Pops was still thinking over his big decision and what it would mean for him when Lucas texted him that he had the woman in the interrogation room. He headed that direction, stopping at the booking area and picking up the diamond bracelet that was now in an evidence bag. They’d identified the woman as Arianna Jones. She had a record a mile long and wouldn’t be easy to break. But if, as Lucas suspected, the bracelet was payment to the gang leader or a gift from her deceased boyfriend, then she might cooperate just to make sure she was protected. Or she might not. It just depended on her loyalty. And fear of retaliation.
Arianna glared at him as he walked into the room. Pops was glad to see Lucas had cuffed her to the table. He didn’t trust her one bit. Her long, dark hair hung down over each shoulder. Her face had several tattoos including three dots by her eye. Her right hand hadE,W,M, andNon the fingers. Pops wasn’t a gang expert, but he knew that the dots meantmi vida loca, or “my crazy life.” The letters stood forevil,wicked,mean, andnasty. Based on her expression, those all fit her.
Pops sat down, placed what he called a “pedigree” on the table, crossed his arms, and stared back at her. “I’ll start by reading you your rights. Then I have some questions for you.”
Arianna said nothing.
This didn’t surprise Pops at all. Inside the pedigree, he’d put together everything he could about Arianna. It helped not only for questioning but, as Spencer pointed out, so a defense attorney didn’t accuse him of asking her something such as writing a statement when she couldn’t read or something like that. Pops wanted to make sure there was no legal reason she would get off for her crimes.
Based on her record, though, and the tattoo of a spiderweb on her elbow, Arianna was no stranger to any of this. The tattoo signified lengthy prison terms, and she’d served twelve years starting when she turned eighteen. This time, if convicted of all the crimes she’d committed just in Colorado, she wouldn’t be getting out again.
Pops and Spencer sat down across from her. Lucas stood in the corner. Pops didn’t know where to start, so he was happy when Lucas spoke up.
“We know you’re a member of the Dark Angels. What are you doing in Colorado?”
Arianna stared. No answer.
Lucas laughed. “You know, you can stay quiet, but it doesn’t matter. We can ask you questions all night long, not to mention you’ll be convicted no matter what. You give us information and we’ll let the DA know you at least cooperated a little bit.”
No answer. No change in expression.
Pops decided to cut to the chase. There was a good chance this would be the extent of the entire interview. Lucas could ask questions all night long, but he was getting too old to do that. He pulled out the bracelet and set it on the table.
Arianna stared at it, her expression changing slightly. Concern? Surprise? Pops wasn’t sure.
“We found this in your belongings when you were arrested. Care to tell me about it?”
No answer, but now her expression displayed anger.
“I think you either stole it or it was a payoff. I’d like to know which.”
Arianna’s lips tightened. Pops managed to duck as she spat at him. He hadn’t had that happen in a while. That was usually reserved for the patrol deputies. At least she missed.
“You know how to make friends, don’t you? Well, I can tell you don’t want to share, so this is over.” Pops started to stand.
“I want dinner. It’s my right.”
He stopped and stared at her. “Itisyour right. We have white bread and bologna. I’ll have someone bring a sandwich in your cell. I’d be happy to give you something better if you’d talk to me.”
“You stupid pigs. You think we’re all so dumb and will talk for food.”
“No, I don’t think you’re dumb. I think you’re quite smart and it’s a damn shame you’ve wasted your life the way you have. I don’t know the story behind this bracelet, but we’ll figure it out. If you decide you want one last decent meal before serving life in prison, let us know.”
He stopped by Lucas and said, “I’m going to see if we can trace these diamonds. Maybe we’ll get lucky and figure out if she did steal them or if they were payment for trying to kill Josh. Do you want me to help you get her back to the cell?”
“Keep me posted on the diamonds. And I got her.”
“Thanks,” he said, holding up the folder with the information he had on her. “Watch yourself. She’s a tough one.”
Pops turned to leave, hoping Arianna overhearing what he said to Lucas might prompt her to say something more, but there was nothing but silence.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
Josh knew he had to keep Laura talking, both for their safety and to try to give Maya time for a response. Hopefully the FBI rescue team was close. One of her quick updates had said that Kessler had arrived, but the team coming was held up due to the storm. Small flakes were coming down hard outside. This storm was going to be a good one.
His sister continued sobbing, which only made Josh feel worse. Because of him, Bianca had been pulled into this and was now a hostage. He wanted to get her back over to where Elena was, but Laura had her gun pointed straight at him. Ian had also pulled out a gun from a shoulder holster and had it pointed at Josh and Bianca.
“You leave her right there and you go back over there,” Laura said, nodding in the direction of where Josh originally stood.
