“Your sister knew this Jerry Hegland.”
Colin gave a tight nod.
“What about you?”
“Not at all when we were kids. More recently… I don’t recall meeting him although it’s possible I have.”
“Were you aware that your sister knew this man?”
Another shit.
“She told me a couple of weeks ago.”
A man with a gift for stillness, Raynor finally leaned forward, those dark eyes locked on Colin’s. “Did she tell you that Hegland had an affair with your mother?”
“Yes.”
“And it never crossed your mind that you are too goddamn personally involved to play any role at all in this investigation?”
“Lieutenant Vahalik is leading it,” he said woodenly.
“Uh-huh. And did you share with the lieutenant what you knew about Mr. Hegland?”
“I believed it had no relevance.”
“Until you found out it did.”
“When my sister realized the relevance, she immediately shared the history with Lieutenant Vahalik.”
“She did.”
“Neither of us was hiding anything. There’s something you have to understand. This isn’t Los Angeles. Angel Butte is…not a small town anymore, but it was. I know a good part of the population. I went to school with some of them. I know whose father was a drunk, whose mother burned her with cigarette butts. I didn’t like my father’s cronies, but when they’re victim or perpetrator, I treat them the same as I do anyone else. When something I know becomes relevant, I act on it. Otherwise, I keep confidences. My mother’s relationship with this man took place twenty years ago. My family is entitled to some privacy, just like every other family in this town is.”
Raynor’s eyes had narrowed. For a long time, he didn’t say anything. Finally he made a rough sound in his throat.
“You’re right. Up until you were wrong.”
Colin stood stiffly. At last he bent his head in an acknowledging nod.
“Sit,” Raynor snapped.
He closed his eyes, thought about telling the son of a bitch where to go and how long he should roast there, then counted to ten. At which point he was able to unbend enough to take a seat.
“Our detectives aren’t as experienced as I’d like,” he said, hating that he had to explain himself. “You’ve looked at the personnel records. People with experience got frustrated and left the department. They weren’t getting the pay or support they should have been.”
“I’m aware of the issues,” Raynor conceded. “I admit I wondered why you chose Vahalik to head Investigations.”
“Only a couple of detectives have more experience than she does. Neither of them are as smart, or have people skills to match hers. She’s good.”
“All right.”
He had one last thing to say. “I’ve tried to stay on the right side of a line while protecting my sister to the best of my ability.”
Raynor sat back in his chair, his face showing some wear it hadn’t a few minutes before. “I’ll say this again. I sympathize, but you have to back off.” He held up a hand. “I’m not telling you not to play bodyguard. But you can’t talk to witnesses or suspects. You’ve got to quit pulling Vahalik’s strings. You say she’s good. Trust her.”
Colin had seldom detested anything like he did being censured by the man who sat behind his desk, but he had no choice but to take it. What most shamed him was the knowledge he deserved every word. And more. He’d had no business being the one to interview Blake Ralston, even if he had stuck to the present crime.
“Are we done?” he asked.
“Yeah.” There was a subtle shift in Raynor’s expression. “This doesn’t mean you can’t go watch the excavation. I admit, I’m curious. I may stop by myself.”
Colin pushed himself out of his chair. “Bored so soon?” he asked sardonically.
The new police chief was good at veiling his expression. “It’s…not what I’m used to.”
They had yet to manage anything really friendly. They weren’t going to start now. Colin nodded and left without another word.
CHAPTER TWELVE