Page 29 of Stone Coast

"From what you told me, you've done nothing wrong. You don't have anything to worry about. But don't answer any more questions. That never leads to anything good."

I appreciated his candid response.

"If I text you the image of the assailant, can you look him up?"

"I can try."

"I appreciate whatever you can do."

"Can you describe the assailant that got away?”

I gave him my limited description of the man. “Sorry. That’s all I’ve got.”

“Where will you be?"

"On my boat," I said. "I’ll text you the information."

"I'm assuming they will confiscate your firearm."

“Yep.”

"I know you have a backup somewhere. Have you found it?"

"Yeah. I have a small arsenal." I paused, then admitted, "This wasn't random, was it?"

"Hard to say. Given the situation, probably not."

"I mean, this wasn't a robbery. They shot Grayson the instant he opened the door," I said, my eyes filling. I wiped the tears away.

"Sounds like an execution to me. You never know these days. Some people will shoot you just as soon as look at you."

We chatted for a few more minutes, then Detective Dickhead returned. I told Tyson I'd be in touch, then ended the call.

The medical examiner and her crew bagged the remains and loaded Grayson's body onto a gurney. They rolled him through the front door and down the walkway and did the same for the assailant.

"The team is about to wrap up here,” Detective Scarborough said. "Officers have talked to the neighbors. They don't recall seeing anything." He paused. "I take it you will be staying in town."

It wasn't a question.

"I have no plans to leave."

"You need a ride back to your place?"

"No, thank you. I'll catch a cab."

"It's no trouble really," Scarbrough said.

I figured he just wanted more time to ask questions, to become my best buddy. Maybe I’d start talking more. But I wasn't giving him any more fuel.

"I got in touch with Grayson’s sister,” he said. “She confirmed that you two were an item, and that you had recently been in the hospital. She lives in Texas and says you two have never met face-to-face."

"If that's what she says."

"She asked me to lock up. She’s going to fly in tomorrow.”

"Are you kicking me out?"

"It's not your house."