The coat was the same colour and style as the one Darby had seen at Logan Airport. Darby’s body kicked into gear before her mind did, her legs marching forward. The wind, which had suddenly come to life in the past few minutes, blasted against her as if trying to push her back, saying, No, please don’t do what you’re about to do.
She looked at the inside collar and saw a big black X drawn in marker over the Patagonia label.
Why is there a black X on the label?
To let the world know you bought it at a heavy discount at an outlet, Coop had answered. You’re a girl, you’re supposed to know these things.
The female officer said, ‘I checked the pockets and found this.’ Then she held up a clear evidence bag holding a black leather wallet containing Coop’s Federal bag and his laminated ID.
Sheriff Powers said, ‘Thank you. Good job.’
Darby blinked, confused as to why the man had said this to her; then she realized his words had been directed to the female officer, who, with a nod, moved forward and walked straight past them, holding Coop’s jacket.
‘Be careful with that,’ Darby said, not realizing until after she’d spoken that she had practically shouted at the woman. She wasn’t imagining it; her voice had also drawn the attention of the nearby officers busy documenting on their clipboards and photographing all the damage to the body and the SUV.
The female officer stopped in her tracks and looked at Darby with the kind of limp and awkward sympathy given to a patient who has just received and refused to accept a terminal diagnosis. It felt like spit on her face.
‘I meant the evidence,’ Darby said, as if by way of explanation. ‘You can’t put wet evidence inside plastic. It’ll turn mouldy, and the plastic breaks down the DNA.’
The young woman seemed confused, maybe even a bit frightened; her gaze bounced to her boss, in a sort of ‘how do you want me to handle this’ look, and Darby realized Sheriff Powers and his people weren’t treating this as a homicide but as a car accident, nothing more.
Which it could very well be, she thought. But she knew Coop had come here to Fort Jefferson in some capacity for the Bureau, and she was going to do everything in her power to find out everything that they weren’t telling her.
‘Sheriff,’ Covington said. ‘Is there someplace where you and I could talk? Step out of the cold, get warmed up?’
‘That’s a fine idea,’ Powers replied. ‘Let’s go to my truck.’
‘Could one of your people take Dr McCormick back to the hotel? It’s been a long day, and she –’
‘Sheriff,’ Darby said, ‘did you meet Agent Cooper while he was in town?’
Powers seemed surprised by the question. ‘Why would I?’ he said. ‘But to answer your question, no, I didn’t meet him – would have had no reason to meet him, unless he was here on FBI business.’
Noel said, ‘He wasn’t.’
‘I’m sure you’re right,’ Powers said. ‘Because if Agent Cooper was here on behalf of the FBI, he would have come straight to my office and extended the proper courtesy, let me know he was here.’
Powers knows something, Darby thought.
Noel said, ‘Where’s your truck?’
‘Right over there,’ Powers replied.
‘Sheriff,’ Darby said, ‘do you mind if I tag along? I have some questions.’
‘So do I – and no, not at all. Agent Covington?’
‘I have plenty of questions myself.’
‘And some answers, I hope.’
‘Whatever I know I’ll gladly share with you,’ Noel said. ‘I don’t have anything to hide, Sheriff.’
Oh, but you do, Darby thought. I know you do, you lying son of a bitch.