The Viper

After explaining the circumstances surrounding Tess Larson’s trip to the Harbane CVS and her visitor’s absence when she returned, Gurney described his discovery of the truck and motorcycle tire tracks. “I have photos of those tracks, as well as sketches Larson made of the man and his vehicles. I can give them to you right now.”

Her voice was as unrevealing as her expression. “It would be appropriate for you to turn over all relevant material in your possession.”

He took out his phone, selected the photo files, and sent them to her cell number. Moments later a muted chime announced the arrival of the files on her phone. She swiped slowly through the photos, making an obvious effort to appear unimpressed.

“All this proves is that you’ve ignored the terms of our agreement.”

“What agreement?”

“That I would endeavor, out of respect for your background, not to rush to judgment regarding your role in the Lerman shooting; and that you, in turn, would refrain from any disruptive investigations into the Lerman cases. You’ve been violating the letter and the spirit of that understanding.”

“Self-preservation is a powerful motivator.”

“Your behavior calls for your arrest. You call that self-preservation?”

“Someone’s been playing an intimidating game with the light in my barn—letting me know how vulnerable I am. And how vulnerable my wife is.”

“Sounds unpleasant,” said Stryker without a speck of concern. “But I don’t see the connection to what we’re discussing.”

“I already told you about a headless rabbit being placed in my car, and—”

Stryker cut him off. “Another irrelevant event. Is that it?”

“Hardly. The Blackmore Mountain setup was an obvious effort to stop my investigation of Lenny Lerman’s murder by framing me for the murder of his son. You’d have to be blind not to see a pattern in those events.”

Stryker’s rigid gaze was fixed on her desktop. “Apparently it hasn’t occurred to you that the events that you believe were designed to make you back away from the case may have a different purpose altogether.”

“Such as?”

“Every one of these supposed ‘warnings’ has had the actual effect of making you pursue your inquiries with increasing determination. If those events have any relevance at all, you may be looking at them backward. Their real purpose may be to motivate you.”

“That’s quite a creative interpretation.”

“Call it whatever you want. But it’s possible you’re being played for a fool by someone who wants you to stir up confusion about Slade’s conviction.”

Gurney smiled. “If the case against him is solid as you say, why on earth would someone want me to stir up confusion?”

“Obviously, to create controversy. You’re not just anyone, David. Your reputation gives you weight. I can see headlines like ‘Top NYPD Detective Challenges Outcome of Slade Trial.’”

Gurney shook his head. “But what would the endgame be? If there’s ultimately no fire under the smoke—”

Stryker’s anger broke through the forced calmness in her voice. “The endgame would be to embarrass me politically! People focus on controversy, not on its legitimacy. Next year, when I’m up for reelection, they’ll be thinking, ‘Oh, yeah, Stryker, she’s the one behind that questionable conviction.’ That kind of thing ends political careers.”

“You’re actually suggesting that someone put a decapitated rabbit in my car as part of some complicated plot to obstruct your reelection?”

She fixed Gurney with an unblinking stare. “Politics is a blood sport, David. Don’t underestimate what some people might be willing to do.”

He said nothing.

She seemed pleased by his silence. She relaxed, just a little. “So we understand each other, let me make this perfectly clear. As a condition of your freedom during the investigation of the Blackmore homicide, you are to remain in Walnut Crossing, unless I specifically request your presence in this office. You are to have no contact with anyone connected to the Slade case or the Blackmore case. Break this agreement, and you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

46

GURNEY SAT FOR A WHILE IN THE COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING parking lot, reviewing his meeting with Stryker, trying to sift the truth from the nonsense. He saw no way that the crime scene evidence, in light of the information provided by Nora Rumsten and Tess Larson, could be used to justify his arrest. The sense of relief that provided, however, was diluted by the discovery that Stryker’s sharp mind was warped by paranoia. One of her comments was particularly unsettling: Don’t underestimate what some people might be willing to do. It was clear that some people included her.

He had intended to tell her about the peculiar atmosphere of Bruno Lanka’s store and his impression that the store’s sole visible employee was the same man who sent Tess Larson on a fabricated mission to Harbane. But her burst of irrationality stopped him cold.