Chapter 5 - SHANE WALKERShane Walker came to the station voluntarily.
Forty.
Older than Ben by four years.
Same blue-gray eyes.
Heavier build.
Work boots.
Hands rough from construction.
He and Ben co-owned Walker Brothers Renovation.
Small company.
Nine employees.
Kitchens.
Bathrooms.
Electrical upgrades.
Decks.
No giant corporate fortune.
Annual revenue around $1.4 million.
Profit much less.
Shane cried when Vega told him Ben was alive.
Real tears or good performance?
No way to know from tears.
“Where?”
“Hospital.”
“Can I see him?”
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s under protective care while we investigate.”
Shane covered his face.
“Oh God.”
Vega asked:
“When did you last see him?”
“Friday night.”
Five days earlier.
“Where?”
“His house.”
“Why?”
“Business.”
“What kind?”
He hesitated.
“Argument.”
There.
“About?”
“Money.”
“What money?”
“Company money.”
He looked at the table.
“I screwed up.”
Vega did not rescue him.
He continued.
“I paid some personal bills from the business account.”
“How much?”
“Maybe twelve grand.”
Later that number would change.
Of course.
“What happened Friday?”
“Ben found out. He was furious.”
“Did you hit him?”
“No.”
“Did he hit you?”
“No.”
“Did you restrain him?”
“No.”
“Put him under the floor?”
Shane looked genuinely horrified.
“No.”
“Who knew about the crawlspace?”
He stared.
“What crawlspace?”
Vega described it.
Shane shook his head.
“I knew there was a crawlspace. Everyone knows old houses have crawlspaces. I didn’t know there was a hatch in the living room.”
That could be checked.
Then:
“Why did Ben text you?”
Shane looked confused.
“What?”
The apparent suicide message.
We showed him.
His eyes filled again.
“He sent that after I left.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I left around nine. Text came after midnight.”
“What did you do?”
“I called.”
“Answer?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“I went back.”
“When?”
“Around one.”
There.
“You returned to the house?”
“Yes.”
“Did you go inside?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“His truck was gone.”
“Did you call police?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought he went driving.”
“And the text?”
Shane rubbed his face.
“I thought he was being dramatic.”
Everyone in this case had a word for ignoring warnings.
Nightmare.
Dramatic.
May you like
Upset.
The vocabulary of hindsight.
