“She gave me less.”
“How much?”
“Seventeen now.”
Sam leaned back.
“What do you need from me?”
“Stay here.”
“You are asking a Supreme Court justice to remain unlawfully detained.”
“I’m asking Samuel Owens, citizen and complainant, whether he can tolerate another fifteen minutes while I lock evidence nobody can later make disappear.”
Silence.
Sam looked at him.
Daniel did not look away.
Finally Sam said, “Fifteen.”
“Thank you.”
“And Detective?”
“Yes?”
“If you protect your department instead of the truth, Patricia will dismantle your afternoon.”
Daniel smiled despite himself.
“I believe that.”
Before he left, he removed Sam’s cuffs.
Then photographed the marks with Sam’s consent.
Derek should have stayed away.
Instead, pride sent him into Interview Room Three seven minutes later.
Daniel was in the observation area when he saw him enter.
He did not stop him.
The room’s fixed system was recording.
The preservation order was active.
For the first time in years, Derek Holloway was about to speak without controlling what survived afterward.
He dropped a folder onto the table.
“All right.”
Sam looked up.
Derek sat.
“Where did you get the car?”
“At a dealership.”
“Funny.”
“It wasn’t intended to be.”
“Who paid for it?”
“I did.”
“With what?”