Before the Dawn(69)

"You're married," Dawn said. "You have a wife. Two kids. And-"

"It was a one-time deal, okay?" Torez had dropped his voice and his hand. "I was drunk. She was fucking gorgeous. And I didn't want anyone to know. Neither did she. One-time deal."

The guy had just admitted to an intimate connection to one of the victims. And he'd just left the room that had their only witness-their dead witness.

Tucker stared into the cop's desperate gaze, and he wondered if he was looking straight into the eyes of a killer.

* * *

"THIS IS BULLSHIT!" Torez paced the PD interrogation room like a caged lion. "I didn't kill Jinx! I would never have put a hand on that woman!"

Anthony was at his partner's side. The police captain was there, a rep from the department was there, and it seemed like half a dozen uniforms were trying to surge into that little room.

Tucker stood with Dawn on one side of him and Samantha to his right. A face-off, and one that had him tensing. "You withheld pertinent details about your relationship with the victim and the witness. You think that doesn't justify some questioning from us?"

"I'm not a killer!" Torez was sweating, again. Not a good sign, especially with the way the air conditioning was icing that room. "I didn't remember Rowan-I've told you that several times."

"Didn't remember him," Tucker mocked. "But it sure is convenient that you happened to be in the room with him when he died."

Silence. Even the police captain, Harold Hatch-an older man with thinning brown hair-glanced warily toward Torez.

"He died of natural causes-you heard the doc there!" Spittle flew from Torez's mouth. "Probably an aneurysm! That happens when people OD. We all know that kid was tripping hard on something!"

"We'll all know exactly how he died," Samantha interjected smoothly, "once an autopsy is completed." 

Torez swore. "I can't believe this shit. I'm a cop. I help people-and you're trying to what? Say I'm the new Iceman?" He surged toward Tucker but Anthony caught his arm, pulling him back.

"Easy, buddy," Anthony soothed-or tried to soothe. "You have to stay cool."

"You stay fucking cool! No one is calling you a killer!" But he huffed out a rough breath. "I didn't want my wife to know, okay? If Gina finds out, she would leave me and take the kids. So I didn't say anything when I saw that Jinx was the victim. I just kept my mouth shut. I screwed the wrong woman. It's not a crime!"

Tucker saw Dawn take a step forward. He caught her wrist in his. His fingers stroked her wrist. "We're talking about a victim." His gaze slid to Dawn. "A friend." And he turned his glare back on Torez. "So speak about the dead with a little more fucking courtesy."

Torez flushed. "I'm sorry. Jinx-she was a nice woman. And I just-Shit, this isn't happening. I didn't hurt anyone!"

"You knew Rowan Jacobs. You had an intimate relationship with Jinx Donahue." Samantha's voice was flat. "You're going to have to answer plenty of questions for me. And you're going to need to back up everything you say...with alibis."

Torez looked frantically at his rep, then his captain. "They're calling me a suspect!"

"That's because," Samantha told him smoothly, "at this moment, you are one."

* * *

SAMANTHA WALKED INTO the hallway with Tucker. Dawn had already filed out of the room a few moments before. "His rep is trying to close ranks on us, but I'm getting an interview with Torez."

"I want to be there-"

She shook her head. "You and Torez are too volatile when you're together." Then she gave him a sly smile. "Trust me, he won't see my threat coming. I know how to work guys like him."

He believed her.

"Take Dawn back to the suite. You two have been working all day. You could both use some down time."

"You're just trying to get me away from the station."

"I'm trying to get you both away." Her face was serious. "Reporters are about to beat the door down here. You and Dawn go out the back. You keep her secure, and when I learn more, I'll call you."

He glanced toward the end of the hallway. Dawn sat on the bench, her shoulders hunched. As he watched, Anthony approached her.

Anthony's steps were hesitant. He touched her shoulder lightly and murmured something to her. Dawn nodded.

"Partners usually know our secrets," Samantha said. She'd seen the exchange, too. "Makes me wonder...did Anthony know about the affair with Jinx?"

"You think he could be covering for Torez?"

Anthony was staring down at Dawn, his face tight.

"I think I'm going to find out." She turned away from Tucker and he headed for Dawn. As he drew closer, Anthony glanced up at him. Anger flashed in the other man's eyes.