Lucy tried to imagine a scenario that would fit the evidence. “Staging that scene would have taken time. Mateo’s uncle said he was supposed to be at Fleming’s house at three, but that’s also when he said he’d meet Megan.”
“His family told us he left their house half past one. Even on his bike, he’d be at Fleming’s place well before two. Gives him plenty of time to grab the money, get interrupted by Fleming, stage the crime scene, and grab Fleming.” Hayden frowned. “Or maybe he needed Fleming to get the combination to the safe. Maybe Mateo was the one who called Fleming and asked him to come home early.”
Lucy still wasn’t buying it. “Okay, but if he’s vicious enough to torture Fleming, why not just kill him once he got what he wanted? Why take him? A hostage adds a ton of complications and slows him down.”
“A chance for more money? But that is a lot of risk. He could have just taken the money and run.”
“My point exactly.” Lucy paced to the doorway and looked across the bullpen to where Megan was comforting Mateo’s mother. She wondered about Mrs. Fleming. Who was comforting her? Why wasn’t she here? “How was the video sent?”
“Anonymous account. They texted Shelly with the link. Got so upset, we had to get her some valium. She’s at my house resting now.”
Lucy wished she’d been here to see Shelly’s reaction to the ransom video. This whole thing didn’t feel right. “Let’s look at it another way. What story did our actors want to tell with the scene?”
Hayden pursed her lips. “That the Pastor didn’t give up the money without a struggle. That he was hurt badly. That he might still be alive despite all the blood.”
She paused, then jerked her chin, her body straightening. “Kid doesn’t want to be labeled a killer. That’s why he’s willing to bargain for Robert’s life—he never really wanted to hurt anyone and the ransom is his way out.”
“I’m not sure. Still doesn’t feel right.”
“It does if it’s a sixteen-year-old kid raised on Criminal Minds and CSI.”
Megan joined them, pausing in the open doorway. Frowning at Lucy as if this was somehow all her fault. “Anna said there’s a ransom video. Can I see it?”
Hayden shook her head as she reached for her phone. “I’m calling for a warrant. Thanks, Lucy. Couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Mom, what did you do?” Megan’s voice was low but that didn’t mask her anger.
Lucy moved out to the bullpen, Megan following. “Nothing. I was trying to explain to Hayden why the evidence didn’t fit.”
“If the evidence doesn’t fit then why is she going after Mateo?”
“Because he’s the only one the evidence points to.”
“He’s innocent. A victim.” She stomped her foot. “You can’t arrest him. It’s wrong.”
Lucy reached to comfort Megan, but she moved away. “Calm down, Megan.”
“No. I won’t calm down. Mateo didn’t do anything. Someone has to fight for him, find out who did this.”
“That’s the job of the police. Not you.”
Megan’s eyes tightened. “Then you do it. What good is being a FBI Agent if you can’t protect the innocent?”
Lucy wanted so badly to promise everything would be all right, that she had some magical ability to make bad evidence disappear and find the truth. But she didn’t—she didn’t even have any official standing in the case.
Despite that, she knew she’d have to try. She looked up, met Megan’s gaze. “I can’t make any promises—”
“Of course you can’t,” Megan snapped before Lucy could finish. “You never can. I hate you. I hate your job. They’re going to hunt Mateo like a vicious criminal. What happens when they find him? He could get killed and it’s all your fault!”
She whirled and ran through the door to the lobby before Lucy could stop her.
Chapter 15
Lucy ran after Megan. When she caught up with her in the lobby, Lucy pulled her past Mateo’s family and outside to the parking lot where they could have some privacy. Last thing she wanted was to add to the Romeros’ worries with her own family drama.
“Megan Constance Callahan,” Lucy started. “You do not talk to me that way.” Her voice had an unwelcome quaver in it—she hated being angry with Megan, hated even more the betrayal Megan’s accusation carried.
Megan stood, flushed yet pale at the same time, like when she was a baby and had a fever. Lucy stepped forward, mouth open, ready to continue, when she realized she was looking Megan straight in the eye. When had her little girl grown as tall as she was?
She took another step, trembling. She was getting ready to do something she never did: make a promise she wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep. Lucy wrapped her arms around her baby. “It’ll be all right,” she whispered. “I promise.”