Burnt River (8 page)

“That’s what I thought, and to tell you the truth, I’d say Tanya was sympathetic to what he was going through. Lana less so. Lately I got the impression she could take it or leave it. I think she wanted more, but she wasn’t willing to play those sorts of games.”

“Where were you yesterday evening?”

“Tyler Locke’s house.”

“Who else was there?”

“It was only Chase Lane, Tyler, me, and John. We played some video games, drank beer. That sort of thing. It was going to be an early start so I left around eleven.”

“Were you the first to leave?”

“Yeah, but Chase was on his way out as well. He works for John’s family. The foreman up there doesn’t like it when you’re late.”

“I’ve met Wade Larkin. He’s kind of intimidating.”

“I spent a couple of summers working for him. Credit to him, he treated John the same as the rest of us. After working for Wade, basic training seemed easy.”

“Did John seem distracted last night?”

“I didn’t notice anything.”

“Was it normal for him to stop in at The Whitefish on his way home?”

“That’s probably a question for Lana.”

“Do you often go for early-morning rides?”

“Not as often as I’d like to.” He put his hand on his leg.

“Where’d you go this morning?”

“Up near Darby Lake.”

“Seems too hot to ride.”

“It was cold when I started out this morning.”

“What time was that?”

“Around five. I had to cover a lot of ground and I’m slower than I used to be.”

“Have you had difficulty adjusting to being back home?”

“I’m sure Aiden has told you all about my problems.”

“Actually, he hasn’t.”

“Well, that’s awkward.”

“So what are your problems, Mr. Reed?”

Dylan looked down at his hands. “When I came home from the VA hospital in Denver, I really couldn’t be on my own, so I moved in with my mom. She made the mistake of coming into my room to wake me up. Sometimes I get confused as to where I am. I don’t remember hitting her.”

“Is she okay?”

“Not really. She locks her bedroom door and tries her best not to jump every time I lift a finger.”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

“We’re working on it.”

“What were the other incidents?”

“Nothing major. A couple of fights. I got my ass kicked, so no harm done.”

“Did you have any issues with John?”

“No, we got on fine. Other than Tyler, John was the only person around here who really understood what I’ve been through.”

“I found a card in John’s wallet for a therapist in Collier. Do you know anything about that?”

“Yeah, I gave it to him. It’s a woman I see.”

“Why did John need a therapist? You said he seemed well adjusted.”

Dylan hesitated. “It doesn’t seem right sharing what he told me in confidence.”

“I need to understand his state of mind. If he was struggling with adjusting to civilian life I’d like to know.”

“It was nothing like that. This was about family. The stress of living with his mom was really starting to get to him. She was telling him some shit about Jeremy not being his real father. Apparently she was pretty convincing. The poor guy felt guilty for even thinking it might be true. Hence the therapist.”

“Did his mother say who this man was?”

“Not that I know of. At some point John decided to drop it.”

“Did his sister know?”

“He asked me never to speak to Jessie about it.”

“Do you think it could be true?”

He shook his head slowly. “I always told him it was his mother’s illness talking. If you spent any time with Jeremy and John you could see they were father and son.”

“And you’re sure Jessie never knew about it?”

“She’s never mentioned it. I was a little surprised John was so worried about her finding out. Given how difficult her relationship is with Jeremy, I imagine she’d have been relieved to learn there was a possibility they weren’t related.”

“That bad?”

“She hasn’t made it easy for him.”

“Can you think of anyone who would want to hurt John?”

Dylan sat quietly for a few moments. “There’s the usual shit that goes on when we’re out. Maybe it’s been a little worse lately, but I can’t think of any particular time when John has caused offense. Compared to Tyler and me, he’s pretty tame.”

“Could John have been seeing someone who was married or in a relationship?”

“That would have been hard to pull off without Tyler and me finding out.”

“You’d be surprised at what people keep hidden.”

“That’s not the John I know.”

“But John may have changed.”

“I suppose so.”

Macy put her notes aside. “Thank you for coming in. It may not seem like it, but you’ve been very helpful.”

“I wish I could do more.”

Macy shook Dylan’s hand. “Please contact myself or Police Chief Marsh if you think of anything else that may be helpful in our investigation.”

*   *   *

Tyler Locke rocked his chair on its back legs and stared at Macy. Jumbled with third-degree burns, ruined tattoos ran down his arms, and his scalp was pocked with shrapnel wounds. She fought the desire to look away. Unlike Dylan, Tyler challenged her with every word and gesture. Every time he moved, she flinched.

Macy got up and went over to the window.

“Do you mind if I open this? It’s a bit stuffy in here.”

Tyler leveled his gaze at her. “Suit yourself. It’s your show.”

“Well, it’s mine for now.”

She pulled up the blinds and the room brightened, but the window was jammed shut. She tugged at the latch a couple of times and it didn’t budge. She didn’t hear Tyler get up from his chair. One second he was sitting and the next he was right next to her. She jumped and this time he noticed.

“Here, let me try,” he said.

Once she was seated Macy put her hands on her lap so he couldn’t see that they were shaking. She nodded her approval when he managed to force the window open.

“Thank you, that’s better.”

Tyler stayed where he was, his eyes fixed on something outside. “I hate air-conditioning. The hum drives me mad.”

“I suspect there’s not much air-conditioning in Afghanistan.”

“You’d be surprised.”

“Maybe you should enlighten me.”

He returned to the table. “Maybe another time.”

“What can you tell me about John’s experience over there? I understand you were in the same unit.”

“I suppose you want the
Reader’s Digest
version like everyone else?”

“John was one of your best friends. You and Dylan were closer to him than anyone. I need to know if there might be a connection between his military service and his death here in Wilmington Creek. If he was struggling, I need to know it. It’s important to understand his state of mind. He may have been doing things he shouldn’t have been doing, putting himself in danger unnecessarily.”

“I know what you mean, but I don’t think John had it in him. Don’t get me wrong, in the beginning John was as ready to mix it up as anyone.”

“And in the end?”

Tyler hesitated. “In the end, John lost his nerve. He’d been solid since day one and then he was scared shitless every time he left the compound. I guess we all have our tipping point.”

“What do you suppose changed?”

He rubbed a palm across his peppered scalp. “He saw what happened to me, and we lost a few other guys. I guess he decided his number was up. We’re all pretty superstitious but in that last month John took it to another level. There were all these little rituals he had to perform before he went out on patrol. He’d try to hide it, but I saw what was going on. And then one night, it wasn’t enough. I had to really push to get him in the Humvee.”

“So he came home.”

“No. I kept him going. Nothing was ever put in his record. There was never a mark against him. Last summer he had an option to continue on, but he took an honorable discharge instead. No shame in that.”

“Then why are you telling me?”

“Because last night he was doing the kind of shit he used to do before he was going out on patrol. To tell you the truth, I don’t even think he realized it.”

“Could he have been doing it all along? You’ve only been on leave for a few weeks.”

“I was worried how he was adjusting so I was keeping a close eye on him. I’m telling you now. He was different last night. Dylan might have noticed too, but he left a good hour before John, so he didn’t see it.”

“Did you say something to John?”

“I tried to, but Connor was hanging all over him so I didn’t get a chance.”

Macy looked at her notes. “Who’s Connor?”

“I was looking after my nephew last night. He stays over sometimes when I’m in town. He idolizes John. This is gonna break his heart.”

“I think it’s going to break a lot of hearts.”

“Connor is only six. He won’t understand much. I guess that makes it easier.”

“Did John often stop at the bar?”

“Maybe. It’s the only thing open around here after ten at night.”

“What about the woman who works there, Lana Clark? I hear they were in a relationship.”

Tyler snorted. “I guess you could call it that. I think John was trying to take a walk on the wild side. Lana wasn’t good for him.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well, for starters she’s a class-A mind fuck.”

“Would you care to elaborate?”

“John didn’t see her for what she really is. Big hair, big tits, big ass. What’s not to like? But believe me when I say the woman is a total bitch.” He took out a pack of cigarettes and tapped them on the table. “John was a great friend. I only wanted what was best for him.”

“How well did you actually know her?”

“I knew her back in Georgia. We all did. She lived near Fort Benning. We all used to hang out together. She knew he was with Tanya but that wasn’t stopping her. I could tell she had her eye on him.”

“Did John know you disapproved of Lana?”

“I’m not one to keep things to myself.”

“I’m getting that.”

“John wasn’t happy with what I had to say, but it didn’t go both ways. It wasn’t like I was angry at him for making an ass out of himself with Lana. I figured he’d figure it out eventually all on his own, so I let it drop.”

Macy checked the time. “I read in your file that you’re due to join your unit again soon.”

“Two weeks from today.”

“Afghanistan?”

“I put in a request for Hawaii but they had other ideas.”

“Given your battalion is still in Afghanistan I’m surprised you were granted extended leave.”

“I’d accrued a lot of time off. If I didn’t use it, I’d lose it. I took a chance and requested an extension.” He looked her in the eye. “I guess they were feeling generous.”

“I’m sorry but I need to ask about the two hundred pounds of ammonium nitrate that were found in the back of your truck ten years ago.”

He stared at her for a few seconds before answering. “Never apologize for doing your job.”

“You testified that you had no idea how it got there.”

“That is correct.”

“The judge didn’t believe you. You were sentenced to two years’ probation.”

“He remembered me from when I was going through the juvenile courts. He wasn’t about to give me the benefit of the doubt.”

“Neither was Jeremy Dalton.”

“I made my peace with Jeremy years ago. He made a mistake but I decided to forgive him.”

“So no hard feelings?”

“None. My time in the army has been the best years of my life. No regrets.”

She slid her card across the table. “I want you to contact me or Aiden if you think of anything that could be helpful.”

“This wasn’t a robbery, was it?”

“I’m not at liberty to discuss the details of the case.”

“I’m right though. I can tell from the questions you’re asking me. It doesn’t add up.”

Macy leaned back in her chair. “Mr. Locke.”

“Call me Tyler.”

“I really appreciate you coming in to speak to me, but I’m afraid I can’t give you any more information. I may want to speak to you again, and I’m counting on your cooperation.”

Tyler pushed his chair back. “Well, you’d better hurry. When you’re due to ship out, two weeks goes by pretty quickly.”

Macy waited until Tyler had left the room before putting her head in her hands. She rubbed her eyes. Her day wasn’t even half over. She held up a piece of white paper and waved at Aiden through the one-way mirror. Tyler Locke was made of much stronger stuff than Dylan Reed. One of them had adapted. The other had been defeated. How John Dalton had been shaped by his time in the military was still a mystery. She looked through her notebook for the contact details for the therapist in Collier and picked up her phone.

7

Dylan sat on the sofa in the living room of his childhood home and waited for the painkillers to kick in. Across the room, Tyler leaned against the breakfast bar, scrolling through his text messages. Dylan closed his eyes. The interview had been exhausting. Macy Greeley may have meant well, but he resented her for feeling sorry for him. He didn’t want people’s sympathy. He wanted their respect. He shifted his weight, but it was no good. His leg was throbbing. It was as if every nerve ending in his body was knotted up in his thigh. Sometimes he imagined taking a gun and blowing another hole right through it. He slowed his breathing. Another five minutes, ten tops, and the edge would be worn down to a dull blade. His doctor wanted him to learn to manage the pain without drugs. He’d handed Dylan pamphlets on alternative medicine and the healing power of meditation. Dylan had driven all the way to the VA hospital in Helena for that little gem. He couldn’t help but resent his doctor too.

Tyler stretched out his back. “John’s parents have been taken to the hospital.”

Dylan wasn’t sure he’d heard right. “Pardon?”

“Annie attacked Jeremy.”

“You’re shitting me.”

“Check your phone. Everyone seems to know.”

“Are they okay?”

“Far as I can tell. Jeremy’s there as a precaution, and Annie’s in the psych ward.”

“I’ll call Jessie.”

“I just got a text. She wants us to meet her at Collier County Hospital in about an hour.” He looked at the clock on the wall. “I’m driving down to Kalispell to see Wayne, so you’re going to have to go without me.”