Part 21 (1/2)
Russ opened the folder and laid some papers in front of Arnie. ”Boyd transferred the owners.h.i.+p of clubs after each rape and murder to you. Of course, the clubs were in one of Boyd's fictional names, but we still found the transfers. Why?”
”Because he owed me the money, dammit. I'm an attorney and I don't work for free.”
”You sure don't.” Russ placed more papers in front of him. ”Boyd gave you power of attorney over his bank account-the only one that wasn't seized by the cops five years ago. There's a tidy sum in the account, more than enough to cover your services.”
”Where did you get that information?” Arnie pulled out a handkerchief and mopped his forehead. He was getting nervous. That was good, Daniel thought. Now maybe they could get some straight answers.
”Does it matter?” Russ asked. ”You're in these rapes and murders up to your bugged-out eyes. Unless you want a cell next to Boyd's, you'd better tell me who's doing this.”
Arnie mopped his forehead again. ”I want an attorney.”
”Really.” Russ raised an eyebrow. ”Earlier you said you didn't want one-that you could represent yourself.”
”I've changed my mind.”
”That's your prerogative.” Russ stood. ”All I want is a name. An A.D.A. is out in the hall and she might take the death penalty off the table if you cooperate.”
”I didn't kill anyone. You can't scare me and you can't prove a d.a.m.n thing.”
Russ moved away and nodded to Daniel.
Daniel stepped forward. ”If I were you, I'd be very scared, Arnie. In Texas it doesn't matter if you committed the murders or not. All that matters is that you ordered them. Two young girls are dead and one's in the hospital and another's life has been threatened. Boyd's signature is all over this. He's ordering the rapes from prison through you, trying to finagle a new deal, trying to save his sorry a.s.s. That's not happening. Neither the D.A. nor the governor is dealing with Boyd. His execution is going forward and you'll be left holding the bag. We're being pressed to make an arrest and right now you're our number one suspect.”
”I want an attorney.”
”Think about what we said.”
Arnie raised his head, his eyes narrowed. ”Maybe you should think about it, Garrett. If Boyd dies, a lot of innocent people will, too.”
Daniel frowned. ”What do you mean?”
”Sarah Welch is very beautiful and Boyd's not gonna let her live.” The words were meant to taunt and goad him. It worked.
Before Daniel knew what he was doing, he'd jumped across the table and had Arnie by the neck. Russ pulled him off.
”Now you're really p.i.s.sing me off, Arnie,” Russ said.
”I'm filing charges against him for police brutality.” Arnie rubbed his throat.
”File away, you slimeball,” Daniel said, getting himself under control. ”Before this night is over, I'm going to nail your a.s.s to the wall.”
He could hear Arnie laughing as Russ ushered him into the hall.
”That wasn't very professional,” Hannah said to Daniel. ”I expect that kind of behavior from Russ, but not from you, Daniel. Get your priorities straight.”
”I'm sorry. I lost it. That creep knows what's going on. He knows everything and he's calling the shots.”
”Still that doesn't...”
”Can it, Hannah,” Daniel shouted. ”I'm not in a mood to listen to Arnie Bishop's rights.”
”Calm down,” Bill ordered. ”Or I'll take you off this case.”
Daniel turned away, taking several deep breaths. The moment Arnie'd mentioned Sarah's name he'd seen red and he'd wanted to shake the life out of him. That was the first time he'd lost it with a suspect. He was in too deep. He wasn't being taken off this case, though. He had to apologize.
Bill held up a hand, stopping him. ”Get this case solved-today-without losing your temper.”
”We'll have to let him go by tonight,” Hannah said. ”We don't have anything to hold him on.”
”Don't you worry.” Russ spoke up. ”I'll find something-littering, his dog doesn't have a leash, anything.”
Hannah frowned. ”I want real charges.”
Russ bowed. ”Yes, ma'am.”
She ignored him and spoke to Bill and Charles. ”Call me if you get anything.” Saying that, she strolled away, her high heels clicking on the floor.
”b.i.t.c.h,” Russ muttered.
”Don't start,” Charles warned.
”The meeting's in a few minutes,” Bill said. ”Charles and I will see you in the conference room.” The two lieutenants walked down the hall.
Russ patted Daniel on the back. ”We've been around each other too long. You're starting to act like me.”
”Oh, G.o.d,” Daniel groaned.
Russ grinned. ”Don't worry, it'll pa.s.s.” His face became serious. ”We've clashed a lot over the years because we do our jobs differently. You're always calm, factual and methodical, but sometimes I have to be brusque and insensitive to stomach this job, or else it gets to me.”
”Yeah,” Daniel agreed, seeing a side of Russ he thought he never would-his vulnerable side. ”It takes a lot to stomach this job on a good day and vermin like Arnie just...”
”We'll get Arnie,” Russ vowed. ”With a little more pressure, he'll crack like a rotten watermelon.”
”I hope so.” Daniel turned away. ”I have to check on Sarah before the meeting.”
Daniel found her reading through the files. Her red hair was pinned at the back of her head and several tendrils hung around her face, softening her features that were once so tight. She wore a white knit top and jeans, an outfit so unlike the business suits he was used to seeing her in. But then, their lives had changed drastically.
She looked up and smiled. ”Hi.”
He smiled back. ”How you doing?”
”Better now that you're here.”
He sat beside her, his pulse quickening from her nearness. ”The meeting's in a few minutes. Chad's outside the door and policemen are up and down the hall. That's about as secure as it gets.”
”Did Arnie Bishop say anything?”