Uniform crisp, hair razor-cut to a precise length, Stokes faced them in a parade stance. No casual pose for him. “Gentlemen. And ladies.” He inclined his head toward the two female deputies who worked Zach’s shift. “You are all aware that a man died recently from an apparent beating administered by Deputy Andrew Hayes, who is one of us.”
His pause was long enough for Zach to feel some shock at the blunt beginning. No hint that Alvarez’s death might have come about accidentally, from his head hitting the concrete step. That made Zach wonder what the coroner knew but hadn’t released.
“As you’re also aware, according to our tri-county agreement, a special investigation unit is looking into the death to determine whether criminal charges should be filed. Once we have those conclusions, we will discuss whether policy within the department needs to be changed and new training implemented.”
The silence was absolute. They all stared at the second-in-command of the department. Waiting. Knowing this wasn’t all he’d come to say.
“In the meantime,” he continued, his voice hardening, “both witnesses to the altercation between Deputy Hayes and Mr. Alvarez have received threats. One of those witnesses is also a member of this department.” He nodded at Zach, their eyes briefly meeting. “I’m sure you all noticed the state of the locker room a few weeks back.”
A stir of amusement in the room died as his narrow-eyed glare searched out the sources.
“Three men smashed Deputy Carter’s pickup, resulting in the insurance company totaling it and a significant financial loss for him. Ms. Granath, the other witness, has been threatened with notes and phone calls. The tires on her car were slashed. At least one perpetrator terrorized her in the middle of the night at her bedroom window at the same time as she received one of those telephone threats. This—” he held up a sheet of paper Zach hadn’t noticed he held “—is the latest attempt to silence witnesses who are only trying to describe events as they saw them. This is a death threat. It’s despicable. It was delivered to Deputy Carter by one of us.”
He let them all stare at the photo. “I’m here to tell you that the investigation into Deputy Hayes’s blame—or lack of blame—in Mr. Alvarez’s death is being conducted as fairly as is possible to achieve. If it turns out Hayes is innocent of wrongdoing, that truth will emerge. If, however, you believe he should be shielded, guilty or not, from the consequences of his actions simply because he’s one of us, you’re wrong. So wrong you’re not worthy of wearing this badge—” he touched the one pinned on his chest pocket “—and don’t deserve the trust of the citizens of this county. When we discover who took this photograph and turned it into a death threat, that person will be arrested. If and when we discover who delivered this threat to one of our own right here in this building, that person will be arrested. If that person is a sheriff’s department employee, he or she will be fired. No recourse.”
The room was like a tomb. Zach looked until he saw Todd Vance, sitting toward the back. He seemed to be fascinated by something on the floor.
Stokes swept the room with one last look then gave a formal nod. “Sergeant Perez.”
He stepped aside and Perez began the usual report of new alerts. Stokes continued to scan the room as the sergeant talked, his gaze pausing on one face after another. When his eyes met Zach’s, he bent his head a bare inch—but Zach thought he was indicating respect.
Or, Zach reflected, it might have been the equivalent of a fencer signaling his readiness before a duel.
Well, there was nothing he could do about it either way, except stick to the truth and protect Tess to the best of his ability.
Zach tried not to look as though he was hurrying when the briefing ended, but he made it out of the door first.
One guy he didn’t know well and hadn’t especially liked caught up with him in the hall.
“Man, I hadn’t heard about all this crap. Hope you know I wouldn’t have any part of it. I’m sure most of us wouldn’t.”
“I assumed as much, but thanks for saying it,” Zach returned.