Bluebird, Bluebird

Van Horn allows Darren to view Missy Dale’s autopsy, which reveals she died by strangulation, and she ate at Geneva’s café before she disappeared. Darren realizes the bayou is not the connection point between the two murders. Darren is allowed to question Geneva, telling her about the incriminating autopsy report and asking her to give a detailed description of what happened that night between her and Missy. Geneva’s lawyer, an oddly dressed man named Frederick Hodge, is present. Geneva is visibly angry at Van Horn for arresting her and Darren for lying to her. Darren is torn between his respect for her and his anger that she has withheld so much important information that could have helped solve the case. She defends herself by saying, “I simply ain’t told you things wasn’t your business to know” (196). Darren realizes Geneva is in contact with Wally and this perplexes him. She also knows Keith Jr. is living with the Jeffersons. Geneva believes Keith murdered Missy. On the night she disappeared, Missy visited Geneva with Keith Jr., as she often would when Keith was working late. Missy was trying to give Geneva a chance to see her grandson, despite knowing it would greatly anger Keith. Every day the boy ages, the more his lineage becomes apparent. Geneva often took Missy home and did so on the night in question, and Keith’s truck was there when she dropped off Missy and the child. Darren asks her specific questions using techniques he learned from Clayton. He points out that a lot of time passed between the time Missy ate and the time of death based on the coroner’s report. Geneva cannot confirm anything else that happened after leaving. She did not share these details for fear of the secret of Keith Jr. being exposed after his Missy’s death.

Darren drives to the lumber mill in Timpson where Keith Dale is employed. The mill is filled with timber being transformed into boards, and Darren realizes it is the same kind of board used to beat Michael. Darren calls out to Keith who is not happy to see him there. All the other men stop their work to watch the confrontation. Keith mentions Geneva’s arrest and Darren calmly asks him to come with him for questioning. Keith refuses and curses Darren using an offensive racial slur. Darren asks again but threatens to arrest him if necessary. When Darren mentions he knows about Keith Jr., Dale becomes angry and asserts he had nothing to do with Michael’s death. Keith grabs a two-by-four board and swings at Darren, missing his head, but hitting him in the shoulder. Darren pulls his gun, cuffs Keith, and takes him in for assault on an officer. With Van Horn sitting in, Darren begins his interrogation of Keith. Van Horn appears to be protecting Keith and tries to remove his cuffs. There is tension between Darren and Van Horn. Keith uses a racial slur against Darren again and admits to assaulting Darren. Van Horn is visibly upset over this news and allows Darren to proceed. Keith again asserts he did not kill Michael. Darren begins to question him about his role in Missy’s death. He asks why Keith did not call the police to report his wife’s disappearance. Van Horn objects to Darren asking about Missy but Darren persists. Darren reviews the facts he learned from Geneva and Keith is defensive and sullen. Darren believes Van Horn is using coded gestures to coach Keith on how to respond. Darren asserts Geneva loved her grandson and would not harm Missy. Van Horn disagrees, still maintaining Geneva could be at fault. After dodging many questions, Keith admits to beating Michael after seeing him on the road with Missy. He pulled him out of his car and beat him with his hands. He grabbed a board from his truck, but Missy stopped him from using it. The tone in the room shifts and Van Horn appears to remove his support from Keith. Keith breaks down over the subject of his son. Missy’s family rejects the child, and he has no help. That is why he is staying at the Jeffersons. Darren notices Keith has red scratch marks on his hands but sees no tattoos indicating an ABT association. Keith says Missy was adamant that they return to the scene of the beating to see if Michael was okay. Keith has been incarcerated once before and is fearful of returning to jail but agreed. When they returned, both the car and Michael were gone.