Chapter THIRTY-TWO
The Sarasota Police Department is housed in brand-new quarters on Adams Lane a couple of blocks from the judicial center. J.D was wearing fresh clothes and her equipment belt with a nine-millimeter pistol holstered at her side. Her gold badge was pinned to the front of the belt. She looked tough, but I could tell from the small grimaces she made from time to time, her side still hurt.
I left my pistol in the glove box of my Explorer, knowing I couldn’t get it through the metal detectors that were sure to be in the police station lobby. An exception was made for fellow cops. J.D. announced herself and we were told to take a seat in the waiting room. Detective Robson would be right with us.
Within minutes, the detective came through the door leading from the reception area to the interior of the building. He was a tall man with gray hair, a prominent nose, sunken cheeks, and sallow complexion. He was wearing a beige suit, a light-blue button-down shirt, and a tie patterned in blues and reds.
“Detective Duncan?” he asked, as he walked up to us. “I’m Harry Robson.”
J.D. and I both stood. “I’m J.D.,” she said, “and this is Matt Royal, my babysitter.”
He looked at me. “I don’t understand,” he said, shaking my hand.
“My chief wants him to look after me,” said J.D. “He’s okay, and he’s brighter than he looks. Tougher, too.”
“I still don’t understand,” Robson said. His look said that he didn’t like being jerked around.
“Sorry, Detective,” said J.D. “Matt’s a good friend and Chief Lester thought he should stick with me for a few days. The chief also put a uniform outside my house. Matt’s house, actually. We left him on the key.”
“J.D.’s a little defensive,” I said, “but somebody has tried to kill her three times since Sunday. The chief is just being careful.”
“You’re on the Longboat force?” asked Robson.
“No,” I said.
He shook his head. “I still don’t get it, but y’all come on back. This shouldn’t take long.”
We were taken to a small interview room that held a table and four chairs. Nothing else. Robson told us to make ourselves comfortable and left us, saying he’d be right back. J.D. and I sat quietly, my thoughts going back to our unfinished conversation of the morning, wondering if we were both reacting to the events of the past few days, or if there really was a future for us that held more than just friendship.
“He’s calling Bill Lester,” J.D. said.
“Babysitter?” I asked.
She grinned. “What would you call you?”
“Gallant protector?”
“I can see that. But, you’d be wrong. Grown-up detectives don’t need protecting.”
“How about companion, then?” I asked.
“I think that implies that we’re more than friends.”
The door opened before I could reply. Robson came in and took a chair across the table from J.D. “I called Chief Lester,” he said.
“I thought you would,” said J.D.
“He said that even though Mr. Royal isn’t law enforcement, he’s family and should be treated as such.”
“Thank you, Harry,” J.D. said.
“He also said that Royal’s the toughest son of a bitch he ever met, with the possible exception of somebody named Jock, who is also family.”
J.D. smiled at that. “Did the chief also tell you that Matt’s a lawyer?”
“Good Christ,” said Robson. “No. He didn’t mention that.”
“Don’t let it bother you, Detective,” I said. “I’m a retired lawyer and I’m only here as a babysitter. Nothing official.”
He laughed. “Everybody says you island people are strange. You ready, J.D.?”
“Shoot,” she said.
J.D. talked into a tape recorder. Robson asked a number of questions, got answers, doubled back to some of the same questions, got the same answers. When he was finished, he sat back and said, “Thanks, J.D. I hope I wasn’t too intrusive.”
She smiled. “Just doing your job, Harry. I understand that Bagby lawyered up and isn’t talking.”
“Yeah. He’ll have his first appearance in the morning. I don’t think the judge is going to set bail. He’s already on probation and the attempted murder of a law enforcement officer charge should keep him behind bars forever.”
“I don’t guess you found out anything about who’s behind all this,” said J.D.
“We’ve got nothing. I wish I could give you better news.”