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Flynn left through the same side door they’d entered. He told himself that Flynn was just being his usual easygoing self. Not flirting with Harper.
“Are we using the same interview room as last time?” Harper glanced around. “I don’t remember where it is.”
“This way.” He escorted her to the interview room. As predicted, both Steve Banner and Bryon Perkins were already there waiting.
“Ms. Crane.” Banner stood and offered his hand. “I’m Agent Steve Banner. This is my partner, Bryon Perkins.”
Perkins shook her hand too.
“I guess you both know who I am,” she murmured, taking the chair directly across from them.
“Yes, ma’am,” Bryon said.
“Please call me Harper.” She folded her hands on the table, but Steele had noticed her fingers were trembling. “I want to help in any way I can. I’m afraid that I don’t know anything, though.” She glanced at him, then added, “Officer Delaney and Officer Greer questioned me after I was almost kidnapped.”
“We heard.” Banner looked annoyed for a moment, but then he smiled. “We appreciate you taking the time to speak with us too.”
Harper nodded, then waited for them to move on.
“Ms—er, Harper, can you tell us when you last saw Ellis Starkey?” Bryon Perkins asked.
“It was probably a week or two before I left my husband.” She stared down at her hands for a moment. “I haven’t seen Jake in over seven months. Since the night...” Her voice trailed off, and a flush darkened her cheeks.
Banner seemed to take pity on her. “So roughly seven and a half months ago was the last time you saw Ellis Starkey? Would that be correct?”
“Yes. As far as I remember.” She frowned. “Ellis and Jake were business partners. Legitimate business, or so I thought. Anyway, Ellis stopped by on occasion, so it wasn’t really like a visit with him would stick out in my mind, you know?”
“Sure, that makes sense,” Banner said. “How long did you know him?”
“Two and a half years.” She answered without hesitation. “I wouldn’t say we were close or anything, but he was Jake’s best friend and stood up at our wedding. He came across as a nice guy. That’s why I was so shocked to learn about their illegal business dealings.”
“You mean the buying and selling of guns,” Perkins pressed.
“Yes. That’s what I was told.” She lifted her chin and looked directly at Bryon. “I never saw any guns for myself.”
“You didn’t go to the warehouses at all?” Doubt tinged Bryon’s tone.
“Never. Why would I?” She shrugged. “I kept busy with my full-time job.”
“Yes, working for Gibson and Roberts, right?” Steve asked.
“That’s right.” She didn’t expound on that, and Steele was proud of her for maintaining her cool professionalism. He knew the two ATF agents were just doing their job, but he resented the implication she was hiding something from them.
“I still find it hard to believe you never went to the warehouses,” Bryon said. “Unless, of course, you knew what your ex-husband was doing.”
“I didn’t.” Her voice was calm, but Steele caught the flash of anger in her green eyes. She leaned forward. “I would never condone selling guns. I work for an attorney. Do you really think I’d allow my ex-husband to drag me down with him?”
“A criminal defense attorney,” Bryon pointed out. “Seems like your boss deals with criminals all the time.”
“Alleged criminals.” Her chin tipped higher. “Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, right?”
Neither ATF agent said anything for a long moment. Harper didn’t speak either. She sat calmly, waiting for their next question.
Finally, Steve asked, “Do you know where we can find Tommy Grotto? Or Waylon Brooks?”
“No. If I did, I would tell you since it’s highly likely one or both of them have tried to shoot me.” She shook her head and sighed. “Really, why won’t you believe me? Do you honestly think I’d risk the life of my baby by holding back the truth? Because I can tell you I would never do that. Never.”
“Look, guys, she’s told you what she knows.” Steele stepped forward, determined to put an end to this.
