Body of Evidence
John returned to the scene to fill Siobhan in on what happened. When he arrived, he handed her a cup of coffee and told her about the exam.
"Just what I need, boss," she said with a wink "There's not a bathroom around here. I'm not to comfy using leaves."
He gave her a withering look. "A little too much info, deputy."
"Speaking of info. I wanted to show you something."
Siobhan set the cup down on the prowler. She led the sheriff near where the body was. "You see this?" she asked as she pointed at a boot print. "Doc Marten, I think. I took a few photo's of it for the record but I think we should go back to talk to Hando.
John examined the print closely He held the flashlight above it and slowly circled the area around it. It was then they both heard a beeping sound. Aiming the light toward the sound, John spotted the cell phone it came from. He quickly donned a rubber glove from his pocket then he picked the cell up. The battery had just died and there was no way he could see any numbers on it.
"Get me an evidence back, Siobhan, will you?"
A few seconds later she held one up for him to drop the phone in to. "You think it belongs to Hando?" she asked.
"Can't speculate. We'll have to get a charger for it before we can check anything"
"John," she ducked her head down to look him in the eyes. "Maybe we should pick him up just to be safe."
John stood and she righted herself. He shook his head. "We don't have any solid evidence."
"No, but we can hold him without charges for seventy two hours. I think if he did this he'd be a flight risk."
"Maybe you're right, " John replied. "I'll give White a call, see if he'll keep an eye on the crime scene while we go back to the cabin."
A half hour later they were knocking on the door at Hando's place. They didn't have a warrant but sometimes a cop has to fly by the seat of his or her pants
Hando saw the police vehicle pull up and opened the door to their knock, he hadn't time to mask his voice but his face was impassive, "Did you find her...did you find Marce?"
When Siobhan reached for her handcuffs, John shook his head to her. He moved to stand eye to eye with Hando before he spoke.
"Yes, I'm sorry. She's been murdered," he paused for a moment. "I know how this must make you feel but its customary for us to question those close to the victim first. I'd like you to come to HQ with us and I'd appreciate it if you did peacefully. We have to suspect you Hando, but if you didn't do it you have nothing to worry about. If you didn't do it, we will catch the son of a bitch who did. Promise you that."
Hando's eyes widened Marce murdered? He staggered back a step and turned walking back into the cabin shaking his head. He stopped and turned back...what had they said about...peacefully...suspect. "I...I didn't do it...you can't think...I called you for fucks sake...I called you for help" he yelled.
John placed an arm out to keep Siobhan from approaching. He figured it was better to let Hando get some of his anger out before they pressed in.
"Listen to me. I don't think you did it. This is just procedure. If you cooperate it will look better for you in everyone else's eyes too." John took a moment to turn and look at Siobhan. She drew a deep breath and sighed it out.
"Maybe, just maybe you have something to say that will help us find out
who really did it. ""Lemme talk, John," Siobhan cut in. He nodded
She could see the disdain in Hando's eyes when she stepped forward. Lowering her voice she tried to make him understand where she was really coming from.
"I know she loved you and I have to tell you that she's the only ..friend I made since I've been here. I am heartsick over this, Hando. No, I didn't trust you but men like you where I come from almost always spell trouble. Maybe we could take a minute to understand each other."
Hando blinked, his eyes hard, there was a pain in his chest moving to his throat he stood still trying to keep himself together, he glanced over at the Sheriff and back at the Deputy, his chest visibly rising and falling, "I would never hurt Marce," he said quietly. "Get out of here." he spoke barely above a whisper.
"Can't do that, Hando, " John said, ignoring his ringing cell phone. "Either you'll come with us or we'll have to make you come. We tried to do this right."
He did notice the scratches on Hando's body and he thought about the evidence under Marce's fingernails but he still gave the man the benefit of the doubt in his mind.
A slight smile appeared on Hando's lips that didn't reach his eyes. He knew now he'd made a mistake calling the cops...stupid pigs. He made a quick look behind him toward the back door and in one motion bolted toward it but he had not reckoned on the floor lamp by the sofa and caught his foot in the electrical cord, he fell hard against the wall and before he could right himself he felt the cuffs go around his wrists. He got up on his knees and screamed as loud as he could trying to rid himself of the pain in his throat.He didn't realize that he had screamed Marce's name.
Once Hando was secure, John told Siobhan to read him his rights. "What'll I charge him with, John," she asked.
"Resisting arrest," he replied. He dug in his pocket to get his cell phone. John redialed the number on it and when the other end was answered he said "Sheriffs's department, returning your call. Is there an emergency?"
It was Travis McGee and there was something urgent.