His non-answer to the murder of Pete Harris was not lost on Chance. “Why did you let your partner screw you over?”
“What makes you think I did?” the man in prison garb countered.
“Because you’re the one sitting here,” Chance fired back.
“What can I say?” He shrugged, the jumpsuit baggy on his shoulders. “I screwed up. Advice from the wise, pal. Never remove a condom too soon. Stupid mistake.”
“Then your partner,” Rory said, her voice shaking a little, “the one you’re protecting, killed my husband.”
A grin spread across his face. “No, he was a little busy…if you know what I mean.”
Chance stilled. Now they were getting somewhere. The cocky bastard had just allowed something to slip. It might not be actual evidence, but it was enough for Chance to understand they were going in the right direction.
To Rory’s credit, she held her ground. Didn’t draw away or show any fear. “Then you’re the one who killed my husband.”
Shock appeared on the scumbag’s face as if he’d just realized what he’d done. “You’re crazy.” He looked to Chance. “You should take her home. She needs her meds.”
“She’s right,” Chance reiterated. “If you weren’t the one who attacked her, then you were with her husband, which makes you his killer.”
Hill scoffed. “I wasn’t even there. That was somebody else’s job. Not ours. Or—” he cocked his head and stared at Rory “—you killed him. After all, y’all had just got married. Didn’t the rich boy have insurance?”
That was the thing. The insurance didn’t matter. If the beneficiary was convicted of murdering the insured, the payoff went to the next legal beneficiary. In this case, the parents.
“What did you do with his Rolex and wedding ring?” Chance tossed out.
“What the hell you talking about?” Hill snarled. “That bastard wasn’t wearing a Rolex, and the wedding band was just plain old…” He snapped his mouth shut.
Chance smiled.Gotcha.This guy really was stupid. Not to mention gullible.
“It was you,” Rory said, the words barely a whisper of breath.
“I’m done here,” Hill shouted, rattling his shackles.
“We know what you did,” Chance warned as he leaned closer. “But we’re not here for you. We want the other guy.”
He’d fallen for a trick once. Chance could only hope he’d fall for this one as well.
Hill glared at him for a long moment. “You can’t touch him,” he hissed, low as if he feared the walls could hear.
“No one,” Chance argued, “is untouchable.”
The bastard laughed then, long and loud with his head thrown back.
Chance and Rory shared another look. The hurt in hers almost undid him. Made him want to leap across the table and tear this lowlife apart.
Finally, Hill rested his gaze back on Chance. He leaned forward and whispered, “He’s untouchable, man.Protected.Trust me on that one.”
Chance narrowed his gaze, scrutinized the other man’s face. Every instinct said he was very likely telling the truth. “I thought you were the one,” he whispered. “The one who liked having that extra bit of fun.”
Hill sneered and leaned closer. “Since I know you or they—” he glanced at the camera on the wall “—can’t record this or use it if they do, I will tell you this much. Fact is, he wouldn’t let me haveher,” he whispered and glanced at Rory, waggled his eyebrows. “He wanted her for himself.” He shifted his sleazy gaze back on Chance. “And I got stuck with the rich boy. I guess I got a little excited watching him beg us not to hurt her.” He leaned closer still. “He. Just. Wouldn’t. Shut. Up. The Taser didn’t even shut him up.”
Rory shot up from her chair and rushed away from the table. She banged on the door. Shouted for the guard.
Hill grinned. “I sure wish I had gotten that one.”
Chance barely restrained the urge to beat his stinking face to a pulp. Instead, he stood, leaned over the table. “Thanks for your help. I’ll be sure to tell your partner how you outed him.”
Hill’s grin slipped. “I didn’t tell you nothing.”
