Private Affair(80)
“They’re keeping you for a few days,” Shane said.
“I want out of here,” he said immediately. “We have two suspects, and we have to follow up.”
“As soon as you’re better,” Shane answered.
They were interrupted as someone else strode into the room. It was Archie Hamilton, looking like he’d discovered them robbing a bank instead of gathering around a sickbed.
Max gave him a questioning look. “What are you doing here? This isn’t your territory.”
“But you’re involved in my case. What happened to you?”
“I was cut.”
“You mean because you were investigating the Howard County murders when I told you to stay out of my way?”
“It didn’t have anything to do with that,” Olivia answered. “He was attacked by Damon Davidson.”
“Who?”
“A drug dealer he put in prison. Davidson was released, and he came after Max,” Shane replied.
The Howard County detective looked from one of them to the other. “And this happened in North Baltimore?” he said.
“Yeah,” Max answered.
“And what were you doing there?”
Chapter 24
When neither Max nor Olivia answered, Hamilton made a snorting sound.
Olivia watched Max’s eyes narrow as he focused on the detective. “Davidson got away. Maybe you and the Baltimore PD can cooperate on finding him.”
“They probably don’t want me interfering,” Hamilton responded.
Switching the subject, Olivia asked, “Any progress on the reunion murders?”
“What do you mean, the reunion murders?”
“That’s what we call them, because everyone who’s been killed was in the Donley High School ten-year reunion class. What do you call them?”
“There is no ‘them.’”
“It’s just a coincidence that someone went after three women from the class? Only I escaped.”
“Maybe not,” Hamilton snapped, as he swung toward her. “Maybe it would help if you tell me what you know.” My God, was he conceding that the murders were connected?
Olivia glanced at Max, who gave a small nod.
She dragged in a breath and let it out. “Okay, we think that the murderer is either Troy Masters or Tommy Larson—both of whom were in my class.”
“And what makes you think so?” Hamilton asked.
“Because we talked to a working girl who says one of them murdered her friend at a motel near Security Square ten years ago.”
The detective kept his gaze fixed on her. “That’s what you’ve got? Information on a ten-year-old murder that might not have even happened? I mean, do you really think that’s credible?”
Olivia struggled for calm. When he put it that way, it didn’t sound very convincing, but she couldn’t tell Hamilton about the yearbook pictures because she’d given her word that she wouldn’t drag Julie or Marge into this. “You could check it out,” she said.
“What working girl?” Hamilton demanded.
Again Olivia was prevented from answering because of the promise to Margie.
“Well,” Hamilton pressed.
“We can’t tell you.”
“Because you’re just guessing,” the detective snapped.
“No.”
“If you want to help, give me some information I can use to solve this murder case.”
“Check out Masters and Larson,” Max said in a weary voice.
“You’ve just named two upstanding citizens—with no proof they’re involved.”
“Everyone who’s died has been an upstanding citizen. Let’s assume the killer fits right in,” Olivia answered.
Hamilton turned to Max. “I guess this will keep you out of the action for a while,” he said, then exited the room.
“Nice guy,” Shane muttered sarcastically, then said, “We should let Jack have a turn visiting.”
“Yes,” Olivia agreed. She bent and kissed Max on the cheek. “I’ll be up to your room as soon as they tell me where they’re taking you.”
“You should let the guys take you to the safe house,” he answered.
She shook her head. “You know I can’t do that. I’d be climbing the walls.”
He sighed. “I didn’t think you’d agree.”
She and Shane stepped into the hall and started back to the waiting room.
“Getting out of here would be the safest thing for you,” Shane said.
“Not an option.”
“Then one of us will be here while you are.”
“Thanks.”
In the waiting room, they met up with Jack and told him about Hamilton’s visit.