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As she did, Theo leaned back in his chair and studied them both. His eyes narrowed as he looked around the room, taking in all the details—the fossils on the walls, the shelves filled with books and research papers, the smell of earthy soil from outside wafting through an open window.
“So what is it that you want to know?” he asked finally, an indignant look on his face, like he wasn’t afraid of anything at all. Jake wasn’t sure if this guy was just a smug bastard, or if this carefree act was all a cover-up to hide his potential fear—fear of getting caught with something he knew he shouldn’t have.
Jake didn’t trust this guy, not even for a second.
“Are you familiar with the Asian giant hornet?” Jake asked.
Theo scoffed and clacked his tongue smugly. “Are you kidding me?” He looked at Fiona. “Is this a joke, Fiona?”
Fiona’s face went red. “He’s with the FBI—we’re both with the FBI, Theo. You have to take this seriously.”
Theo rolled his eyes. “Of course I’m familiar with them. I’m a working entomologist, and we have some specimens here.”
Jake sat up straight. So, Theo was admitting they had specimens here? So casually? It could be a ruse, of course. Jake knew damn well that Senator Chris Barlow had been murdered by Asian giant hornets, clearly released into his home.
If Theo knew that, he wasn’t showing it.
Jake needed to gauge his reactions.
“Are you familiar with Senator Chris Barlow?” Jake asked.
Theo snorted. “You mean the lowlife who voted against giving more funds to our research? Of course I know him. It’s because of him that mygirlfriend”—he emphasized the word, looking right at Fiona—“was laid off from her post here. I am now the only employed entomologist in this division.”
“So you’d say you had a vendetta against Senator Barlow,” Jake clarified.
Theo scoffed. “I couldn’t care less about him. Amy and I are still fine.” Once more, Theo’s eyes were firm on Fiona. Jake sensed he wanted her to be jealous, but Fiona only emitted anger. Jake had never seen her lose her temper before, but he could tell Theo was getting under her skin.
He didn’t blame her. This guy was a smug bastard.
But was he a killer?
Jake pressed on. “Do you have any idea how Asian giant hornets could have been released into Senator Barlow’s home?”
Theo seemed taken aback by the question. He paused for a few moments, clearly considering his answer carefully. “No,” he said finally. “I don’t know how that could have happened. And it’s a very odd question.”
“Theo, Senator Barlow is dead,” Fiona cut in, her cheeks still as red as her hair. “He was murdered, we believe.”
Theo paused, his eyes skating over Fiona. Jake could feel the tension between them—years of a simmering rivalry.
“And you think I had something to do with it?” Theo asked. “That’s ridiculous. I would never waste rare and valuable insects on a man like him.”
Jake leaned forward. “But you do have access to these insects,” he pressed.
Theo’s expression hardened. “Yes, I do. But that doesn’t mean I killed him with them.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “I’m sure you have plenty of other suspects to look into.”
“Actually, we don’t,” Fiona said. “We were looking for people who had access to these insects and also had a reason to want Senator Barlow dead. You came up on that list.”
“Sounds like you aren’t doing your jobs very well, because you have the wrong man.”
This type of brazen confidence was either extremely stupid… or he was innocent.
Theo stuck up his nose. “Honestly, Fiona, I don’t know why you’re playing FBI agent,” he said. “You’re not fit for this kind of work. Get back to the lab.”
Fiona puffed up, but said nothing. Jake could feel her embarrassment and anger, and frankly, it pissed him off too. Theo couldn’t talk to her like that—especially not in front of him.
“Hey, I don’t know who you think you are,” Jake said, “but Fiona is more than capable of doing this job. She’s a brilliant entomologist, and she knows how to get the job done.”
Theo raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised at Jake’s sudden defense of Fiona. “Is that so?” he asked skeptically.
