“No.”
Marcus frowned.“You sure that’s how you want to play this?”
“I can’t release that kind of information.”
“You can.Youshould.Youhaveto, since this is now a murder investigation.”
“If I’m subpoenaed, I have to, and if I’m subpoenaed, I can tell my client I had no choice.”
“Your client…” When Maxwell didn’t say anything, Marcus chuckled and asked, “Who is your client?”
“Can’t say that either.Word gets out I’m narcing on my clients, I’m done.”
“So, you admit there’s something to narc on them for.”
“Sure.Not murder, but people don’t pay me to spy on other people for no reason.”
“And you’re not going to tell me the reason?”
“Nope.”He lifted his hands in awhat can you dogesture.
“And you realize that your unwillingness to cooperate upgrades you from person of interest to suspect.”
Maxwell chuckled nervously and looked at the top of his desk for a moment.“I mean, come on, man.I want to get paid.Now that Hammond’s dead, I only clear the thirty percent up front plus a few days of expenses.That’s enough to keep the lights on, but my meals for the next week will be on credit.I’ve got no reason to kill the subject of a paying investigation.”
“Unless, of course, you despised them.I did some background into Dr.Hammond on my way over.Pretty crazy stuff, right?Polyamory, open relationships, claiming that cheating is sometimes good even in monogamous relationships.”
“Yeah, well, people are shitty.Ninety percent of my business is finding out that the loving family man, husband of twenty years, is sneaking off to the Marriott every other weekend to bang his college-age secretary while his wife invites her son’s friends over to see her new lace panties for the half-second they remain wrapped around her legs.I didn’t care for Dr.Hammond, but she has a point.People aren’t good at marriage.”
Tell me about it.“What about you?You any good?”
“Hell no,” Maxwell replied.“Divorced twice.Second one only lasted six months.”
“Hmm.Your partner cheat?”
“Sure.So, did I.Like I said, people aren’t good at marriage.”
“Must be hard to hear people advocate for infidelity, though.If Dr.Hammond ever told your wife that she should sleep with another man, I’m sure that would piss you off.”
“Sure.Except that never happened.”
“Not to you.But your client, maybe.”
Maxwell smiled benignly.“Nice try, Special Agent.Give me a court order, and I’ll be happy to comply.”
Marcus nodded.“I might do that.”
“Be my guest.You’ll find I’m not devious, just shrewd.”
“Did you know those two words are synonyms?”
“I know they aren’t.”Maxwell sighed.“Look, Special Agent, I’m not going to mourn Dr.Hammond’s death.She wasn’t a nice person whether she was right about monogamy or not.But I’m not stupid enough to think I’m smart enough to get away with killing someone, especially… someone I’m investigating.”
Marcus caught that hesitation.“And the Carltons?Sure, you didn’t know them?”
“A court order, Special Agent.I’m sure I’ll see you soon.”
“You will,” Marcus said, getting to his feet.“Don’t leave town.”
“Why would I leave paradise?”Maxwell replied.
Marcus couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not.He couldn’t tell much about Maxwell other than that he was clearly hiding something.Either he was their killer, or he had a good idea who their killer was.Whatever the answer, Marcus was going to find it today.
