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Mike addressed the detectives. “How much do you know about her? You know she’s not hurting financially?”
“We haven’t been given figures,” Locke said, “but word is that she’s worth a bundle.”
“Well, up to this point, me, Gif, and Drex have been agonizing. Was she going to be this asshole’s next victim? Or was she in on his fleecing scheme?” He raised one beefy shoulder. “She’s still breathing. Elaine Conner is in the morgue. Which is answer enough for me.”
“Victim or accomplice,” Drex said, “we’ve reached a stalemate with her.”
He looked into the living room, where Talia sat, hands clasped in her lap, rocking back and forth, staring vacantly into space. She looked frail and afraid. But he thought of how hot and cute she had looked when she’d paid him the surprise visit to the apartment. That could have been calculated. It had worked. He’d wanted what was inside those ragged jeans.
This sad victim could also be a pose that appealed to another instinct. He wanted to be her protector, to hold her, reassure her, comfort her over the tragic loss of her friend. His susceptibility made him mad at her, but absolutely furious with himself.
He turned back to the other men. “I’m thinking a night spent in the detention center might make her more forthcoming.”
Chapter 23
Drex’s suggestion caused Locke to wince. “We don’t have anything to hold her on.”
“Seriously, Drex?” Gif said in a stage whisper. “Jail?”
“It would be a short night,” he argued. “Only a few hours. Just long enough to convince her that we’re not messing around.”
“One major discrepancy is gnawing at me,” Gif said. “The audio surveillance.” He told the detectives about Jasper’s finding the transmitter and moving it. Looking back to Drex, he said, “If he knew you were eavesdropping, why did he talk about Marian Harris at all?”
“Because he can’t help himself from bragging about killing her and getting away with it.” He turned to the two detectives. “I’ve been after him for a long time, but having spent time with him and learning the unspeakable circumstances of Marian Harris’s murder, it’s evident to me that he has the characteristic ego of a serial killer. He doesn’t want to be caught, but his ego compels him to flaunt how smart he is.”
With chagrin, he added, “Much as I hate to admit it, he outsmarted me this time. He said just enough. Stopped just shy of a confession. He knew that a defense lawyer would shred the recording in court, even if it were admissible, which it isn’t. Jasper used it to get me running in the wrong direction, and now he’s laughing up his sleeve.”
“I guess you’re right,” Gif said, and the rest nodded in grudging agreement.
Drex asked the group, “So what’s it to be?”
“If we mention jail, she’ll lawyer up,” Menundez said.
“Shit.” Drex dragged his hand down his face. “You’re right. In which case, our involvement would become known. Sooner or later, if not already, the FBI will get in on this investigation. There’s a resident office here, right?”
Locke nodded.
“Good men and women, I’m sure, but I would rather continue operating independently if at all possible.”
“We could use their help, Drex,” Gif said.
“True, but here’s my thought. Jasper knows that I’m screwing with him, but he doesn’t know why. I could be a crook trying to poach his territory. I could be a gigolo after his hot wife. I could be a cop trying to nail his murderous ass. As long as he’s unsure, we have an edge.”
“How’s that?” Locke asked.
“Because I don’t think he’ll be able to stand not knowing. I don’t think he’ll go too far afield without either dismissing me because I’m no real threat, or dispatching me because I am. But if I’m at the epicenter of a bureau investigation, he won’t risk sticking around. He’ll leave me to the devil and vanish.”
Mike said, “I predict he’ll vanish if you put his wife in lockup. As you told her, he’ll turn his back and let her take the fall.”
Drex scowled. “Thanks for those words of wisdom, Mike.”
“I’m just saying—”
“And you’re right,” he snapped. “I just don’t trust her not to take off, and we can’t strap on an ankle bracelet.”
“Good God, no,” Gif said.
Looking troubled, Locke said, “How about this? No lockup, but make it clear to her that she’s not to go anywhere. Get Mount Pleasant PD to send over a policewoman to stay inside the house with her.”
