The Bitterroots (Cassie Dewell #4) - C.J. Box Page 0,40

the evidence and investigation will be truthful and honest even if it doesn’t help Mr. Kleinsasser’s defense. My job here is to cross the t’s and dot the i’s of the record. I’d like nothing more than to report back to my client that the investigation was sound and by the book and that the evidence is rock-solid.”

Wagy looked skeptical. “Can you tell me with a straight face that you’re not starting this thing from the standpoint that Blake is innocent?”

“I’m not.”

“Good,” Wagy said. “Because he’s guilty as hell. And he’s also an asshole.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“Your employer—what is her name?”

“Rachel Mitchell of Mitchell-Estrella.”

“Ah,” Wagy said with a knowing smirk. “The crusading Bozeman female activists. I’ve heard of them.”

Cassie ignored Wagy again. She wondered if he was trying to provoke her into saying something that would prove to him that she wasn’t playing it straight.

“I’ve read the arrest report and it looks very cut-and-dried,” she said. “Were there ever any credible suspects in the assault besides Blake Kleinsasser?”

“Nada,” Wagy said. “And not because we were out to get him. I know the history of that family in this valley—everybody does. I know there was bad blood between Blake and the rest of the family. But I don’t work for the Kleinsassers. I work for the people of Lochsa County, even those who didn’t vote for me.

“When Franny was brought in here with her story we didn’t jump to conclusions even though she clearly named Blake as the perp. We got her statement and went through proper procedure. Are you familiar with a Christmas tree test?”

“Yes.”

It was a fairly simple and accurate DNA test that could be done on-site by law enforcement personnel. Acid phosphatase applied to an alleged semen sample under a microscope made the heads of sperm appear red and the tails green.

“Of course,” Wagy said, “the Christmas tree test just confirmed that there was semen in her panties. It doesn’t identify who put it there. That came later after we arrested Blake and swabbed him. We drove the samples to the crime lab in Missoula and they came back with a perfect match.”

“Did Blake deny it to you?” Cassie asked.

“He sure did. But every part of Franny’s story was corroborated. From the witnesses at the church who saw Blake pick her up to the old cabin out on the ranch. If you’ve read the charging documents you already know all of this.”

Cassie nodded. “I don’t remember reading who brought Franny in to you. I’m not sure that was in the file.”

“Her mother and her uncle brought her in that night,” Wagy said. “Franny had to walk all the way back to the ranch headquarters in the dark after being assaulted. She told them what happened and they brought her here.”

“Which uncle?”

“John Wayne.”

“Thank you.”

Cassie entered the new detail into her notebook.

“Was her statement taken that night?” she asked.

“Nah, just a preliminary statement. The official statement was taken the next day. That’s the one that you read, I’ll guess.”

Cassie flipped through her file and noted that the statement was indeed dated the day after the assault.

She said, “So the uncle and mother brought Franny here instead of asking you or your officers to go out to the ranch.”

“That’s what I said.”

Cassie jotted it down and looked up. “Were you working late that night and you just happened to be here?”

Wagy narrowed his eyes. “Dispatch called me at home to meet the reporting parties here so I came in. I don’t sit on my ass in this office twenty-four-seven, but when a serious allegation is made I drop everything and show up. That’s my job. Are you suggesting something here?”

“Not at all,” Cassie said. “I’m just trying to get the time line straight in my notes.”

Wagy didn’t comment. She could tell she was losing him as a cooperative subject.

“How would you describe Franny’s state of mind when she came in?”

“I’m no shrink,” Wagy said, “but I’d say she was pretty upset. Distraught, crying, that kind of thing. I did my best to make her comfortable. Sometimes sexual assault victims blame themselves so I didn’t want to add to that in any way. I called in one of my deputies who is a girl to do the test.”

Girl.

“How would you describe the state of mind of Fanny’s mother and uncle?” Cassie asked. She studied Wagy’s face when he answered.

“How do you think?” he said. “Cheyenne was on the edge of hysterical. She’s a strange bird, but I thought she might lose it