She had definitely told them it was the noise that triggered Kyle’s extreme reaction.
“It’s just Kyle’s way of handling the problem, I suppose. His coping mechanism,” Sherwood continued. “And he has been handling it. He’s been doing really well.”
“Until Monday morning,” Gurley said.
“No!” Sherwood stood up and threw the beermat on the table. “Haven’t you been listening to a word I’ve said? He wouldn’t hurt Molly. He couldn’t. It’s just not in him.”
“Due respect, but none of us know exactly what we’re capable of, ma’am.” Gurley picked up the shredded beermat and folded it in two. Then four. “I mean, I bet before today you had no idea you’d help a suspect evade the law.”
Yvonne Sherwood looked to Ingrid, as if she might offer some support. When she said nothing, the woman slumped back into her chair. “He’s an innocent man. I’m only interested in justice. You all seem to have made your mind up about him.”
“Why are you so certain he’s not guilty?” Ingrid said.
“I’ve already told you—Kyle’s just not like that.”
“When did he first get in touch with you?” Ingrid leaned further forward in her seat, trying to encourage Sherwood to confide in her.
“Why does that matter?”
“We’re trying to piece together his movements. To be frank, we’re also trying to work out what might have happened to Tommy.”
“Nothing’s happened to him. Tommy’s fine.”
“Have you seen the boy?” Ingrid asked.
“No.”
“Spoken to him?”
“No—Kyle told me Tommy wanted to know if Luke was playing football on Saturday. I get the impression Tommy doesn’t even realize anything is wrong. You know what boys are like—he probably thinks it’s all some big adventure.”
The way Sherwood was speaking, it sounded as if Tommy might still be alive. Unlike Gurley, Ingrid didn’t believe Foster would lie to Sherwood if he’d seriously hurt the boy. A wave of relief passed over her. Maybe Rachelle Carver’s assessment of Kyle Foster was accurate. Perhaps he did still care about Tommy.
“A big adventure huh?” Gurley threw the beermat back onto the table. “Including the part where Tommy gets a bleeding nose and split lip, courtesy of his father?”
“What?” Sherwood stared at him wide-eyed.
“I thought Foster may have neglected to mention Tommy’s injuries to you.” Gurley flared his nostrils.
“There has to be some innocent explanation.” Despite her words, Sherwood looked genuinely shocked by the news. “Tommy must have had a fall.”
Ingrid felt the need to move the conversation in another direction, just in case Gurley’s revelation stopped Sherwood talking. “Did Kyle call you on your cell phone?” Ingrid asked.
“He called the public phone, here in the bar.”
“And was he using a cell phone?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“It’s a way we might be able to trace him.” Ingrid leaned even closer to Sherwood. “You do know his best option is to give himself up?”
The woman nodded meekly. “I was hoping to talk him into doing just that. I thought I’d get a chance to speak to him.”
“Oh really?” Gurley kicked at the sports bag again. “Would that be before or after you gave him the money?”
“I just want to help him.”
“He can’t escape, you do realize that?” Gurley said. “There’s no place for him to go. The longer this goes on, the worse it gets for him.”
Ingrid wished Gurley would shut up, he wasn’t helping any. “What was next for Kyle, Yvonne? What was he going to do with the money? Where was he planning on going?”
Sherwood pursed her lips and shook her head so rapidly it looked as if she’d developed a sudden tremor. “He never told me his plans.” She looked Gurley square in the eyes and folded her arms. “And that’s the God’s honest truth. You can arrest me if you want. Threaten me with whatever you like. I still won’t tell you anything—I can’t tell you what I don’t know.”
Ingrid glared at Gurley. He didn’t seem to notice. He was deliberately ignoring her. His bombastic approach had gotten them nowhere. “Major Gurley, would you mind leaving Yvonne and me to speak alone for a moment?”
He frowned at her, completely taken aback by the suggestion.
“Please?”
“I’ll go check on the car,” he finally said, and slowly got to his feet. At the door he stopped and turned around, taking a moment to glower at Ingrid, just in case she hadn’t picked up on his annoyance.
29
“You’re wasting your time if you think I’m going to tell you any more now that he’s left the room.” Sherwood said. “I don’t know where Kyle and Tommy Foster are.”
“When he called you, did you