Body Swappers 19
Getting locked up could be dangerous...
They didn’t listen over at Airway Heights. The person she spoke to laughed her off the phone. Maya felt really impotent for a moment, before she remembered what she’d discovered with Wood.
“Did you find something?” Ruth asked when Maya called her.
“Yeah, Wood was in a sensory deprivation tank. He heard water slosh when he moved around, and he hit his head and it sounded like a drum. The ceiling was domed, and there was a handle on it. He couldn’t get it open.”
“Hold on a second,” Ruth said, and Maya heard keys clacking. “That lines up with Davis’s eyes stinging! Looks like they use a pretty high saline content water to help you feel weightless. Saline water is heavier. Too high a saline content, and that’ll hurt your eyes.”
Maya looked up at the jail looming over her, wishing she could tell Robert. We got a real lead, this time. I think we’re going to figure this out.
“How many spas in town offer sensory deprivation tank use?” Maya asked.
“I’ll come up with a full list while you’re on your way back.”
“Well, I’m not sure when I’ll be on my way back. I have to figure out if Robert’s going to be booked, first.”
There was dead air on Ruth’s end. Maya was about to ask if she’d heard her when Ruth said, “What?”
“A guard killed a prisoner while we were here. The next person we were going to talk to. Then the guard came after Wood, who we were with. The guard was possessed, Ruth. I saw it. The killer’s onto us. They’re trying to kill our leads before we can talk to them.”
Somehow, saying it out loud made it real. Maya felt as though a massive weight were pressing down on her, and she struggled to keep her breath.
“Wait, so they arrested Robert?”
Though it was difficult, Maya forced herself to speak. “This other guard didn’t believe in possession. He thought Robert had set the whole thing up with the possessed guy to legitimize the magic defense. But he’s a guard, not a police officer. Min Taylor and I are waiting to hear if the police that came are formally arresting him.”
Ruth’s voice was terse. “I’m calling Jeff. Maybe Mason can help.”
“Why? He didn’t do anything. Even if he is arrested, there’s no proof to convict him.”
“Maya, you just said the murderer can possess guards. If Robert gets locked up, he’s a sitting duck.”
Maya was breathing like she’d just scaled a mountain. Standing was too hard. She sat down, on the sidewalk. If Robert is arrested now, the arraignment won’t be until tomorrow. He’ll be vulnerable for a whole day.
“Maya? I’m going to get off the phone now to call Jeff. Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” Maya said, even as her body felt too hot, despite the cool fall air.
“Talk soon,” Ruth said, then hung up.
Maya took slow, deep breaths. She looked up at the jail again. She should get up, and tell Min the conclusion she’d reached. Did lawyers hire other lawyers to defend them? Was there anything Min could do, to keep Robert from being an easy target? Maya stood, dusted off her butt, and went back inside.