Maggie had paced, sat on the table, straddled the chair, and sat correctly during the three hour interview. Everything she could try she’d tried. Threatening, coaxing, promising a lighter sentence, etc., etc., but Carlo Ricci wasn’t giving anything up.
Ericka grasped the sill below the one way mirror. Her frustration was mounting.
Greg hadn’t uttered a word or a sound the entire time. If she hadn’t heard him breathing, she wouldn’t have known he was there.
She couldn’t take it. “He isn’t going to admit his involvement.”
Still, Greg didn’t break his silent streak. The lack of noise was driving her mad!
She spun on her heel to demand a response right as his phone made an alien gun sound. He looked at the screen then held it up for her to see.
“Got the warrant.”
They both left the room and headed for the car. She let him drive because she knew he wanted to, and she was still unfamiliar with the area. Moving to a new town always had challenges. And she got the sense that last time she drove he wasn’t too thrilled about it. She thought she did pretty good to be in a new city. But she’d let his feelings slide.
He gripped the steering wheel with one hand, deftly avoiding obstacles like a master.
When they’d been in the army, she’d loved to watch him drive. He exuded confidence when he was behind the wheel. She’d never felt safer than when in his presence. And that was still the same today.
They came to a sudden stop. Backup officers had been dispatched to the house and waited in the Riccis’ driveway to assist with the search.
Erick jumped from the vehicle and headed for the front door.
Carlo’s wife, Maria, was there trying to block entry.
“You can’t!”
Ericka approached then Greg appeared behind her holding up the paper. She wasn’t sure when he’d grabbed it from the office, but he had it.
“Actually, yes we can.”
He waltzed past the frantic woman. The house had been ransacked. In the four hours since they’d been there it looked like a tornado had blown through.
No longer was it pristine with a place for everything and everything in its place. Now papers littered the floor. Clothes hung from the ceiling fan, over the rafters, and draped the furniture. Shoes, too many shoes to count, were flung in corners and just randomly throughout the open concept room.
“Officer Shultz!”
A tiny man, about five four, skidded to a halt before Greg. “Yes, sir?”
“Find out from Mrs. Ricci who did this.” Greg was practically shaking with rage.
Ericka didn’t blame him. Everything they’d hoped to collect had no doubt been contaminated. They would never get what they needed to prosecute Carlo Ricci.
He would walk.
Ericka appeared at Greg’s side. She knew she was about to state the obvious, but it came out of her mouth anyway. “Our evidence will be compromised.”
Greg sighed. “Yes, and that means Carlo Ricci is going to get away with murder.”
****
The bag over his head smelled like old feet. And he gagged more than once.
His arms were freed from behind him, but they burned from their previous imprisonment.
Big Tony was being moved.
The van hit a pothole and sent him leaning sideways. A captor grabbed him and jerked him upright.
He tried to estimate how far they’d traveled, but it was no use. He just prayed the city sounds didn’t disappear or that could mean the swamp was his final destination.
A deserted place was never a great way to go.
The van halted. He was dragged outside. The mask was removed. He inhaled the smell of pine and sunshine. A rustic two story cabin was nestled amongst the oaks.
It reminded him of his cabin, only not as big or fancy.
He was shoved toward the building. He stumbled but righted himself as the front door opened. A figure appeared on the narrow porch. Tony sucked in a deep breath.
It couldn’t be…
****
The house was a bust. Black hoods and outfits were piled in the laundry room. They tested positive for gun residue plus a million other things.
“No way these will hold up in court.” Greg ran his hands through his hair. He’d wanted to have an easily solved case for Ericka’s first time with the group.
He wanted her to feel welcome, useful, so she’d stay.
He really wanted her to stay.
This case was turning out to be way more complicated than he could ever have anticipated.
It was supposed to be a simple find Tony and encourage him to stay in a life of crime. Now look. They still hadn’t found Tony and now they had a murder where the murderer was sure to get away.
“Greg, what do you want to do? The crime scene unit has looked over everything visible and there is no usable proof. Of course, they took samples anyway, but I don’t think it’ll help much.”
Ericka sounded disappointed.
He didn’t blame her.
“Let’s leave CSU to it and go back to the office. Maybe Maggie has dragged something out of Carlo. Or Quinn has found something on Janice’s phone that will help.”
“I hope so.”
She followed him to the car and climbed into the passenger seat. Her shoulders were slumped, and she looked down at her hands. He rounded the car and climbed behind the driver’s seat. He knew something was up, he could tell.
“What’s up?”
Her voice was low. “Do you think I’m meshing well with the group?”
“Of course.” He knew she was. Maggie and Quinn seemed to really value her expertise, they had told him so.
“I know you want me to fit because you want me to stick around. But don’t force it. It needs to happen naturally. You have to promise me.”
He didn’t want to promise that. He drummed his fingers against the steering wheel. If he avoided the question, would she give up?
“Greg?”
Guess not.
“All right, no pushing.” Well, not too much.
She settled against the seat and seemed to be more relaxed after his answer. She didn’t move again until they reached the office building. She was out and inside before he was completely parked.
He shoved his hands in his pockets as he headed inside. Maggie and Quinn were in the lobby. Ericka was there, her brows were furrowed.
As he drew closer, his worry meter jumped.
“He’s gone.” Ericka faced him.
“Who?”
“Carlo Ricci. His lawyer helped him walk right out the door.”