younger guys the time of day. At any rate, that’s how it was when I was at high school.’
‘It sounds like you’re talking from experience.’
‘Hard, bitter experience.’
‘What was her name?’
‘Alison Blane. She was two grades above me.’
‘And she broke your heart.’
‘Shattered it into a thousand pieces. So how come you were even aware of Taylor’s existence?’
‘Because he was the best defensive tackle Eagle Creek High has ever seen, or is ever likely to see. He was a legend.’
‘That figures.’
Her eyes narrowed and she smiled a smile that made her look much older. ‘You’re circling around something, and I’ve a pretty good idea what that something is, so I’d appreciate it if you’d get to the point. As much as I’m enjoying this little trip down memory lane, I’ve got work to do.’
‘What’s Taylor’s first name?’
‘And why would I tell you a thing like that? Especially since Taylor’s just given me fifty bucks not to tell you.’
I pulled a hundred-dollar bill from my wallet and waved it in front of her. ‘Because Ben Franklin trumps Ulysses S. Grant any day.’
Hannah plucked it from my fingers. ‘I reckon that might just about do it.’
11
Taylor arrived back twenty minutes later, lugging a whiteboard that was as big as he was, a plastic shopping bag hooked around one meaty finger. He shook the bag onto the bed beside me. Inside was a collection of different coloured marker pens and the bottle of single malt that had been left in my suite at the Imperial. The whisky was a thirty-year-old Glenmorangie. Very classy indeed. It was rarer than diamonds. Whoever bought it knew their stuff.
I cracked the seal, opened the bottle, put my nose to the mouth and inhaled deeply. For a moment I was transported to a cold, wild place that was light years away from Louisiana in August. I could smell the peat and the heather. A cold, hard rain pricked at my face, while dark storm clouds roiled above my head. I put the cork back in and placed the bottle on the dresser.
Taylor was dressed in black jeans and a plain black shirt. Black sneakers and black socks. There was a Glock in the holster around his waist. It wasn’t much of an improvement, but it was a step in the right direction, albeit a small one.
‘What?’ he asked.
‘You look like a cop who’s had all his badges stolen.’
‘Better than looking like a fading rock star who’s desperate to relive his glory days.’ He nodded to the whiteboard. ‘Where do you want this?’
‘Over there by the wardrobe, please.’
Taylor propped the whiteboard up against the wall. It needed to go end-on because of the lack of space.
‘Answers, Winter.’
‘You’ll get them once you’ve passed the third test.’
‘Test? What are you talking about?’
‘It’s just a couple of questions. Nothing to worry about.’ I made a sour face. ‘At least I hope there’s nothing to worry about. Okay, question one: have you ever murdered anyone?’
‘What! Of course I’ve never murdered anyone.’
‘Question two: is lying ever acceptable?’
Taylor just glared.
‘Answer the question.’
‘No.’
‘So little Jimmy’s puppy has just died and his mom tells him that Scraps has gone over Rainbow Bridge to live at Sunshine Farm where he’s going to spend all his days chasing rabbits and eating prime rib-eye steak.’
‘Okay, I guess there are times when white lies are acceptable.’
‘And that’s what you truly believe. You wouldn’t be lying about that now, would you?’
‘Enough already. I have no idea what you’re up to, but if you don’t start making sense in the next two seconds, then I’m walking and you can find yourself another sucker to play your mind games with.’
I cracked a smile. ‘Congratulations. You’ve passed with flying colours.’
Taylor shook his head and made for the door.
‘A bad profile is the best way to screw up a case.’
He froze with his hand on the handle.
‘You’ve got a
‘It sounds like you’re talking from experience.’
‘Hard, bitter experience.’
‘What was her name?’
‘Alison Blane. She was two grades above me.’
‘And she broke your heart.’
‘Shattered it into a thousand pieces. So how come you were even aware of Taylor’s existence?’
‘Because he was the best defensive tackle Eagle Creek High has ever seen, or is ever likely to see. He was a legend.’
‘That figures.’
Her eyes narrowed and she smiled a smile that made her look much older. ‘You’re circling around something, and I’ve a pretty good idea what that something is, so I’d appreciate it if you’d get to the point. As much as I’m enjoying this little trip down memory lane, I’ve got work to do.’
‘What’s Taylor’s first name?’
‘And why would I tell you a thing like that? Especially since Taylor’s just given me fifty bucks not to tell you.’
I pulled a hundred-dollar bill from my wallet and waved it in front of her. ‘Because Ben Franklin trumps Ulysses S. Grant any day.’
Hannah plucked it from my fingers. ‘I reckon that might just about do it.’
11
Taylor arrived back twenty minutes later, lugging a whiteboard that was as big as he was, a plastic shopping bag hooked around one meaty finger. He shook the bag onto the bed beside me. Inside was a collection of different coloured marker pens and the bottle of single malt that had been left in my suite at the Imperial. The whisky was a thirty-year-old Glenmorangie. Very classy indeed. It was rarer than diamonds. Whoever bought it knew their stuff.
I cracked the seal, opened the bottle, put my nose to the mouth and inhaled deeply. For a moment I was transported to a cold, wild place that was light years away from Louisiana in August. I could smell the peat and the heather. A cold, hard rain pricked at my face, while dark storm clouds roiled above my head. I put the cork back in and placed the bottle on the dresser.
Taylor was dressed in black jeans and a plain black shirt. Black sneakers and black socks. There was a Glock in the holster around his waist. It wasn’t much of an improvement, but it was a step in the right direction, albeit a small one.
‘What?’ he asked.
‘You look like a cop who’s had all his badges stolen.’
‘Better than looking like a fading rock star who’s desperate to relive his glory days.’ He nodded to the whiteboard. ‘Where do you want this?’
‘Over there by the wardrobe, please.’
Taylor propped the whiteboard up against the wall. It needed to go end-on because of the lack of space.
‘Answers, Winter.’
‘You’ll get them once you’ve passed the third test.’
‘Test? What are you talking about?’
‘It’s just a couple of questions. Nothing to worry about.’ I made a sour face. ‘At least I hope there’s nothing to worry about. Okay, question one: have you ever murdered anyone?’
‘What! Of course I’ve never murdered anyone.’
‘Question two: is lying ever acceptable?’
Taylor just glared.
‘Answer the question.’
‘No.’
‘So little Jimmy’s puppy has just died and his mom tells him that Scraps has gone over Rainbow Bridge to live at Sunshine Farm where he’s going to spend all his days chasing rabbits and eating prime rib-eye steak.’
‘Okay, I guess there are times when white lies are acceptable.’
‘And that’s what you truly believe. You wouldn’t be lying about that now, would you?’
‘Enough already. I have no idea what you’re up to, but if you don’t start making sense in the next two seconds, then I’m walking and you can find yourself another sucker to play your mind games with.’
I cracked a smile. ‘Congratulations. You’ve passed with flying colours.’
Taylor shook his head and made for the door.
‘A bad profile is the best way to screw up a case.’
He froze with his hand on the handle.
‘You’ve got a
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