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Porter’s lips clamped shut. “Lawyer,” he said stubbornly.
Michael lifted his hands placatingly. “We only have a few questions about the patients.”
Porter leaned forward. “Lawyer,” he repeated.
Michael sighed. “All right. Give your lawyer a call.”
“No. Give a judge a call and get a warrant, then call my office. I’ll call my lawyer once that’s done, and then I’ll talk to you.”
Michael smiled in an eerie imitation of Travis’s earlier smile. “All right,” he said. “Do yourself a favor. Stay here and wait for us. Cancel your appointments today too.”
“I will do no such thing!”
“Remember when I said you weren’t a suspect?” Michael said casually. “I lied. Right now, you’re the prime suspect. I won’t be able to get an arrest warrant on the information I have now, but if you refuse to talk to us, it’s going to look really bad, considering you’re the only person with a connection to all three victims.”
“But … but …” Porter stammered.
“We’ll be in touch,” Michael said.
He turned away, but he made it only three steps before Porter called out, “Wait! I didn’t kill anyone!”
“That’s okay,” Michael said. “You don’t have to talk to us. We’ll get that warrant.”
“Wait!” Porter cried. He sighed and said, “All right. I’ll answer your questions. But I do want to go to my office, and Idon’twant those Neanderthals to follow us.”
“Not a problem,” Michael said. “The police will stay here.”
“The dog too,” Porter insisted.
Turk growled, and Faith hushed him.
“What, Turk?” Michael said. “He’s harmless. As long as you don’t try to run or assault us, at least.”
“I’m not going to run, and I’m certainly not going to assault you,” Porter said, “but I don’t want that dog shedding all over my office.”
“The dog stays, Porter,” Michael retorted, “or should I just go get that warrant?”
Porter sighed. “Fine. But if he damages anything, I will send your field office the bill!”
“You do that,” Michael said. “Make sure you mention my name.”
Faith rolled her eyes. No doubt when they talked about this later, Michael would conveniently forget his melodrama in the urge to remind Faith of her slip earlier that day.
They headed into the small but well-appointed office. It looked like a banking office more than a psychologist’s office. There was no couch and no bookshelf lined with such encouraging titles asA New You in Seven Simple StepsorThe Power to Win Friends and Influence People. There was a high-quality but modest wooden desk with a flatscreen monitor and two upholstered chairs not quite facing each other.
“You’ll have to give me a minute,” Porter said irritably. “I need to cancel my nine o’clock.”
“You’ll want to cancel more than that,” Michael said.
“I’m quite sure I can prove my innocence with a short conversation,” Porter replied stiffly. “Although I should point out that it offends me to have to prove my innocence in a nation that ostensibly considers one innocent until proven guilty.”
Michael didn’t reply to that. Doctor Porter made his phone call. While he explained the situation to his patient, Faith’s phone buzzed.
It was a text from David.
Hey, Faith. I know you’re busy working a case. Just wanted to see how you were doing. I haven’t heard from you in a few days.
Faith sighed and rubbed her eyes. She was approaching twenty-six hours without sleep and dealing with anger from Michael and the detectives. They were about to engage in what Faith was sure would be another waste of time, and she was in no mood to deal with her suddenly clingy … God, he wasn’t even her boyfriend yet. They had dated for a month, and she liked him, but he was talking about marriage and kids and … God, she just didn’t have the energy to deal with this right now.
