The Edge

Chapter 45

On the way out he bumped into Fred Bing, who was looking upset.

When Devine commented on this, Bing said, “Small business ownership is not all it’s cracked up to be. I had two people call in sick and a delivery I really needed did not come in.”

“Your sister told me about the unusual trust arrangement with your father.”

Bing sighed and leaned against the wall. “It actually wasn’t unusual for him. It was a simple power play all the way. He didn’t really care about keeping this place going. He did it for his inheritance. And he made sure that my sister and I have to do the same.”

“It sounds like a shitty thing to do to your kids.”

“On the plus side, I actually enjoy what I do. I mean, despite the day-to-day hiccups.”

“And you like the outdoors, your sister told me.”

Bing’s face lighted up. “I spend my workdays in the dark with dead bodies and grieving families. So I like to spend my free time in the sunshine with nature. Strikes a nice balance.”

“She also told me about her disastrous marriage.”

Bing’s smile faded. “Stuart Guillaume was the world’s biggest jerk. I could have killed him for what he did to my sister.” He blanched. “I mean... I didn’t mean that I would...”

“Relax, Fred, there’s no law against thinking about killing someone. And if he’d done that to my sister, I’d be thinking the same thing.”

Bing’s expression turned somber. “I heard about Earl.”

“Your sister and Chief Harper believe he killed himself.”

“Suicide? Earl? Look, I’m not trying to tell you how to do your job, but I will tell you this: Earl Palmer would have been the last person in the world I thought would take his own life.”

“Then you know what the alternative is.”

Bing nodded and looked deeply troubled. He drew closer. “This town is small and isolated. But every place, no matter how big or small, has secrets, Agent Devine. Secrets that some folks would rather keep hidden.”

“Can you be more specific?”

“I wish I could, but that’s all I know. Just a weird feeling.”

“Do you think Jenny was killed because she might have known specifics?”

“I don’t gamble, Agent Devine. Never saw the logic in it. But if I were a betting man I would lay down money that that was why she was killed. I mean, to my knowledge, she never came up here at this time of year before. There had to be a reason.”

“I appreciate your frankness. So you’re going to hang on here for the full ride?”

“I think so.”

“Your sister may cut out early.”

“She should. But I’ve told her that it won’t matter as far as the money goes.”

“What do you mean?” said Devine, startled.

“If she leaves the business and loses out, when I inherit, I’m giving her half. I mean, it’s plenty of money for us both, even if I eventually marry and have a family, which looks less and less likely every day. But you never know.”

“You told her that? I mean, about the inheritance?”

“Oh yes. In fact, I had it put in writing, just so there could be no misunderstanding in case I did get married and something happened to me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a couple of fires to put out.”

He rushed off, leaving Devine wondering what the hell was going on in this town.

Again.

Later, Devine pulled in front of Ink Well, Dak Silkwell’s tat parlor. It was not as big or elaborate as he had thought it would be, based on what he had heard about the man’s ambitions and achievements.

But when he looked at the samples of tattoos exhibited on the front plate glass, he came away impressed with Dak’s creative ability. He tried to walk in but the door was locked. He rang the buzzer next to the door and a woman’s voice said, “Yes?”

“Travis Devine to see Dak Silkwell.”

“Just a minute.”

Twenty seconds later the door buzzed open and Devine walked in.

Dak met him and shook his hand.

Devine looked around and saw four people in specially designed chairs. Two tattoo artists were seeing to them.

“You came to get a tat, right?” said Dak with a smile. “Just couldn’t stay away, could you?” Despite the cold outside he had on a yellow tank top and lightweight cargo pants.

“Not right now, maybe later. You have time to talk?”

“Got a shop full of customers and a long list of others coming in today.”

“Looks like the ones here now are being attended to.”

“Yeah, but I oversee each one. Give me ten minutes. I can meet you at the Brew.”

“It’s not open.”

“Why not?”

“I guess you didn’t hear. Earl Palmer’s dead. I actually took Annie to stay at your house last night. I thought you knew.”

Dak looked stunned by the news. “I... I didn’t go home last night. I stayed in town. At a friend’s place,” he added hastily. “What the hell happened? Did he have a heart attack or something?”

“Annie and I found him hanging in his wife’s art studio.”

Dak looked like he might be sick. “Hanging? He killed himself? Earl?”

The customers and the other tattoo artists were staring now, so Dak motioned Devine to follow him into a small office at the back of the shop. Dak closed the door and sat behind the desk, while Devine took a seat across from him.

“We’re not sure yet what happened,” said Devine. “Still investigating.”

“What is going on around here? First Jenny, now Earl?”

“When was the last time you saw Earl?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe a week ago, just seen him driving through town. He didn’t come around much, not after Bertie died.” He looked up at Devine with an expression of hope, which Devine could partly understand. “Maybe that’s why he did it, because of losing Bertie?”

“It’s possible, certainly.”

Dak shook his head. “So what did you want to ask me?”

“You said you had investors from Boston backing you.”

“That’s right.”

“Who are they?”

“Why does it matter to you?” asked Dak sharply, evidently not pleased at all about this change in the conversation.

“Knowing more is better than knowing less.”

“My business is private.”

“If that’s how you want to play it. So how goes the negotiation on selling Jocelyn Point?”

“It’s going well, actually.”

“And Alex is all on board?”

“When the time comes she will be.”

“You sound confident.”

“You may think you know my baby sister after meeting her a few times, but you don’t. She wants out of this place even more than I do.”

“Really? I thought she saw it as her safe space. And she likes teaching the kids.”

“She can teach kids anywhere. Putnam is where someone raped and nearly killed her. Do you really think she wants to be reminded of that every damn day?”

“Interesting choice of words, since she doesn’t remember the attack.”

“But people have told her what happened. Every time she passes by that spot she probably has all that horror rushing back to her, even if she can’t technically ‘remember’ it.”

“She didn’t know where it happened, until very recently. And now that spot will also always be the place where Jenny’s body was found. Don’t you find that curious? All the possible locations to leave Jenny’s body, and they chose that one?”

“I don’t know what to think about that. It does seem weird, but hell, life is weird.”

“I need something more definite than that.”

Dak rose. “Well, good luck on that. I’ve got to get back to making money.”

Outside, Devine found Harper and Fuss waiting next to his SUV. Their expressions were tight, focused, and grim, none of which he cared for, not a single one.

“What’s up?” he asked, half expecting them to say that someone else was dead.

Harper nodded at Fuss, who slowly took out her cuffs and said, “Travis Devine, you’re under arrest. You have the right to remain silent.”

“What?” said a startled Devine, who took a step back.

“Anything you say can and may be used in evidence against you in a court of law.”

Devine took another step back. “What the hell is going on here?”

Harper said, “Do not resist, Devine, it’ll only make it worse.”

“What am I being arrested for, exactly?”

“On suspicion of theft of police evidence,” replied Harper.

“What evidence?”

“Alex Silkwell’s rape kit.”

“Bullshit!”

Harper put his hand on top of his baton. “Do not be stupid. I do not want to hurt you.”

Devine almost laughed at that one.

Fuss seemed to read his mind and said nervously, “Look, I know you could kill both of us with just your pinkie, but we’re only doing our job.”

Devine glared at Harper as he slowly put his hands behind his back. Fuss cuffed him while she finished the Miranda warning. “You’re making a big mistake,” Devine said to Harper.

“Just doing my job.”

“And I’ll do mine,” retorted Devine. “And then maybe you’ll be the one with the cuffs on.”