Page 47 of In the Dead of Night

“If you don’t leave, I’m going to call the police.”

Sara sat in the chair, her heart pounding, unable to take her eyes off the frail elderly man before them. She hadn’t expected Nick to go after him so hard.

Nick ignored the woman and focused on Stocker. “Talk to us,” he said. “I’ll make sure the police know you cooperated.”

“What the hell is going on here?”

The deep male voice boomed like a gunshot. Nick stood abruptly and faced the door. Sara did the same to see a exquisitely dressed man of about thirty-five years stride toward them. Eyes as black and cunning as the old man’s swept from Sara to Nick. “Who are you people and what are you doing here?”

When neither of them answered, his eyes went to Mrs. Stocker. “Mother, what’s going on here?”

“He claims to be a police officer with questions about the Douglas-Tyson murders up in Cape Darkwood.” Channing Stocker’s hand shook when she brought the glass to her lips. “Lewinski checked him out. I thought Blaine might be able to help them.”

The man’s eyes landed on Nick. “Let me see your ID.”

Nick reached for his wallet and flashed his badge. “I’m with the Cape Darkwood PD,” he said. “And who are you?”

“I’m Brett Stocker.” He motioned toward the old man in the wheelchair. “Blaine is my father. And you are trespassing.”

Nick shoved his wallet back into his pocket. “We have reason to believe your father may be able to help us solve the murders of several women.”

“Murder?” Brett Stocker choked out a laugh. “Are you insane?” He motioned toward his father. “Look at him! Does he look like a dangerous man to you?”

“Mr. Stocker,” Sara began, “these murders happened a long time ago.”

Stocker glared at her. “We are not inclined to answer any more questions.”

“If you don’t cooperate, I’ll have no choice but to take what proof I have to the FBI.” Nick shrugged. “I thought you might want to protect your old man from that kind of publicity.”

Brett’s eyes went from Nick to his mother, to his father. “Look, I don’t know what you people are up to, but my father is a good man. There’s no way he’s involved in anything illegal, especially murder. He’s a philanthropist with an impeccable reputation. How dare you walk into his home and attack his character.”

The elder Stocker raised his head, his eyes flicking to Nick. “Get…out.”

Brett walked over to this father and squeezed his thin shoulder. “It’s okay, Dad. I’ll handle this.”

“We’re just trying to find out what happened,” Sara said. “We thought he might be able to help us.”

“If you people had some kind of evidence, the cops would be all over this.” He shook his head. “You don’t have anything. You’re fishing. Probably trying to generate some negative publicity.” He snarled. “Parasites.”

Nick flashed the final still at the elder Stocker. “We know what you did, old man. We’ll be back when we have proof.”

Channing Stocker strode to her husband’s side. “This interview is over. If you don’t leave now, I’ll call the police and have you arrested for trespassing.”

Sara had never seen Nick like this. Angry and pushing boundaries. She moved toward the door, hoping he would follow.

But Nick held his ground, his eyes never leaving Blaine Stocker. “We’re not finished with this.”

Crossing to Nick, Brett slapped the photo from his hand. “Get out and take your worthless accusations with you.”

Certain Nick was going to launch himself at the man, Sara strode quickly forward and took his arm. “Let’s go.”

Nick didn’t budge.

Brett Stocker’s lip curled. “Mother, call 911.”

In her peripheral vision, Sara was aware of the woman setting down her drink, walking to the desk and picking up the phone.

“Nick,” she said. “Let’s go.”