‘That’s a lie,’ Sara cried out. ‘Namir killed dad. I was there. I escaped. Came across Zeb’s camp. He protected me from those terrorists. He didn’t kill any hikers.’
‘That’s not the eyewitness statement we have. We’ll get to the bottom of it in any case. Pete?’
The grandfather tugged at the girl’s hand, drawing her away. ‘Terry will sort it out, honey.’
‘No,’ she yelled, her face turning red. ‘It’s not right. It’s not true.’
‘Ma’am?’ Zeb addressed her, ‘It’s all right. I will go with them.’
‘But you didn’t—’ Her lips trembled. Tears coursed down her face.
‘I know. But it’s not a big deal. Just some questions.’
Frazier jerked his head at the cruiser. Stomped off. Zeb followed, Schwartz covering from behind.
Frazier opened the door for him and pushed him inside with a shove.
He was grinning. A savage killer was in his custody.
Couldn’t help sniggering at how easily they had captured Zeb. Slid behind the wheel and chuckled at Schwartz, next to him.
Zeb saw the girl’s face at a window. Pale, blurred. Then they turned a corner.
‘These hikers I am supposed—’
The deputy pulled into a parking space and slammed the brake.
‘Not supposed to,’ he said, viciously, as he turned around. ‘Here.’ He fumbled in a pocket and brought out his cell.
He thumbed at it and played a video. A man speaking nervously, blood on his face.
‘This dude came from nowhere. Pointed a gun at us. Roughed Jake up. Killed him and my friends. There was a girl with him.’
‘Frazier, that’s enough. Let’s get to the station.’ Schwartz was edgy, uneasy. Worried that his officer would mishandle the biggest arrest of their lives.
Zeb ignored the byplay.
That’s Chuck. That drunk hiker.
‘How did you get that video? Chuck walked in?’
‘No,’ the deputy gloated. ‘It was handed to us.’
‘By whom?’
‘Another witness. You’re done, buddy,’ he chortled. ‘We have witnesses coming out of our ears.’
‘This witness has a name?’
‘Sure as hell he does,’ Frazier started the cruiser and pulled out. ‘He came last night. With this video. Told us everything about you. The chief sent some officers into the wilderness. To bring back the bodies.’
He met Zeb’s eyes in the mirror and smirked, ‘You walked right up to us. Talk about being stupid!’
‘Frazier, shut your lips and drive,’ Schwartz commanded.
‘This witness?’ Zeb tried again.
‘A Canadian businessman. John Leopard.’