“He testified against his company, and when he left Witness Protection, he still felt that people were after him. Which, clearly, they were,” she says, glaring again at everyone in the room.
“In our initial documentation, you were listed as his personal assistant. Care to tell us why?”
“He didn’t want anyone to know he was being protected.”
DB tilts his head, examining her intently. After a moment, he nods to himself. “Are you aware he’s a rapist?”
Having seen DB interrogate people many times before, he usually butters them up with easy questions to build trust so he can go in later with a harder question. He’s patient and skillful, and I had anticipated a much longer setup. Going with the tough question early means he already knows the answer.
She makes no effort to hide her surprised look. Opening her mouth, she closes it again and shakes her head.
DB pulls up the evidence we nicked from the Witness Protection Program.
“He was in Witness Protection because he was guilty of fraud, and they were willing to set him free once he testified against the CEO. Which he did. However, the Marshals discovered that he’d been accused of sexual harassment and assault by a couple of his assistants. The Marshals launched an investigation but couldn’t get anyone to testify. We were able to find proof, but it was obtained illegally, rendering it unusable in court.”
“So, you are just going to kill him? Play judge, jury, and executioner?”
“Yes.”
“Why? What gives you the right?”
“Excellent question. And the answer is simple: nothing gives us the right. We are very much breaking the law. All of us have served, and we are unwilling to let terrible people get away with hurting the innocent, especially when we can do something about it.”
“I see you went after a filthy rich criminal. How convenient.” She juts out her chin as she looks around the room.
DB nods, layering his hands on top of his cane. “As it happens, the kind of criminals who can kill, rape, torture, and sell other humans while getting away with it are almost always ones with money. We make sure that the victims and the family receive a large portion of the assets, and what’s left is divided amongst ourselves.”
She fights against her bindings, and perhaps the truth, but finally tires and goes still. DB tilts his head in her direction, so I stand in front of her with my knife drawn.
“You amuse me, and I’d rather not have to kill you,” he says with a smile that can read humorous or deadly, depending. “We want to give you access to the data so you can see and judge for yourself. Are you going to cooperate, or do we have to do this the hard way?”
Her jaw bunches, and Parker’s hungry gaze tracks the movement. I shoot her an eyebrow, and she rolls her eyes at me. “Fine,” she mouths. “I’ll pay attention.”
After another full minute of grinding her teeth to dust and considering her options, Abigail relents. “Fuck you, I’ll cooperate.”
Anders leans over, a maniacal gleam in his eye. “Quick reminder: I’m hoping you change your mind.”
Omar pulls him back and gives his boyfriend a peck on the cheek. Turning his attention to Abigail, he says, “I wouldn’t push it if I were you. I love the man, but he’s way better at murder than he is at sanity.”
Anders’ look softens and he pulls Omar toward him for a passionate kiss.
“Guys,” I say, wrangling the focus back to the problem at hand. “Can you not deep throat each other in the middle of an interrogation? It’s unprofessional.”
Rafi snorts and slides over onto Everett’s lap.
Abigail’s eyes go wide. “What in the Sacred Band of Thebes? Are you all fucking each other?”
We all look at her with a slight head tilt. “Huh?”
Parker gives a small laugh. “So, you’re a history buff, then?”
Abigail regards Parker briefly before giving her a sharp nod.
Parker turns to us and explains. “She’s talking about a unit in the ancient Greek army made up entirely of same sex couples.”
Anders grins. “Damn, that’s what we should have called ourselves. Talk about a missed opportunity.”
Abigail and Parker grimace at each other and Parker shakes her head. “Eh. The Battle of Chaeronea was a total goat-fuck. They got their asses handed to them by Phillip II of Macedonia, so it’s best we leave that off the letterhead.”
