‘You said to Isenberg that Johnny at Pies & Fries had mentioned Shane,’ she said as Adam led her into the elevator and pushed the button for his floor. ‘In what context?’
He was back in detective mode, his movements spare, his eyes coldly unreadable. ‘According to Johnny, Andy Gold said he and Shane went to high school together, but that Shane got a full ride to a university up north and he moved away. Andy also brought a young woman into Pies & Fries from time to time. He called her Linnie.’
‘Oh,’ Meredith breathed, recalling the devastation on Andy Gold’s face moments before his death. ‘The “her” he was afraid would be killed. He said, “I’m sorry, Lin.” I forgot about that until just now.’
His nod was brisk. ‘A fair assumption then, but let’s see what Mr Baird has to say.’
Adam took her straight to the observation side of the interview room where Lieutenant Isenberg waited in front of the mirror, arms folded over her chest. She was frowning, troubled.
She glanced up, greeted them with a nod, then returned her gaze to the two young men sitting at the table on the other side of the glass. ‘The blond is Shane Baird. The ginger is his best friend, Kyle Davis. Both sophomores at Kiesler University. Kyle borrowed his girlfriend’s car to get Shane here because Shane doesn’t have a car and was “super rattled” when he saw Andy’s picture in an article online. Kyle has apparently taken on the role of Shane’s mouthpiece. The Baird kid’s said only eight words since he got here. Kyle’s been demanding to speak to the detective working Andy Gold’s murder.’
‘What were the eight words Shane said?’ Meredith asked.
Isenberg gave her a considering glance. ‘“Who was the woman Andy tried to shoot?” He’s repeated that question a dozen times. Have you seen either of them before?’
‘So there is a connection between Andy Gold and Meredith,’ Adam said with grim satisfaction.
Isenberg shrugged. ‘Better than a long shot at least.’
Meredith studied the young men at the table. Both were pale, their clothing rumpled. Shane’s blond hair was shaggy, but it had been cut conservatively at some point. He kept running a shaking hand through it. Kyle’s shoulder-length red hair looked like he cut it himself whenever it got in his eyes. He must wear it in a ponytail, she thought, because he kept pulling at a lime-green scrunchie on his wrist and snapping it back. Every few seconds, he’d glance at his phone, precisely arranged on the table in front of him, then murmur something soundlessly. It looked like please, please, please.
Shane’s knee kept bouncing under the table, stilling only when Kyle squeezed his shoulder.
‘No,’ Meredith said with certainty. ‘I’ve never seen either of them before. I would have expected Mr Baird to be upset, but they both look like they’re about to jump out of their skin. They’re terrified.’
‘And wired,’ Adam commented. ‘I don’t want to spook them, although Kyle looks like he’s more in control.’
Isenberg nodded. ‘That’s been the cycle since they got here. Every few minutes Kyle will squeeze Shane’s shoulder and calm him down.’ She handed Adam the file. ‘The first thing Kyle will ask is if we’ve heard from Tiffany. She’s Kyle’s girlfriend and the one who loaned him her car for this trip. She hasn’t responded to any of his texts since one thirty-five our time this morning.’
Adam frowned. ‘She could be asleep.’
‘I suggested that,’ Isenberg said, ‘but for whatever reason he didn’t accept it. He was really worried when I got downstairs to meet them. He’s upset that he doesn’t get any cell signal down here, in case she’s tried to reach him. I promised him I’d call the Chicago precinct near the girl’s mother’s house, which was where she was supposed to be staying for the weekend.’ She shook her head and sighed. ‘Turns out Kyle was right to be worried. Chicago PD confirmed a 911 call from that address at one thirty-seven a.m. They’re sending a message to the detectives on the case to call us.’
‘Shit,’ Adam muttered, a muscle in his cheek twitching.
Meredith had to grip her hands together to keep from trying to soothe that twitching muscle with her thumb. He’d requested she’d stay professional, wear her zen mask. At least she could do that for him.
‘How did Kyle know to be worried?’ Adam asked.
Isenberg shrugged again. ‘Don’t know. That’s what I want you to find out.’
Meredith watched the young man’s mouth moving again. ‘That’s why Kyle’s checking his phone and saying please, please, please.’
Isenberg nodded. ‘Yeah. For now, Adam, just tell them we haven’t heard anything. I won’t add to their tension until I know facts. Dr Fallon can stay with me.’
‘Right. I texted Trip after your call. He got called to the lab after we left the fire. They’d finished processing the internal components of the bomb and found something. He said he’d meet me here when he was done. We can debrief when I’m finished.’
Without a backward look, Adam left the observation room, emerging seconds later on the other side of the glass. Taking a seat across from the two, he smoothed his tie. ‘Hi. I’m Detective Kimble. I’m investigating the incident that took place in the restaurant this afternoon. The file here’ – he tapped the folder – ‘says you’re Shane Baird and Kyle Davis.’
‘Has the lieutenant heard from my girlfriend yet?’ Kyle demanded.
‘She’s called the precinct. We’re still waiting to hear back from them. You’ll know as soon as we do,’ Adam promised. ‘Why are you so worried about her?’
Kyle looked at Shane from the corner of his eye. Shane swallowed audibly and lifted his gaze to Adam’s face. ‘Who is the woman Andy tried to shoot?’
‘Why do you need to know?’ Adam countered coolly, and Shane erupted before their eyes, his clenched fists pounding the table in one sudden burst of fury.
‘Don’t answer my question with a goddamn question!’ he shouted. ‘My friend is dead. The woman he tried to shoot is the last person to talk to him. I want to know who she is.’ He slumped back in his chair, as if the rage had taken all his reserves. ‘I’m sorry.’ He rubbed his hands over his face. ‘But I won’t tell you anything until I get an answer.’
Kyle’s chin came up, but it trembled, spoiling his attempt at bravado. ‘And we’re not under arrest, so we can leave. We’ll get the answer our own way.’
Meredith frowned at them. ‘Lieutenant, I thought all the news reports on the shooting included my name.’
‘They did,’ Isenberg said. ‘Baird has to have seen it. His insistence doesn’t make sense.’ She paused a moment. ‘I want to see his reaction to you. Are you willing to go in there? We’ve searched them for weapons and Kimble and I will stay in there with you.’
‘Of course,’ Meredith replied. ‘Whatever you need me to do.’
Cincinnati, Ohio,
Sunday 20 December, 4.30 A.M.
Shane Baird was, Adam thought, truly minutes away from losing his shit. He was debating asking Isenberg to bring Meredith into the interview when there was a light knock at the door and his boss stuck her head in. ‘Detective? A word? Sorry, Mr Davis,’ she said as Kyle opened his mouth. ‘I’m still waiting for a call back. I promise I will let you know.’
She stood back to let Adam through the door where Meredith stood in the hall, just out of the boys’ view.
‘Great minds,’ Adam murmured. ‘I was about to ask you to send her in.’
‘We’ll all go in,’ Isenberg said. ‘Two of them, three of us.’ She gave Meredith a stern look. ‘If I tell you to leave, you leave without an argument.’
‘I’ve already had a gun pointed at me once in the last twenty-four hours,’ Meredith said seriously. ‘I will not argue. I promise.’