Page 29 of Wild Malibu

“You seem pretty hot about it.”

“Wouldn’t you be?”

“I suppose so. I’d want to kill the guy.”

"I sure would like to. I can think of all kinds of fun ways to do it.”

"Got any particular methods in mind?”

Gavin's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Shit. I ain't stupid. You think I'm gonna talk about that shit with you?”

"So, you've given it some serious thought?"

"Every time I get a past due notice. I’d have millions if it wasn't for him. You know what the worst part is? I gotta deliver packages to that son-of-a-bitch on a regular basis. See that hot-ass wife of his, living it up in style. She ain't nothing but a tramp." He laughed. "Hell, the whole team ran a train on her. Girl’s got skills, though. I'll give her that. The only satisfaction I get is knowing every time he kisses her lips, he's tasting the whole team." He grinned.

Gavin obviously hadn't seen the news.

"Where were you last night between 9 and 10:30 PM?”

Suspicion filled his eyes again. "What difference does that make?”

"Just curious.”

Gavin stared me down for a long moment. "Something happen to Coach Madison?" he asked, finally catching on.

"You could say." I paused for dramatic purposes. “He was killed last night."

Gavin's eyes rounded with surprise. "No shit?”

"No shit.”

A faux frown tightened his face. "Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. How’d he get it?"

"I can't discuss ongoing investigations.”

"That's why you're asking all these questions. You think I did that shit?"

"You did just express an interest in killing him."

"Shit, I was just talking out my ass. I don't like the guy, but wouldn't actually kill him. You think I'd be stupid enough to admit something like that?”

I shrugged.

There was no doubt in my mind that Gavin Carter wasn’t splitting atoms or performing robotic brain surgery.

Gavin just shook his head. "This is why I don't talk to cops. Nothing good ever comes from it. You twist around words, fabricate stories out of whole cloth.”

His recent DUI wasn’t his first run-in with the law. His juvenile record was sealed, but word on the street was that he got popped for a string of home burglaries when he was 14. He was also questioned in the death of a rival gang member, but no charges were ever filed.

"Just tell me where you were last night," I said.

"I was with this chick. She can tell you. I didn't hurt nobody, except that ass.”

"And what is this wonderful woman's name?"

His face tightened. “Why you gotta bring her into this?"

"I need somebody to verify your story."