Page 184 of Chameleon Killer

Good to know, but all I said was, “Noted.”

Ortiz rubbed her forehead. I almost felt sorry for her, but she had skin in this game too. Every single person in this room had an agenda, but the only one Brewster wanted to play with was his own.

For that reason, it seemed, his was the only composure to maintain. Mostly. “Did Simon tell you about a second toxicology order?”

“No comment.”

His mouth flattened. Oh, he was well and truly pissed now, He wanted that answer even more than the rest.

I filed that away.

He didn’t just let the question dangle, he continued his pursuit. “Did he tell you where to find it?”

“No comment.”

His left thumb pressed once against the side of his index finger. I had seen him do that before when calculating whether to push.

He pushed. “Did he tell you who requested it?”

“No comment.”

The thumb stopped. “Who received the results?”

“No comment.”

Another shift. Not the same.

I leaned back.

Brewster had questions, but they weren't equal questions. He definitely cared about some answers more than others.

Once you noticed that, the interview became significantly more entertaining. For me, at least. Probably less so for him.

Alisha looked down at her notes. “We're done with this line.”

“No,” Brewster said, snapping out his response far too quickly and with way too much emotion.

Ortiz looked up.

Alisha did too.

Brewster adjusted. “I need clarification on whether the unsub directed Ms. McBryan toward evidence in an active homicide investigation.”

“You've asked,” Alisha informed him in case he forgot.

“She hasn't answered.” No, he wasn’t letting go of this argument.

“That may continue to happen.”

Brewster's gaze shifted toward me. “You understand what he's doing.”

Not a question.

“I understand a lot of things.”

“He's giving you information law enforcement doesn't have.” It really bothered him that I wouldn’t concede the point.

“You just demonstrated that's not true,” I said, gentling my tone as though I needed to remind him.