The Barger Brewery was on an acre of ground a twenty-minute walk from the Brockton Filly. A faded sign lay half-buried in the undergrowth as she pulled off the road. There was barely enough space to park the Jeep. A wide, straight path led under a canopy of trees that had shielded the ground from the snow fall.
Ren had wrapped the leash tight around her gloved hand, but Misty was doing her best to break free. They kept walking, Ren looking left and right along the path. It eventually led to the more open ground that surrounded the brewery. She took a right and they walked a winding path until the brewery was a distant shape behind them.
‘I don’t want to be negative, here, Misty, but I’m kind of hoping you find nothing,’ said Ren, unhooking the leash from Misty’s collar. ‘You go, girl.’
She watched as Misty ran around in circles as if she was just so happy to be free. Ren walked toward her, laughing. Until she saw Misty sit down. And bark.
That night, Ren went with Bob for a drink in the South Ridge Grill. Mike arrived an hour later.
‘Charlie Barger is very upset,’ he said. ‘He’s feeling doubly responsible. Mark Wilson stayed at his inn and his body was found on his land.’
Upset or nervous? ‘He really is an unlucky man,’ said Ren. ‘The inn closes, the brewery name is in the news again for all the wrong reasons.’
‘There’s no big mystery,’ said Bob. ‘Wilson was drunk, there was no one in the Brockton Filly to give him a ride to Fairplay – Waites heard him say that’s where he was headed that night. Wilson staggers out and walks to the only spot that has space for a car to pull over.’
‘Or,’ said Mike, ‘he’s drunk, he sees a sign for a brewery with a name he recognizes, and here he is …’
‘An alcopopsicle,’ said Ren.
Bob laughed.
‘I had a look through the window of the brewery earlier,’ said Ren. ‘It didn’t inspire much confidence. I mean, it looks like he’s going ahead with the beer thing. The floor was all washed, there were crates stacked up, I saw some nitrogen tanks. But I guess I still don’t know why he’s –’
Mike stared at her, ‘OK, OK.’
Her cellphone rang. Thank God. ‘Excuse me,’ she said, walking into the hallway.
‘Hey,’ said Gary. ‘I heard you found a body.’
‘I did,’ said Ren.
‘Just not the right one.’
‘I’m afraid not.’
‘Either way, well done,’ said Gary.
‘Thank you,’ said Ren.
‘I need you to come see me in Denver.’
‘Oh. OK,’ said Ren. ‘Can I ask why?’
‘Twelve o’clock, tomorrow, my office.’
‘Sure, no problem.’
What the hell was that about?
It took eighteen hours for Mark Allen Wilson’s body to thaw at the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. The following morning, Dr Tolman carried out the autopsy. Nobody expected – or got – any surprises. It was a straightforward case that had got sucked into a high-profile one.
* * *
Gary Dettling sat in his office with a stack of files on the desk in front of him.
Ren knocked on the door. ‘Can I come in?’
‘Yes,’ said Gary. He stood up when she walked in and quickly sat down. ‘Hey. Good to see you …’
‘Hey, Gary. You too. I …’ Ren paused when she saw his face.
‘Close the door, please. Sit down.’
She did as he asked. ‘Is this about the Mark Wilson thing?’
‘No,’ said Gary.
‘Is this about Jean Transom?’ said Ren.
‘Yes, it is … Ren, sweetheart? You’re off the case.’
‘What?’ said Ren.
‘Let’s just say you know why and we’ll leave it at that,’ said Gary.
‘What? Are you … serious?’
‘No, no. Are you serious, Ren? Do not fuck with me. I acknowledge that you are … well, were, a team player – you wouldn’t be with Safe Streets if you weren’t. But, fuck. You know what? I feel like I sent my child off to camp, the prettiest, brightest child I have, thinking she’s going to show them all … then I get a call to come pick her up because she’s … Fuck, Ren. Fuck.’
‘No one’s called you to come –’
‘Jesus Christ, no. Because I’m not dumb enough to wait. Daddy doesn’t want to be squirming in a seat listening to how he can’t control his kids.’
‘Loving the metaphor …’
‘Ren, Ren. Shut the fuck up. You’re unbelievable. This is about all of us,’ he said, stabbing a finger toward the other office. ‘The fucking fight to get this place up and running. And off you go, the syndicated Ren Bryce show, and nearly blow it all.’
‘I don’t know –’
Gary held up a hand. ‘Don’t. Are you listening to me? Your behavior risked everything – the squad, the investigation … Jesus, Ren, do you give a shit? My ass is on the line …’ He let out a breath. ‘God knows where yours is.’
‘I … I …’
‘I … I … need you not to say a fucking word, Ren. Just listen. Here’s how it goes: you’re replacing Jean Transom. I mean, you already have a close working relationship with some of the people out that way … Keep your lies as close to the truth as possible, right?’
‘But how did you –’
‘You respect me, right? You never questioned my appointment to this job, right? That’s your answer. But you learned well. Never ask a question you don’t already know the answer to.’
‘Can’t you just take me back here?’
‘No, no. Glenwood Springs can be your new home for a while. You need to take a little break from Breckenridge and Denver …’
‘But –’
‘But nada.’ He stood up.
Ren stood up. ‘Gary, I’m sorry.’
He shook his head. ‘Me too.’
She walked toward the door. ‘Look, I’d like to know – did Paul Louderback have anything to do with you taking me off this case?’
‘Why do you ask?’
She gave him a patient look.
‘No, he did not,’ said Gary. ‘Just you. You were to do with me taking you off the case.’
She stared at him. ‘I get it.’ She walked out and into the bullpen.
‘Hey, guys.’
‘Baby’s back,’ said Robbie, flicking a rubber band at her. It hit her shoulder and fell to the floor. She picked it up and fired it back at him. He ducked and slammed his head off his desk lamp. Everyone laughed.
‘The best agent in Safe Streets,’ said Robbie, pointing to Ren.
The other guys sucked in a breath.
‘God bless you,’ said Ren.
‘What?’ said Robbie. ‘She is.’ He looked at Ren. ‘You versus these