Lauren scrolled through the documents, pulling up the document in question, and Cam cursed.
“Holy shit,” Aidan echoed across the table.
Nic was out of his seat, next to the projection, pointing at the address line.“It’s for their house.”Then he pointed to the Lender/Grantor and Borrower/Grantee lines.
“Duncan was going to release the loan and reconvey the house,” Cam said.“Free and clear but only back to Beth Kincaid.”
“That,” Nic said, “is what Harris had to offer.”
Nine
Biometric readings were a no-go for Vaughn’s interview.Too many people in and out of the interrogation room.Nic had worried that might be the case.Inside, he and Cam sat across from Vaughn and his attorney, Carl Patton.Contrary to his insistence yesterday, Bowers decided to stand on the other side of the glass in the observation room with Aidan, Jamie, Lauren, and El.Nic suspected his boss had remembered the capabilities of this room or had been reminded of such by someone—Vaughn’s FBI mole—and wanted to overhear the analysis.Nic wouldn’t have that, nor would he further remind Bowers of the full capabilities of Holding Room Two, in case Bowers might be in here for questioning one day soon.
“Dom,” Vaughn started once they were all situated.“You look refreshed for having had such a late night.Your partner is good for you.”
He cast a significant glance toward Cam, making it clear he knew they were more than colleagues.That Cam was important to him.They hadn’t hidden it, and after stepping out of the house together and being captured on the morning news, everyone knew it.Right then, Nic couldn’t help but wonder whether they should have kept things hidden until this was over, whether he should have taken that job in San Diego, whether he should have gotten involved with Cam at all.It wasn’t fair to put him at risk.
But then Cam shifted next to him, fire in his eyes and a not-so-subtle threat in his voice.“And it’d be good for you if you’d refer to the AUSA as Attorney Price.”
Vaughn backed off.“Of course, Agent Byrne.”
Cameron Byrne could take care of himself just fine.And he was the partner Nic needed, personally and professionally.
Back on steady ground, Nic relaxed back in his chair, unbuttoning his suit coat.“We have some questions for you.”
Vaughn spread his hands in invitation.“I’m an open book.”
Hardly.
With so many closed doors, Nic had a hard time choosing which one to knock on first.He and Cam had gone over several scenarios last night.Nic decided to go right for the one at the end of the hall, to the heart of what he suspected this was all about.And because he wanted to start by knocking Vaughn off balance.
“What was your relationship with Victoria Scott?”
Vaughn’s eyes flared before they narrowed and the corners of his mouth tightened, like he was holding back a curse or a gasp.
Bingo.
When he didn’t speak, his attorney did for him.“What does this have to do with the warrant executed on Mr.Vaughn?”
From the evidence box on the floor between them, Cam withdrew a handful of the pictures from the lockbox they’d seized and spread them out on the table.“These were found at Mr.Vaughn’s residence.”
“She was a childhood friend,” Vaughn said, voice measured, flat.
“Whom you kept pictures of until she was in her thirties?”
“She was my best friend.”
No inflection but by the twitch of his fingers, the start of the motion to curl them into a fist, aborted as soon as he realized what he was doing, Nic was more sure than ever that Victoria was the reason they were all here.
He pushed the door open some more.“I heard tell you wanted more.”
Patton cleared his throat.“Again, I ask, what does this have to do with the investigation into my client?”
“Establishing motive.”
“Motive for what?”
Nic answered but kept his eyes locked on Vaughn, watching for any reaction, any other tells that escaped Vaughn’s control.“The murder of Curtis Price.”
