Wash’s jaw tightened, and he leaned forward. “Well, then I’ll get straight to the point. Tyler has been hanging around with my client, Rowan Ellis. I’m looking for any information that can help me track Tyler down, mainly to see if he can help Rowan.”
Luke sighed and shook his head. “I’m just glad Mom and Dad aren’t around to see this, any of this. Tyler has made such a mess, and now he’s involved in another one. Look, Mr. Granade—”
“Please, call me Wash.” He thinned the line of his lips, concern writ large on his features. He was such an expert at the game.
It was all an act for him. The bait to get the information he needed. I’d seen him do it in court over and over again with different witnesses, playing them all like instruments. I was more impressed than I should have been. All the same, I loved watching him work.
Luke leaned forward and put his head in his hands for a moment before raising his gaze and meeting Wash’s eye. “I confess I did read in the papers that you’d taken on the defense of the Bayou Butcher. So I was curious what Tyler could have to do with it. I’d like to say I’m surprised. Hell, I’d like to say a lot of things—that his last stint at rehab worked, that he had a job, that he’d stopped stealing. But none of that’s true. I know he’s been in with a bad crowd for quite some time. He calls for cash off and on, tries to get his hands on what little trust fund money he has left. You don’t think he’s dangerous or anything, right? I have a wife, kids. I can’t risk them for him.”
Wash clasped his hands together. “We don’t know. We just want to see if he has any information that might help exonerate Rowan. That’s all we’re after.”
“Well, I don’t want to lie to you, Wash. But this whole interview worries me. I don’t want to get Tyler in any trouble, but if he’s dangerous, then he needs to be off the streets. I’m just not sure if I should call my lawyer or what.”
We definitely did not need him calling a lawyer.
“Of course, if you’d feel more comfortable with counsel present, that’s fine. I know none of this is easy for you.” Wash leaned back and draped an arm over the back of his chair, the picture of nonchalance.
Luke looked from Wash to me, as if waffling on whether to call his lawyer. I saw a chance. I took it.
I reached across the table and covered Luke’s hand with mine. “Luke, it’s fine. Really. I can’t imagine how hard it is for you to have us show up here and talk about a murder investigation that might involve your only brother. You don’t have to tell us anything that makes you uncomfortable. I already have a few leads on where Tyler might be. I’m heading to Algiers after work to visit some of his last known residences. Boardinghouses. Places like that.”
“Thank you, Caroline.” He put his other hand on top of mine and squeezed. “That really means a lot. It’s been so hard.” Then the light bulb clicked. “But, wait. You can’t be going to Algiers at night. Especially not to the places Tyler would hang out.”
I pulled my hands away and folded them in my lap. “Just part of the job, Luke.”
He turned back to Wash. “Surely you aren’t letting her go, are you?”
“We’re short on resources and time. Trial for Rowan is just a few months away, and we have to divide up duties as best we can. I’m heading over to Treme, and she’s going to Algiers.” He shrugged. “The sort of characters we’re looking for—the ones who might know where Tyler is—only come out at night. I’m sure you know this.” Wash began to rise. “I’m sorry to have taken so much of your time, Luke.”
I followed his lead and stuffed my legal pad into my briefcase.
“Now, wait a minute. Wait just a goddamn minute.” Luke held out his hands, waving us back down into our seats. “I’m not going to put anyone else in danger on account of my brother.” He pointed at me. “And you have no business in Algiers at night, young lady.”
I nodded and dropped my eyes. I’d played the part, done what I could. Wash wasn’t the only one in the room who knew how to play to the crowd.
Luke stood and retrieved a notepad from his desk. He wrote out two names in neat block letters before sliding it across the table to me.
“That’s the last couple of places he contacted me from. All I ask is that you don’t mention me if you find him. Like I said, my family is more important to me than anything. I won’t let Tyler hurt them. Understand?”
“Completely.” Wash stood, our business at an end. “We won’t say a word about you to anyone. Caroline, go ahead and delete the audio from this meeting when we get back to the office.”