“Then why were you running?”

“Because you ran after me!”

Mason stepped to the side and knelt to get a good look at his face.

It was one of the guys from the bar incident.

“Did you enjoy the pitcher of beer I bought you?” Mason asked.

Ava listened to the suspect whine as he stood next to a deputy’s vehicle while Nora made arrangements to have two deputies take him to the hospital. A wallet in his pocket had revealed the man’s name was Tim Jessop and he lived in Depoe Bay. Mason’s three detective friends stood nearby, arms crossed on their chests as they watched every movement the suspect made.

“I know this guy,” muttered one of the local deputies. “I’ve arrested him and his buddies a half-dozen times for being stupid.”

Ava grinned. She could easily imagine the types of things Jessop and his friends had done to draw the disdain of the police. Most probably involved alcohol. According to Mason, if he hadn’t calmed down the group with a pitcher of beer last night, the idiot would probably be sitting in a jail cell still cooling off.

Maybe if they’d called the police Denny wouldn’t be dead.

She shook her head, hoping Mason’s brain hadn’t followed the same train of logic. They had no evidence the men had anything to do with Denny’s death. Yet.

The deputy knew the names of several of Jessop’s friends. He pulled up their driver’s license photos on his computer and the four OSP detectives immediately spotted the man who’d butted heads with Denny in the bar. Sam Gates.

“Sam didn’t do nothin’,” Jessop blurted. “Why are you lookin’ for him?”

Nora stepped closer to the man. “How’s the arm feeling?”

Jessop leaned away from her. “It’s fucking broken. I’m gonna sue.”

She looked over her shoulder at the four waiting OSP detectives, Ava, Zander, and the deputies. “What’d you say? The patrol car has engine trouble? But this man needs to get to the hospital.”

Ava decided she needed to get to know Nora Hawes better.

“My car’s outta gas,” Detective Hunsinger said. “I can’t help.”

“Me, too,” chimed three other voices.

“Screw all of you,” said Jessop. “I want a lawyer.” His voice was thin with pain.

And fear.

“We’re trying to get you to the hospital,” said Nora. “No one’s under arrest. We just want to know what you did after you left Pete’s Bar last night.”

Jessop’s gaze flicked to Mason. “Went home.”

“You seem to recognize Detective Callahan. You do realize all five of the men your friend Sam harassed in the bar last night are detectives with the Oregon State Police?” Nora said sweetly.

“Sam didn’t do nothin’. The one guy dented his truck. Sam wanted him to pay for it.” His gaze bounced between the men. “I don’t see that guy.”

Ava stiffened. Jessop appeared unaware that Denny Schefte was dead. There was no guile on his angry face. The detectives shifted their feet as the same observation hit them.

“What did Sam do after you left Pete’s Bar?” asked Nora.

“Ask him. I dropped him off at his house.”

“What time?”

Jessop screwed up his face in thought. “Dunno. It was after last call. We shut the place down.”

“Why were you in the woods?” Nora asked in a kinder voice.

He shrugged and looked away. “Just seein’ what was goin’ on. Everyone said cops were crawling all over this area. I don’t live too far from here.”

Ava glanced at one of the deputies, who looked at Jessop’s license in his hand and nodded.

“You gonna get me to the hospital now?” Jessop pleaded.

“How’s the engine coming?” Nora asked without looking back at the deputy.

“Better,” he said. “Almost fixed.”

Jessop wilted against the patrol car. “Why are you doin’ this? We didn’t touch no one. Last night,” he added hastily.

“Have you talked today to any of your friends who were there last night?” Nora asked.

“Well, yeah. Sam and Josh were at the diner this morning. That’s where we heard about the cops. They’re probably still there. I said I’d go take a look since I lived close and knew a shortcut through the woods to this place.”

“Did they seem nervous when they heard about the cops?” Ava asked.

Jessop looked her way. “Nah. Just wanted to know who’d gotten in trouble.” His eyes struggled to focus on her and his face brightened as they finally did. “Hey. You from around here?”

Ava lifted a brow and said nothing. Next to her, Mason made an odd noise in the back of his throat. Ray coughed. Nora turned around and made eye contact, her green gaze dancing with mirth.

Can you believe what we put up with?

Ava had heard of guys asking out the female patrol officers who’d just arrested them, but this was a first for her.

“No, Special Agent McLane isn’t from around here,” said Zander in a steel voice. “We’re from the Portland FBI office, and I strongly suggest you take this incident more seriously.”

She’d never heard Zander use that tone, and struggled to keep a straight face.

“Yes, sir.” Jessop straightened against the car.

Nora gestured for the officers to take him to the hospital. She pointed at two other deputies. “You know this Sam Gates?” They nodded. “Go see if he’s at the diner. Politely ask him to sit in the back of your car.” The two deputies immediately left.