Before the Dawn(68)

They talked a bit longer, then Tucker headed back outside with Dawn. He couldn't help tensing when he stepped onto the sidewalk. He'd been in that same place hours before, so frantic to get to her.

"Why didn't Torez mention that he knew Rowan?" Dawn asked.

Good fucking question. "I think we need to find out." He also thought every single lead they had circled back to that little punk Rowan, and it was time that they had another chat with him. The drugs should have cleared from the little prick's system by now. At least somewhat, anyway. Time for the truth.

From Rowan and from Torez.

* * *

TUCKER SHOVED OPEN the doors to the hospital corridor. His steps were fast, determined. He didn't know what kind of BS Torez was trying to pull, but the guy should have revealed that he knew who the fuck Rowan Jacobs was at the station.

Dawn was racing at his side, her steps just as fast as his. They rounded the corner, going toward the room that he'd been directed to moments before by a helpful nurse and- 

Torez was pacing a few feet away, a phone to his ear. "No, no, damn it, I don't know what the hell happened. He is dead."

Tucker stopped. His gaze cut to the room on the right, room 603. Two uniformed cops were there, several nurses, a female doctor and-

"What in the hell is going on here?" Tucker demanded. "I want to talk with Rowan Jacobs, now." He flashed his badge and FBI identification.

The doctor shook her head. "I'm afraid Rowan won't be talking with anyone." Her lips tightened. "I'm sorry, but he appears to have suffered an aneurysm. We won't know conclusively until an autopsy is performed but the signs are indicating that he-"

"I found him like that," Torez growled as he marched toward Tucker and the doctor. "I went in the room, taking up my shift to watch his ass, and the guy was dead. Eyes open-staring at damn nothing." He shook his head. "Shit. I just called Anthony to tell him the news."

Their main link to the killer was gone? Tucker's eyes narrowed on Torez. "We need to talk, now." He didn't wait for the other man to reply. Tucker just grabbed his arm and jerked Torez away from the hospital staff.

"Hey, hey!" Torez snapped. "Hands off! I don't care if you are FBI, you don't treat me like this. You don't put your hands on me."

Tucker caged Torez between him and the wall. Dawn had followed them, and she stood there, her gaze uneasy.

"When were you going to tell us that you knew Rowan?" Tucker demanded.

"What?" But Torez's gaze had widened and his nervous stare darted over Tucker's shoulder.

Dawn cleared her throat. "We just talked with Malone. He said Rowan broke into his shop a little while back and that you were called to the scene. He wanted you to scare the kid."

Torez's mouth dropped open.

"When were you going to tell us?" Tucker pushed.

"Fuck! I forgot! Didn't even realize it was the same kid." He raked his hand over his face. "I didn't even file a report. Jinx-she begged me not to do it. Said he needed another chance. His hair...it was a lot longer then, not so peroxide-white." His eyes squeezed shut. "And he wasn't so goddamn rail thin. Didn't even look like the same kid and I just-Shit. I didn't make the connection." His eyes flew open.

Tucker gazed at the cop, not sure he bought that story. Things were starting to look one hell of a bit too convenient. "And the guy just...died...when you walked into his room?"

Torez stiffened. "I don't think I like your tone."

"And I don't like the fact that a police detective is withholding facts on the investigation of multiple homicides." A cop like Torez, he would've had access to the Iceman's case files. He would have been able to see all of the details on the killings.

Suspicion mounted, a dark, twisting suspicion that coiled in Tucker's gut.

"I didn't know that Jinx had inked you." Dawn's voice was measured.

Torez stiffened. "It wasn't a big deal. I liked her work. If you wanted a good tat, everyone knew to go visit Jinx."

Tucker wasn't buying the guy's bit. At Dawn's question, Torez's gaze had turned nervous and the cop was sweating. "Just how well did you know Jinx?"


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"No, man, no." Torez surged toward Tucker and jabbed him in the chest. "You don't grill me like this. I'm not a suspect. I'm on your side. I didn't do anything to Jinx! I would have never hurt her!"

"Were you involved with her?" Tucker asked.

And he saw the truth-the quick, guilty flush on the guy's cheeks.