Page 33

Beau said, “How much time between when you checked the gazebo for the lights and when you went back to look for John?”

“Maybe forty minutes.”

“Cutting it pretty close,” Swenson commented.

Yes. Too close for comfort. In their place, Archie would be suspicious, too.

“Let me ask you something,” Beau said. “Are you on medication?”

Archie took that for sarcasm, started to respond, and remembered that he was, in fact, on medication. Pain killers, sleep aids, antibiotics, you name it.

He said shortly, “I’m not on hallucinogens.”

Beau’s brows rose. “What are you on?”

“I’m not required to disclose details of my medical history unless—”

“Unless those details are relevant to your credibility as a witness, which, given that you claim to have seen a ghost, you’d have to agree makes your medical history a little relevant.”

Witness not suspect, so maybe things were looking up?

“Mostly OTC pain relievers.” That was the first actual lie Archie had told during the interview. “I can send you a list. But for the record, I’m not claiming that what I saw was a ghost. I just don’t have another explanation for it.”

Beau started to respond, but then seemed to change his mind. “Fair enough.”

Fair enough?

Archie said nothing.

Swenson nervously clicked his pen, watching Beau.

“Why are you here?” Beau abruptly changed tack. “What are you doing in Twinkleton?”

“John invited me to stay. I... have some leave. It made sense.”

Beau moved his head in negation. “According to Leo Baker, you’re recuperating after being injured in the line of duty. That story was confirmed by Priscilla Beckham.”

“Yep. Correct.”

“Why not just say so?” Beau asked impatiently. “Why turn it into a mystery?”

“It’s not a mystery. It’s also not related to John’s death.”

“You don’t get to make that call.”

“It’s related to an ongoing case, which I can’t discuss.”

“I’m not asking you about your goddamned ongoing case. I care about my ongoing case.”

Archie let out a long breath. “That’s…legit.”

“Gosh, thanks, Special Agent Crane!”

Archie ignored the sarcasm, “But I’ve told you the truth. My being here has nothing to do with John’s death. I had nothing to do with John’s death.”

Beau said nothing.

“I don’t know why Judith said—I can’t believe she seriously thinks I would ever— I don’t give a fuck about the will, John’s money, any of it. I don’t care about that.”