Primal Threat - Earl Emerson [62]
“I know,” said Morse. “I know, but right now each side only has one perspective. If we can share our perspectives, we can all see a broader picture of what happened. I’m on your team here.”
To Kasey, this Morse guy was making a certain amount of sense. It might do them all some good to lay it out and hear the opposition’s statement. He was still confused about what had actually happened and how they were going to present it to the authorities. If there were discrepancies, perhaps they should iron them out now instead of waiting for the police to pick it all apart. Besides, what kind of half-assed fabrication could they have come up with to justify pushing Chuck off the cliff?
Scooter gave Morse a version that was essentially the same one he’d been telling all along. He and Chuck ventured onto the bluff. Polanski got irritable. The moron showed up, and for whatever reason, probably on cue from Polanski, the two cyclists rushed forward and pushed Chuck off. Scooter had been unable to do anything about it, though he’d tried to fend Polanski off. He assumed he would have been next if he hadn’t threatened them with karate.
“Let me get this straight,” said Morse. “You’re saying that without any warning, Zak and Muldaur, uh, Hugh, rushed forward and pushed your friend off?”
“Exactly right!” barked Scooter.
“What was your reason for going up there?”
“I don’t see how that makes any difference.”
“I’m just trying to get a fuller picture of the scene.”
“I wanted to talk to Polanski. I needed to tell him I was sorry for things I said last night.”
“Okay. Yeah, that sounds very considerate. And your friend? Why was he along?”
“He wanted to take a walk.”
“I can understand that. It’s a nice morning. He thought he’d get a little exercise to help him wake up. Fine. If you don’t have anything to add, I’ll give their side. But I have to warn you, it differs significantly.”
“Lies are always different from the truth,” said Scooter, glancing at his friends.
“Let him finish,” said Kasey. “I want to hear this.”
The warm winds were beginning to pick up and it must have been hard to hear from where she was, so Jennifer stepped forward beside Kasey. Roger and Fred remained behind the Land Rover. Ryan Perry was even farther back, hiding behind another truck. Scooter folded his arms across his chest, a defensive posture.
“Okay,” Morse said. “Remember, it’s not my story. It’s Polanski’s, as best I can remember it. And Muldaur’s. The way they tell it, Zak was out on the bluff as you two approached. He told you not to come out, that he would come in. You kept coming anyway.”
“It was just a stupid rock until he got pushy. A public rock, I might add. This is bullshit. We should shoot this fucker.”
“Be serious,” said Jennifer.
“I am serious.”
Morse hadn’t seen either Fred or his rifle.
Ignoring the hostility, Morse continued. “The way they tell it, Mr. Potter came out first, Mr. Finnigan behind. Potter put his hand out to shake with Polanski, but Polanski didn’t want to shake. That was when Mr. Potter reached for Polanski’s hand. At about this same time, Mr. Finnigan tried to pass Mr. Potter on a narrow section of the bluff. Mr. Potter, not realizing Mr. Finnigan was approaching, waved his arms, and at this point bumped Mr. Finnigan unexpectedly, knocking him off balance. Mr. Polanski and Mr. Muldaur moved forward to try to keep him from falling but weren’t able to rescue him.”
Kasey was thinking hard, because he realized suddenly that this could have been how it happened. But then, Scooter’s story more or less fit the picture, too, didn’t it? He’d replayed Scooter’s version in his mind too many times now to be sure which story best reflected reality.
“Bullshit!” yelled Scooter, stepping away from the group. “They pushed him. You liar!”
“I’m not here to stir up controversy.” Perspiration pimpled Morse’s brow. “Remember, I’m just repeating what they told me. I wasn’t out there, and neither were most of you. I think it’s important we all know exactly what the other camp is thinking.”
“Yeah, well, you’re right about one thing. You weren