Chapter 17
Tank, Lester, Ranger and I all piled back into the Bronco. We dropped Tank and Lester off at a car rental place in town so we could split up to find Terry faster. They were going to go talk to the police officers in charge of the investigation. Ranger and I headed back to the scene of the crime. Time to put on my Sherlock hat, but I didn't bring my Sherlock hat. Darn! Ranger had produced my Seals hat and given it to me, though, so I was good to go.
Ranger pulled into a parking garage around the corner from the Boulder Bookstore. We walked to the front of the store and saw people milling around the crime scene tape set up where the shooting had taken place. No one was actually inside of the roped off area. Guess the police had finished with the site.
Okay, so where do we start? I asked.
Ranger grasped my elbow and steered me toward the crime scene. Of course, just ignore the yellow tape that says do not cross. What was I thinking? Not like Ranger to be bothered by such formalities.
You're sure we should go in there? I asked. I wasn't really impressed enough with the police station here to want to spend more time there explaining my inability to follow the do not cross notice.
Best way to figure out what happened.
But the police were already here, I argued.
Maybe they missed something.
All right, it would be cool if I could solve the crime. Maybe I really could be Sherlock Holmes for a day. I quit arguing and ducked under the tape. The bricks were pretty clean looking, no evidence I could see there. Someone had apparently cleaned up after last night. There were some trees and gravel enclosed within the site, too. Maybe someone buried the murder weapon in the rocks. Seemed like as good a place as any to begin. I headed over to the trees and started looking around.
Ranger was surveying the scene around him. Guess he wasn't as excited about digging in gravel as I was. I ignored him and started pushing rocks around with my foot. I was just about to give up, when I glanced up and spotted something shiny in the crook of the tree.
I called. He walked over, not in any hurry. Couldn't he tell this was the big break in the case? How could he be so calm? I was barely managing to restrain from jumping up and down yelling, I found it!What do you see, Babe?
I pointed to the thing shining in the tree. He took out a plastic bag and picked up the gun with it. It was a hand gun of some sort. All I knew for certain was that it wasn't mine.
he said. He was frowning. Something told me he recognized the gun.
Do you know who it belongs to?We need to talk to Tank.
I felt my jaw drop. Could Tank be the shooter? Why would Tank shoot Velasquez? He could easily have just taken him in.
I squeaked out.
Ranger nodded. He looked grim.
It's his gun.How do you know? Ranger gave me a look, the one that said don't be stupid.Right, silly question. Ranger could probably identify any gun ever made. I bet he even memorized serial numbers to the guns his team owned.
If Tank shot Velasquez, why did he cuff Terry? I asked. Unless he was trying to cover. He was right on Terry as soon as Velasquez was shot. Maybe Terry had been planning to shoot Velasquez and Tank beat her to it. Maybe that's what he was talking to her about after the shooting. Maybe she let herself be led into the police station because she knew they wouldn't have anything to hold her on.
Ranger's voice drew me back into the present. He was holding onto my elbow, trying to get my attention. Tank just called. He and Lester found Terry. We're going to meet them back at the dorm. We'll get this all sorted out there.Sure that's safe? I wasn't to keen on meeting up with the potential murderer in private. I don't think Ranger would let anyone hurt me, but Terry and Tank were both dangerous people. I'm not sure confronting them with evidence of murder was a brilliant idea.
Ranger brushed his lips against mine. He pulled back and drew me into the chocolate pools of his eyes. No one's going to get hurt, he promised.
I sure hope he was right. I couldn't see Ranger turning in one of the Merry Men. I didn't think Tank would have shot Velasquez without good reason. Time to find out what that reason was.