It was embarrassing. I over-reacted and on the basis of my assessment, Cyril called out the swat team. There was no threat.
Turns out Barnes was in the detachment with Bob Henderson, his partner, flipping though past cases. Cyril put out the word it was a training exercise in rapid deployment.
It wasn't a face-saving tactic―we often practiced in this fashion using unannounced scrambles, but it was a deliberate use of disinformation to cover up a false threat. We didn't want to arouse questions about the nature of the deployment and kindle Barnes' suspicions.
After the team left, Cyril stayed behind for an Evaluation of the Crisis Response and that's exactly what it was―with me having to offer up an explanation for my impulsive action.
"What's going on with you two?" he growled and don't try to deny you're involved―that's not an issue unless it affects our operations."
Clare tried to explain."We've been surveilling Robyn Lynch ever since Tom, Lea's husband, told me at the Thanksgiving dinner that Robyn had a grudge against Cam and was jealous of his relationship with Sarah. That gave her motive to kill Sarah."
Cyril's eyes grew huge."You don't mean to tell me you think Robyn, a civilian support worker, is our long-range sniper?"
I decided to intervene.
"We don't think Robyn has the background or skill to be our perp but we suspected she may have recruited somebody with the expertise so we went over the recordings from the covert cameras and saw her receive a thumb drive from Jim Barnes―that's how the pieces fell together. He has all the skills necessary to be the killer and appears to be in a relationship with Robyn."
Cyril frowned, "So you think Robyn is using Barnes to kill off her rivals because she wants you all to herself?"
I coloured. "That's not exactly the case. She knows she can't have me, but she doesn't want anyone else to have me."
"Sounds less like a blessing than a curse."
"Exactly! I thought at first her anger was directed at me. I was the audience and I'd have to live with Sarah's death. But then it occurred to me that she didn't want me to have anyone and that meant Clare was next."
"Okay, I see your point," Cyril sighed, "but I told you to keep me informed every step of the way. If you did that, we would have had eyes on Jim Branes 24/7 and could have avoided this incident."
"We were intending to tell you," Clare replied," but we were just putting the loose ends together so we could have some evidence."
"Well, if your theory is right, you're both in danger. What was your plan to handle that?"
I jumped in again.
"I was afraid of Clare staying alone on the farm so I was intending to stay over―in separate rooms, of course, but I'd be a second pair of eyes."
"It wouldn't help if Barnes is our sniper. He could kill you both from two miles away. You're free to follow your plan, but I'm putting eyes on this pair night and day until we can get the evidence."
We both nodded solemnly like children caught with our hands in the cookie jar. It was embarrassing.
Cyril cuffed me affectionately on the shoulder to console me.
"Cheer up you two--this was good police work―a bit premature in both your responses, but now we have a good lead and we'll see where it takes us. By the way Clare, there'll be a patrol outside your door but it wouldn't hurt to keep Cam close as well."
After he left, we both collapsed on the couch, drained from the ordeal.
"He was fair," I told her, "Stern but fair, nevertheless."
"I'd hate to get on his bad side," she sighed.
I nodded, She'd get no disagreement from me on that one.
