“Robyn’s superstitious. She doesn’t sit on the thirteenth bench.”
“And then what? You went straight to Stacy’s body?” Vargas’s tone had changed. There was an edge to it.
“No. I got to the bench—”
“Just you?”
“No. Chandler was with me, but he just came because I asked.”
“So, you’re at the bench, what then? Did Robyn tell you that she found it on the east side?”
“No, but she did say that she found it when she was going to the bathroom in the woods. The east side, if that’s the side toward the pond, has trees. The other side is open grass.”
“What made you go to the pond?”
“Well, we saw some branches were snapped and we followed them.”
“That led you to the body?”
“No, we turned around to leave and then we saw.” Jack swallowed. “We saw some blond hair on this holly bush.”
“How far away were you from the hair when you saw it?”
“Chandler saw it first. He was close. A few feet maybe. It stood out. It’s blond and the holly leaves are dark green.”
“That’s still pretty far away from the pond.”
“The reeds were broken—the path was obvious.”
Vargas steepled his fingers. “The reeds were broken? Reeds?” He exchanged a quizzical look with the policeman near the door. “I thought reeds bend. But either way, are you a hunter?”
“A hunter?” Jack asked, confused. “No. Why?”
“I’m trying to figure out how you became a tracker.”
“You don’t have to be a tracker to see that path. It was clear that someone went that way. Perhaps dragged a body. They were those dry reeds that break when you touch them. Chandler thought a fisherman made the path but—”
“But you didn’t call the police?”
“To tell them that I found a path?”
“To alert us that you found the handbag and all that you suspected. You want to be a cop, right? What would a uniformed officer be required to do?”
“Call it in,” Jack conceded. “But—”
“So you trampled down the path and contaminated a crime scene?” Vargas grumbled.
Jack held up both hands palms out. “I didn’t know it was a crime scene. I still hoped she was alive. I was just trying to help.”
“Help?” Vargas stuck his tongue in his cheek. “Oh, that’s right, you want to be a cop. But I’m trying to figure out who you’re really helping. You see, we have a suspect in Stacy Shaw’s disappearance. His name’s Jay Martin. We put him in the Bay until he decides that he wants to cooperate. Make him sweat and tell us what happened to Stacy. That, and I wanted to see who he’d talk to.”
Jack straightened up.
“And someone did come to speak to Jay.” Vargas dragged his finger across his notebook page. “I see that Jack Stratton is listed on the visitor log of Long Bay Prison. And you visited Jay Martin.”
“Yeah, but,” Jack stammered, “I drove his mother there.”
“So you’re a friend of Jay Martin’s?”
Jack tried to hold his tongue, but restraint lost out to youthful indignation. “Friend? No. Actually, I can’t stand the guy.”
“You want me to believe that? Sure. You’re just a Good Samaritan. Is that why you were in the park?”
“I was cutting through. I saw the handbag—”
“And then you just happened to go straight to where the body was. Next thing I know, you’re going to tell me that Jay isn’t the real killer.”
“He’s not. Jay’s telling the truth.”
Vargas let his head roll to the side. He looked at the uniformed officer and laughed. “Didn’t I just tell him he’d say that?”
The cop nodded.
Jack’s stomach churned. “No. It’s not like that. Jay’s brother borrowed his jacket and shoes. For a date. I can prove it. I have pictures.” Jack patted himself down, trying to remember where he’d put them.
“I have pictures too.” Vargas flipped open a folder. In the folder was a picture of a black male at the ATM. It only caught a sliver of the man’s face, but Jay’s distinct jacket was clearly visible.
Vargas’s finger bent when he jammed it down on the picture. “There’s an old saying, Jack. Who am I gonna believe, you or my own lying eyes?”
“That’s Two Point,” Jack stammered. “Tommy Martin. Jay’s brother.”
“Ha!” The word popped from Vargas’s lips. “You want to know what I think?” He put his elbows on the table and his brown eyes bored holes in Jack. “I think you’re screwing with my investigation so you can help out your friend, Jay Martin.”