Dean got right to it. "Maybe we can all save some time if we skip the part where you ask the questions and I just go ahead and answer them. No, I didn't kill Shipton, or try to kill him by cutting his rope. Yes, I was up at the ice park when he fell, but no, there's no one to alibi me-I was off alone on the upper trail. Yes, I did try to punch his lights out in front of half the town. Yes, it's my knife Weller found up there and no, I don't have any idea how it got there. Yes, I despised the son of a bitch, especially after he grabbed my wife's breast ten feet away from me. No, I don't have any information on who killed him, but yes, there's a pretty damn long list." He stopped to catch his breath.
Fitzgerald slumped, with an annoying roll of his eyes and an "I've seen-it-all-before" look on his chubby face. He pulled out a fingernail clipper and began clipping his nails, sending little white crescents flying about the room. Dean glared at him, with no result. He was in no mood to exercise patience.
"Get the hell out of my inn," he said with a snarl, finally getting the detective's attention. He looked up. Dean repeated his demand.
"Look, asshole," Fitzgerald grunted. "If you haven't noticed, I'm a cop and I'm here investigating a crime. And I'll stay put as long as it takes."
"You may be a cop, but you're also an obnoxious slob who's soiling a clean carpet with your discarded body parts. Corday is the only one doing any investigating and he's the only one I'm inviting to stay. You were not invited and I'm telling you to get out. Now."
Fitzgerald started to say something but Corday grimaced, let out a long sigh and nodded for the younger detective to leave. Fitzgerald looked mad enough to take a swing.
"There's nothing I hate more than a cop who thinks he can make his own rules, Dean. Your ass is grass and I'm a lawn mower. Remember that." He ambled out of the room, but Dean didn't hear the front door close and assumed he was an earshot away in the hall.
"Do you guys bother with a trial around here or do you just draw lots and send us blood thirsty killers directly over to Cañon City?"
"Don't mind Fitzgerald. He gets a bit vexatious at times."
"Let's get on with this," Dean said.
"Were you sleeping with Mrs. Shipton?" Corday asked the question as casually as if he was inquiring about the weather.