Page 115 of Concrete Evidence
That contradicted Craig’s story.
“JC and I rode out there after the ambulance picked him up.” Will rubbed his jaw. “I’m telling you, we’d have seen him.”
Roden remained strangely quiet while Marc drove to the hospital. “Marc, I have a few suspicions about Craig. I believed he ran with the winning team, but I made a critical error in my evaluation. He’shiding something or is afraid to speak up. The timing’s all wrong, and by all rights, he should be dead.”
“The rain washed away tracks of those riding out to look for him. Let’s get the doctor on the phone. It’s late but the answering service might alert him.”
“I’m on it.” Roden left an urgent message and added his position at the FBI.
Within five minutes, Craig’s doctor called and Roden pressed Speaker. “Yes, sir. We’re looking for the time Mr. Holcombe was shot. With the rain, it’s hard to tell.”
“Approximately five to six hours before being transported to the hospital.”
“You’re sure?”
“I am.”
“Thanks, Doctor. Appreciate your returning the call,” Roden said.
Marc shoved pieces around in his head. “Craig lied to us. His whole story is a lie. Jake couldn’t have shot him. And the call to Avery? Looks like another detail of covering this up. Craig had his phone in his hand when I found him.”
“I’ll get a warrant for his previous and present cell phone records. Those might give us a clue to what’s going on.” Roden sent the request. “I’d like to give the questioning a rest and not let on that we talked to the doctor.”
“Sounds good to me. He might give us more info if he thinks we swallowed his story.” Marc’s thoughts did another kick at the doors of his mind. “Someone still shot him. Jake denied pulling the trigger, but he didn’t say a word about the other shootings. Is Craig afraid to give the shooter’s name? Or would he have shot himself and tossed the weapon to make us think he was a victim?”
“He’d risk hitting an internal organ. But when I leverage Craig’s lies concerning the dam’s foundation, I wonder what else he’s lied about.”
Marc turned to his partner. “Don’t let me forget to post a deputy outside his room for his protection until we figure out his role.”
At the hospital, Marc and Roden flashed their creds to the deputy and gained access to Craig’s room. The injured man lay propped in bed with the TV on and the remote in his hand.
Craig greeted them and pressed off the TV. “Didn’t expect you two on a Friday night. But I’m glad you’re here. Leanne left about thirty minutes ago, and I’m bored out of my mind.”
Roden clicked better with Craig, and Marc wanted to study him, so he took the farthest chair.
“Are they taking good care of you?” Roden seated himself closer to Craig.
“Okay, but I’m ready to leave. My own bed sounds real inviting.”
“The doctor needed to get a few bags of IVs in you after the shooting.”
“Right.” Craig sobered. “Glad my fingers found the right buttons to call Avery.”
“Had you tried Leanne?”
“Nah. She’d have been too emotional. Avery has the logical gene.” Craig shuddered. “Lying there in the rain was the worst night of my life.”
“You mean nights?”
“No. I’d been gone a couple of days, and I took the Old River Gate entrance. Someone shot me when I closed it.”
“Why there and not the front gate?”
“Long story.”
“Where were you all this time and why didn’t you tell anyone you were leaving?”
Craig worried his lip. “Stuff, Agents. Not illegal but nothing I’m proud of.”
