Swinson said, “I didn’t mean to hit him quite so hard.”
Bobby slowly moved to a sitting position. He shook his head. His eyes didn’t look like they could focus as he tried to take in the scene in front of him. A couple of white pebbles from the road were stuck to his face and blood leaked out of his nose. There was a patch of road rash on his left cheek.
I kneeled down to get a better look at him.
Swinson said, “Is he okay?”
“Unfortunately, yes. Just shaken up a bit.” I brushed the pebbles off Bobby’s face. Then I patted him down quickly to make sure he didn’t have any other weapons.
Swinson said, “Great job. Glad you told me to find his car and wait there.”
I looked up at the detective. “I appreciate that. I’m impressed you found out where he bought the pen. The text you sent gave me some ammo to confuse him.”
“Homicide investigation is a team sport. Glad we could help.”
I could hear sirens in the distance. My body took that as a signal to collapse. I sat down hard on the street, my back resting on the front tire of the Toyota.
This wasn’t a good day for anyone.
Chapter 102
Bobby Patel now sat on the curb between his car and Dave Swinson’s city-issued Tahoe. We decided not to handcuff him. We let him gather his wits for a minute. We still thought he might make a meaningful statement. Swinson had already called off the patrol cars coming to the National Mall. We were alone.
Swinson leaned against the bumper of his Tahoe while I sat on the curb next to Bobby. Without meaning to, we had ended up in the perfect homicide interview formation. One person to ask questions. One to watch and act if the suspect got frisky. Swinson had already proven that he was prepared to take action.
For his part, Bobby looked like a broken man. His head hung down. His nose still dripped a little blood. The road rash on his face looked like it’d spread. I knew it was just the traumatized skin turning red.
Swinson got a call and looked at me. I wasn’t sure what he was about to say. Then he spoke loud enough for Bobby to hear. He was giving someone information for an affidavit for a search warrant on Bobby’s car and his apartment in Alexandria. It was the perfect setup to show Bobby he was done.
Bobby’s panicked escape attempt had sealed it in my mind. Now Bobby knew it as well. There was nothing he could do. He sniffled and used a napkin I had given him to wipe the blood from his nose.
I didn’t speak. I just sat there next to Bobby. Almost like I was a friend comforting him. But that’s not how I felt. I was more distracted. My thoughts went back to Emily Parker. I couldn’t help but wonder about everything she was going to miss in life. That didn’t even take into account everyone who would miss her in their lives. This asshole sitting next to me had done more damage than he could ever imagine.
After a minute, Bobby murmured, “I screwed up. Big-time.”
It took all my willpower, but I forced myself to pat him on the back like I cared how he felt. I just wanted him to keep talking. Swinson had heard him as well. He moved a little closer.
Bobby looked at me. “She called you. I saw it on her phone. You guys never connected. I wonder what she was going to say to you.”
“I do too. I always will. I was in Ireland and thought I could get back to her.” I didn’t want to get into another subject. I shut my mouth and just waited for Bobby to talk. He finally decided it was time.
Bobby said, “I just got so frustrated. She dated a lot but wouldn’t even consider me. I did everything. I even watched her neighbor’s cat because she asked me to. I took assignments for her. I would’ve done anything for Emily.”
I said, “Except leave her alone. The only thing she really needed you to do.”
“I guess I’m screwed.”
I said, “We all lost on this one, Bobby.”
Chapter 103
Roberta Herring finished her testimony at the Senate early. She met me at Special Investigations’ off-site office. The squad was busy working with the MPD homicide team to complete the search of Bobby’s apartment before the media swarmed.
I was sitting behind a desk no one was using when Roberta walked up to me. She had sort of a silly grin on her face. “Why do you look so down? I knew you’d figure it out. I’m embarrassed to admit I never had a clue. Patel was such a diligent agent. It never occurred to me that he’d do something like this.”
I said, “Isn’t that what every neighbor says on the local news after a serial killer has been arrested?”