Page 63 of Vanish From Sight

He felt a surge of pain go from his forearm up to his neck. Adrenaline had been pumping through his body so hard that he didn’t realize the dog had punctured his jacket and torn into his arm. It was only when he felt blood trickle off the tips of his fingers did he assess the damage. Fortunately, the leather had taken the brunt of it and the wounds were shallow. Still, the pain was hard to ignore. He’d have to swing by the hospital on the way back home that evening to get a tetanus shot. The last thing he wanted was to have bacteria enter his body. For now, he’d tossed back some Advil and bandaged it up.

“Oh, it’s just dandy,” he muttered, turning his arm and wincing. “Well, we should get in there and bring some order to this before Angus starts delivering his William Wallace speech.”

“Well, here you go,” Callie said, handing him a folder with new information she’d uncovered. The two of them entered the interview room. Nate Sawyer was on one side of the table, while McKenzie was inched up close to him.

As soon as the door opened, McKenzie glanced at Noah. “Ah, look at that, Lazarus rose from the dead. Seems it’s your lucky day, laddy.” He patted Sawyer on the arm as he turned toward Noah and Callie. Callie leaned against the wall, there to observewhile Noah took a seat. He slapped the folder down in front of him.

Sawyer leaned forward, appearing all contrite. “Listen, I’m sorry about your arm. Like I told your partner. I didn’t know you were cops. Had I known, I wouldn’t have fled.”

“Right, because you thought we were out to get you for…?”

“Anything.”

“Because that’s your usual response when people show up to speak to you.”

Sawyer scowled. “Why do you think I’m operating out of a warehouse with steel fencing and a guard dog? You have to understand, in my line of work where I’m looking to expose secrets and lies, I have all manner of people gunning to take me down. You aren’t going to charge me for what happened today, are you?”

“Well, that depends on your answers.” Noah flipped open the folder. “Nate Sawyer, thirty-eight years of age. Not married, no kids, resident of High Peaks, formerly of Saranac Lake and before that you were based out of Syracuse. Freelance journalist. Previously worked for theAdirondack Daily Enterpriseuntil you were fired for sexual harassment.”

“That’s bullshit. In fact, I’m taking them to court for unfairly dismissing me. My lawyer thinks we have a good case. A real slam-dunk.”

“Sure you do. That was two years ago.”

“Takes time to get the wheels in motion. You all should know that.” His gaze bounced between them.

Noah continued reading. “So, you’re willing to chat with us without your attorney present, is that right?”

“That depends on your questions today,” he said in a cheeky manner as if mirroring Noah’s previous response. Noah could tell he was going to be a handful.

“Well, as Detective McKenzie said. You’ve been read yourrights. If you wish to have an attorney present, you should tell us now.”

“And if do?”

“Then this conversation is over.”

He eyeballed the others in the room and shrugged. “Like I said, I have nothing to hide. Shoot.”

Noah nodded. “Okay then. Where were you last night?”

“Why?”

“Answer the question.”

“Balls deep in my secretary.”

McKenzie took a step forward. “Aye, that would imply you have balls.”

Sawyer cowered back in his seat as if McKenzie was going to strike him. “I was piecing together information that would help my case against the newspaper.”

“From what time until?”

“Um. I picked up a chicken burger and fries at roughly five from a local restaurant and headed back to the warehouse and worked until roughly eleven that evening.”

“And yet your lawyer said you had a slam-dunk case against them. Sounds as if they had all the information they needed already.”

“I was working other angles.”

“Can anyone else verify this?”