked.
“I want to go back out to the woods where Rafe died. Maybe I’ll remember something if I’m there,” I said.
Seth stood. “We’ll come with you.” He gestured to the dogs, who looked like they sensed a walk was on offer. Baxter knew a lot of words and “woods” was one of his favorites.
I glanced out the window at the rapidly setting sun. “It’s too late now. It’ll be dark soon. We’ll go in the morning.”