Left Hanging by Patricia McLinn Page A

opened it.
    Really? He meant to throw us out?
    “Lloyd, come in here, will you?”
    Or have his colleague throw us out? After we’d kept his role in the Redus case strictly confidential and—
    “What’s this about, Richard?” Mike asked.
    “I want somebody else to know what I’ve told you. No, don’t get huffy. I trust you. I guess I have to after  . . . But I need to be sure the people here know what I’ve told you.”
    The deputy we’d seen earlier appeared in the doorway. Alvaro waved him in. “Deputy Sampson, this is Ms. Danniher and Mike Paycik from KWMT.”
    I received a hello. Mike got a big grin, an extended hand, and “Mike Paycik? I saw you play ball. You were really something. Course we all hoped you’d play pro at Denver after UW instead of going off to Chicago.”
    Mike returned the handshake and a few practiced words of humble appreciation cut short by Alvaro saying, “Sit.” He gestured to chairs for Mike and me on the far side of the table. He and Deputy Sampson took the ones opposite us.
    “To be clear, I’m giving you a preview of the morning’s news conference, and you won’t use this material until after the news conference. Agreed?”
    He spoke with authority. He’d picked up a lot of confidence since we’d met the young deputy only weeks ago. I was impressed. That wouldn’t have stopped me from refusing his restrictions if there’d been a way to get the news on before the morning conference. But since there wasn’t  . . . “Agreed.”
    “I caught the call this morning, proceeded to the rodeo grounds, where I found the deceased, Keith Landry. After a preliminary investigation, including initial collection of evidence and statements, I was not entirely satisfied with the scene. After consulting with local officials, and in consultation with sheriff’s department colleagues, it was determined that the investigation will continue in consultation with other investigatory professionals.”
    It took a moment after absorbing all that consulting to realize he thought he’d finished. “What does that mean?” I asked.
    He turned mulish. “Just what I said.”
    “Why weren’t you satisfied?” Mike asked.
    Alvaro shook his head.
    “Why call in other people? What are you going to have them look at?” Mike pursued.
    Alvaro shook his head again.
    “It wasn’t an accident, was it?” I asked.
    He started to shake his head a third time, then caught himself. “I’ve given you my statement.”
    “You’re not sure it’s Keith Landry, yet you gave his name—”
    “What?” My barb rattled him. “We’re sure. We wouldn’t have released the name if—”
    “How do you know? Did next of kin identify him?”
    “No. No next of kin to—”
    “You assumed—”
    “I did not. We had ID and his phone.”
    “Pieces of it, just like him,” mumbled Deputy Sampson. He looked up, apparently startled by a belated realization that he’d spoken aloud.
    “I’ve given you my statement,” Alvaro said.
    “Deputy Alvaro, may I speak to you alone?” I asked.
    “I don’t see what purpose—”
    “It’s a follow-up on the Redus case. If you’d prefer—”
    “Okay. Lloyd, you can accompany Mr. Paycik out. Leave the front doors unlocked. Ms. Danniher will be there in a moment.”
    I kicked Mike under the table. He flinched, but said nothing. At the door, he looked back and rolled his eyes without either deputy seeing. Message received.
    “Richard—may I call you Richard?”
    “It depends,” he said warily, not as authoritative as before.
    “You are a smart, dedicated and honest law enforcement officer. I respect you for that. And we worked well together on the Redus case.” His lips parted. No doubt to repeat what extraordinary circumstances that had been. “That’s why I want to give you a little advice for dealing with the media.”
    “I don’t need—”
    “Oh, yes, you do. If you think that statement will fly at a news conference, you desperately need my advice. I