V

Sen. Treadway was bailed out by his lawyer and sitting comfortably in his living room when Steve and Danno spoke to him. The senator offered no apology for hitting Jayna, which Steve expected and made Danno seethe with rage. Treadway sipped a bourdon and ranted on about how Jayna broke up his marriage.

"How did Jayna break up anything?" Steve asked. "You and your wife reconciled, and Jayna was only doing her job of upholding the law and investigating James Keesling. It's not her fault your wife had an affair with him, or that she took ten thousand dollars from him."

Treadway took a large sip of bourbon and eyed the two detectives with contempt. No amount of reason could sink into him. "She could have kept it private …"

"She did!" Danno snapped. "Jayna used the utmost discretion. The reporters found out on their own."

"Of course you'll defend her!" Treadway yelled. Steve began to feel the exasperation Manicote felt that morning. On the table, a bowl of candy sat as a reminder that today was Halloween, and what terror may lay in store for them today.

"Did your wife decide to wear that blue Renaissance costume all along?" Steve asked.

"Yes. She got it at a costume shop last week," Treadway answered. Jayna also got hers at a costume shop, but she bought it a few years ago.

"Did you know about the money that your wife had in the bank?"

"Not until my wife was investigated."

"How did you find out about the shooting?" Danno asked. "You came only minutes after it occurred."

"Melinda Grayle called the hotel where I was having that meeting with the Chamber of Commerce." Treadway put down his empty glass.

"And you went right to Jayna when you got there." Danno did not hide his scorn. "You wanted her dead. What happened? Your hit man couldn't tell the difference between the Renaissance and the Elizabethan age, so he shot the wrong woman? Maybe you have given him a history lesson."

Treadway turned the darkest shade of pink they had ever seen. He clenched his fists and his eyes glared angrily. He looked like a human volcano at the point of eruption.

"Feel free to let it out, Treadway," Steve said, casually. "That's what you normally do."

"I DID NOT HIRE ANYONE TO SHOOT JAYNA OR CLAIRE!" Treadway roared. "You're wasting your time here! We are done!"

Steve and Danno rose. "Don't bother to see us out, Senator. We know the way." Steve spoke mockingly. They left Treadway to stew in his anger as they made their way outside.

"Boy, we really made him mad," Danno said. "What did that prove?"

"That he might be telling the truth," Steve said. "Such a reaction can't be forced. If he was involved, he could do his best to remain calm under pressure."

"Human behavior is unpredictable," Danno countered.

"That's what leads me to the next part of our investigation," Steve said as he opened the door the black Mercury and got inside. "I think we're going to pay a visit to the Grayles. Have Chin check on Keesling and tell Kono to find out what he can on all the hit men who entered the islands recently and local ones as well." He put the key in the ignition.

"Got it." Danno picked up the radio receiver and began to call in as they pulled away.