Pas de Deux

Chapter 3-1

Chapter 3

Scott didn’t mind the regular trips to various police precincts across the Bay Area. It was always hugely inconvenient, but ultimately, Scott liked the precincts. He liked that there was always something going on. He liked that he could stroll into one at six in the morning, and he would be just one of many people there in the middle of a job. He liked to greet familiar faces, and drink the hot, too-bitter coffee, and listen to the phones ring, and know they were working like a well-oiled machine. He had a bit of a reputation around town for being an arrogant, stubborn pain in the ass. That was only because cops didn’t intimidate him. That didn’t mean he didn’t appreciate and respect what they did.

Hector waited for him in one of the interrogation rooms. He had bags under his eyes, and his orange jumpsuit was just a tad too big for his bony frame. Other than those small signs of exhaustion, he didn’t look the worse for wear. But he definitely looked like a man who had been denied his freedom. There was a certain resignation in his dark eyes. Like he appreciated what Scott was trying to do for him, but he wasn’t going to let himself get excited about it.

Scott held out his hand and greeted him with a friendly smile. If nothing else, he wanted Hector to understand they were on the same side. Hector did take his hand, the cuffs glittering on his wrist as they shook.

“I’m sorry about the early hour,” Scott started.

Hector shrugged. “What else I got to do?”

“I suppose you’re not getting much sleep around here, huh?”

“‘Bout as much as I ever did. It’s not exactly the Hilton.”

No, it wasn’t. But if things went the way Scott thought they might, they could sue the city for enough to ensure that Hector could stay at the Hilton anytime he wanted to. “Here’s how this is going to work. I’ve scheduled a two hour block for you. I’m going to ask you some questions, and I want you to answer honestly. This is a private room, and anything you tell me will be kept in the strictest confidence.”

“I know how it works. Been around this block before. Different ride, maybe, but—”

Someone knocked sharply at the door. Hector’s jaw clamped shut as he sagged back into his seat. Scott had only just risen from his chair, when the door opened and a tall, dark-haired man stepped inside.

“Interesting.” His penetrating gaze, eyes like obsidian, flickered from Hector, to the file on the table, to Scott. “I wasn’t sure you would have actually started yet. Most lawyers I’ve met prefer to keep more professional hours.”

“Then I guess you don’t know any busy lawyers,” Scott returned without missing a beat, his gaze traveling over the man.

Everything about the stranger bespoke confidence, from the way he entered the room to the way he regarded Scott. He did the latter quite openly, studying him with the same curiosity that must have been reflected in Scott’s eyes. He might have classified the stranger as attractive, if they had met elsewhere. Like a bar—no, not a bar. Some men were drinkers. This man was not. In fact, Scott wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he had no vices whatsoever. He also looked pretty damned sharp in his suit.

There was only one person who this could be, but Scott decided to play dumb until a formal introduction was made. “I’m sorry, were you hoping to use this room? I made arrangements to have it until eight.”

“I know. I’d hoped to speak with your client prior to your meeting. But since you seem to be punctual, I’ll wait until you’re done for my turn.”

Scott saw there was no playing dumb with this one. That was fine by him, too. “First, no, you were not going to speak to my client prior to our meeting, because my client will not speak to anybody when I’m not present. Second, if you wish to speak to my client, you know the proper channels. It is not fair to cut into his time with his legal counsel.”

The detective didn’t blink. “I didn’t intend a formal interrogation. If I had, rest assured, I would have followed proper procedure for one. But I felt Mr. Young should know who is now handling the investigation. I only meant to speak to him for a moment or two, to introduce myself. As for your lost time, Mr. Scott, I’ll make sure you’re compensated. You requested two hours. Two hours is what you’ll get.”

“Not unless you can bend time around your will,” Scott said, feeling mildly petty even as he spoke. “I have a deposition at nine sharp.”

“On a Saturday?”

“Whatever it takes to get the job done. Detective Duke, I presume?”

Duke raised a single brow. “Yes.” The query about how Scott knew his name never came, though. “My apologies for infringing on your tight schedule. I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”

With a sharp nod at both Scott and Hector, Duke turned on his heel and left, closing the door silently behind him.

“You know that dude?” Hector asked.

“No, not at all. But I have the feeling I’m going to get to know him quite well. He’s the man in charge of making sure you’re found guilty of murder.”

Hector tracked him as he sat back down. “And you’re the one in charge of making sure that don’t happen?”

“Absolutely. Within the week, you’re going to be out of here.” Scott didn’t even feel a twinge at the bold promise.

“Big words coming from a man who hasn’t even asked me if I did it yet.”

That was immaterial to Scott, but he asked anyway. “Did you?”

“Does it matter?”

“For the case? Not particularly. You’re entitled to a defense, regardless of whether or not you’re guilty. But in order to offer you the best defense possible, I need to know everything.”

“I can’t afford no best defense. I told you that when you offered. And the way I know it, there’s no such thing as free. There’s always a catch.” He leaned forward suddenly, his cuffs clanking against the table. “So what’s your angle, Mr. Scott? What’s in it for you? Lots of free time on the television? What?”

“Nothing is in it for me. At this point, most of the high-profile cases are going to come my way regardless of whether or not I represent you. But there are certain things about your situation that don’t add up to me. When something doesn’t add up, I want to know just what the hell is going on.” Scott leaned forward as well. “And since I’m here now, you don’t have to worry over whether or not you can afford me.”

“I’m not worried. You want to work for free, I’m not stopping you. I just don’t know too many people who’d try very hard if they weren’t getting something back for it.” As quickly as he’d sat up, Hector slouched back in his chair again, his hands going to his lap, his gaze never leaving Scott’s face. They sat like that for several seconds, neither moving, until he finally added, “No.”

Scott nodded. “Good. That’s a good place to start. Did you know Ms. Mayfield?”

“How do you mean?”

“Did you know her? Had you ever met her? Were you acquainted with her in any way?”

The longer Hector took to answer the question, the more Scott knew he wouldn’t like the answer. “Yeah, I knew her.”

“How well did you know her?” Scott prompted. “Were you friends? Were you sleeping together?”

“Well enough to tell you the cops didn’t need to plant the print they found.” Hector snorted. “For a change.”

“And how well is that? Did you visit her home often?” Scott half dreaded Hector’s answer. On the one hand, providing a plausible reason for his fingerprint to be in the house was a very good thing. On the other hand, the vast majority of murder victims were killed by people close to them. How difficult would it be for Detective Duke to dig up a plausible motive? Especially since opportunity was probably already covered? “I need to know everything.”

“Twice. Only went there twice. Last time was the Fourth when I made sure she got home safe after the fireworks, but I didn’t stick around either time for more ‘n a couple minutes.” His lashes ducked, and for the first time since Scott had walked in, Hector looked like a vulnerable young man, not an ex-con. “Tana was good people. She was helping me out some. That’s all.”

“All right. When was the last time you saw Ms. Mayfield?”

Unseen, the cuffs clicked together as Hector shifted his hands. “July sometime.”

“When in July?”

“Sometime. Near the end there.”

“Hector, I suggest very strongly that you either remember the exact date, or tell me where I can find the exact date. Did you go with her in public? Were you with any of her friends? Did you see a movie that day? I’m going to need something.” Which was true, but not quite the most pressing matter on Scott’s mind. “Where were you the night of July 25th?”

Hector’s head snapped up, his dark eyes blazing. “Not with her, okay? If I had been, she’d be alive right now, ‘cause I would’ve stopped that motherfucker flat before he ever laid a finger on her.”

“I believe you, but that doesn’t actually help your case. Where were you?”

“Out. By myself. So, no, there’s nobody to vouch for me. That’s what you’re fishing for, isn’t it?”

“I’m not fishing for anything, I’m trying to establish your alibi. A fingerprint by itself is nothing. A fingerprint from a known associate, with a criminal past, and no alibi? That’s enough to keep a good detective interested.”

“So you just gotta be better, right?”

“Oh, I said that was enough to keep him interested. I didn’t say it was enough to give him a case.” Scott glanced at his watch. He still had an hour. He did need more information from Hector, but he was curious about Duke and just what he had. “Though I think I should have a friendly chat with the detective in question.”

“Good luck with that. He looked ‘bout as friendly as a pit bull about to get his balls chopped off.”

Scott couldn’t help but smile at the assessment. Hector wasn’t wrong. But far from dissuading him, it only made him more curious. Did they get the meanest SOB on the force to turn up the evidence? He had also been unfailingly polite. Scott was quite good at reading people, and his gut told him that the politeness had not been an act.

“I’m going to arrange for another meeting at this time tomorrow. We’re going to cover everything. Every detail of your life. Be prepared for that.”

Hector looked less than pleased with the announcement, but jerked his head in what Scott assumed was a nod. “Do you actually believe me, or are you just blowing smoke up my ass to get me to talk to you?”

Scott stood and buttoned his jacket. “Why do you care? Either way, I’m the guy who’s going to make sure that you’re not on the receiving end of a lethal injection.”

The way Hector’s face closed after that said the conversation was fundamentally over. “Guess that’s all that matters then. Bring some decent coffee when you show tomorrow. It’s easier to remember s**t if I’ve got some caffeine in me.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Scott studied him for a moment, trying to find some sort of c***k in his armor. Hector was clearly distrustful of him, and Scott didn’t blame him. Probably nobody had ever helped him in his life. But Hector was going to have to figure out on his own that Scott wasn’t the enemy. He wasn’t going to waste time coddling Hector.

He didn’t have that time to waste.