Whitaker muttered a curse under his breath.
Bree sat back down at the computer. “I’ve got to work. We don’t have a lot of time.”
TANNERMADESUREBree had a steaming cup of coffee next to her keyboard, then walked over to Whitaker and Penelope.
“I’ve called everybody back in,” she said. “Hopefully they got enough of a break to be able to look at this with fresh eyes.”
“I don’t understand.” Whitaker scrubbed a hand down his face. “What is this, a copycat? If so, how? How could they have gotten all the details so perfectly in such a short amount of time?”
“They couldn’t,” Tanner said. “This had to have been someone working with Elliot from the beginning.”
Penelope walked over and poured herself a cup of coffee. “We haven’t been looking too deeply into his known associates, but that’s where we’ll start. I interviewed him briefly, but he wasn’t very talkative. He hasn’t lawyered up yet, so I figured I’d let him sweat for a little while.”
“Now might be a good time to see if the sweating worked,” Tanner said.
Penelope nodded. “You guys want to join me?”
Penelope handed Tanner a file as they walked through the main section of the building toward the holding cells. “A refresher course on Elliot. Twenty-two-year-old engineering student. Straight As through high school and college. No priors. No known affiliation with any groups or people that would raise red flags.”
Tanner nodded. He remembered this much from what Bree had told them before they’d infiltrated the building. He handed the folder back to Penelope. “You’ve talked to him. What’s your take on him? We all know a file is only going to help so much.”
Penelope opened the door and they walked into the observation room. On the other side of the two-way glass sat Elliot Webster.
“Tends to think he’s the smartest person in the room,” Penelope said. “Hell, he probably is most of the time. I’m sure we’re talking Mensa IQ and damned if the kid isn’t afraid to let everybody know it.”
Tanner studied Elliot through the window. The kid definitely didn’t look scared. Bored maybe, but not frightened.
There wasn’t too much impressive about him, at least physically. Blondish-brown hair that looked like it needed a cut. Eyes too close together on a face too pointed and angled. He was probably about five foot nine and 160 pounds.
Basically, quite ignorable.
“And he hasn’t asked for a lawyer?”
Penelope shook her head. “Nope.”
“Definitely a cocky bastard,” Whitaker muttered. “Guy does remember that we caught him right smack in the middle of attempted murder, right?”
“I’ll be honest.” Penelope leaned in closer to stare at him. “I think this is all just part of a game to him, the same as sending the footage. I think he plans to lawyer up, but wants to play us as long as possible.”
Tanner nodded. “We can use his own conceit against him. He hasn’t asked for a lawyer because he’s sure we won’t be able to trip him up with our questions. And that may end up being true, but I say we work his own plan against him for as long as possible.”
Whitaker looked at Penelope. “Do you mind if Tanner and I try to talk to him? He’s met you, but doesn’t know who we are at all.”
“Be my guest. I’ll watch from out here and see if I catch anything from him.”
Tanner and Whitaker walked into the room. Elliot straightened up slightly in his chair. “Finally,” he muttered.
“We understand you’re denying your right to counsel,” Whitaker said as he sat down across from Elliot. Tanner remained standing, leaning against the wall.
Elliot raised one eyebrow. “Yeah, that’s right. I think I’m doing just fine without one.”
Definitely a cocky bastard.
“That’s your choice, of course,” Whitaker confirmed. “As long as you know you can request one at any time.”
Elliot tilted his head to the side. “Plus, you only have a few more hours before you’re required to charge me, or let me go.”
Cocky bastard who knew the law.
