“Very.” This came from Tessa, and Gil appreciated that she gave Morris more, but not all. If he thought they were going to give him the address of Ivy’s current location in a public place where any bystander could be involved in whatever was swirling around her, he was nuts.
Morris narrowed his eyes at Gil. “Thought you’d be with her.”
“I want this to end, so I need to be here.” Gil didn’t add that Ivy might not want him around. Morris didn’t need that kind of ammunition.
Morris grunted and fixed a glare on Gil. “Shooter may be a dead end, but you can come to the station and sit in on the questioning if you want. And before you ask, no, he doesn’t match the description of any of the guys who held Ivy hostage.”
“I’m there.” No brainer. “What makes you think he could be a dead end?”
“The guy’s high as a kite.”
Great.
“Didn’t ask for a lawyer. Told me he was given two hundred bucks and some, and I’m quoting now, ‘quality product’ to enjoy before he came in. Keeps rambling about a game, but he’s going to have to come back to earth before we’ll get anything useful from him. He told me he was supposed to grab the blonde and go out the back.”
Great. Whoever had been waiting in the back would be long gone by now.
“We’ll have hotel security share their video footage, but I don’t know what they have.” Morris didn’t look hopeful.
“The hotel has cameras back there. We might get something useful.”
“How sure are you about the cameras?”
“Talked to hotel security yesterday. Scouted it yesterday. They’re there, and they were still functional as of early this afternoon.”
Morris grunted. “I’ll get a deputy on that. Can you meet me at the station in thirty minutes?”
“Yes,” Gil responded without hesitation.
Morris nodded toward Faith, then Tessa. “Nice work today, agents. Next time I find myself in an active shooter situation, I’d count myself lucky to have you at my back.”
Faith and Tessa acknowledged the comment with nods. Gil tried not to vomit. Grumpy Morris was annoying, but charming Morris? He didn’t even know what to do with that.
“Morris, you know you’ve got us wrapped around your little finger now. Don’t push it.” Faith’s warning held no punch.
“It’d be a privilege to have you at my back, Morris. And an honor to take yours again in the future.” Tessa backed up her comment with a squeeze to his arm, and Gil saw something he didn’t think Morris had intended to give away. What Faith and Tessa said meant a lot to the normally surly detective.
Of course, Morris had to ruin the moment. “You two”—he pointed to Faith and Tessa—“anytime.” He pointed to Gil. “Gonna have to see about a probationary period for this one.”
Gil refused to take the bait. “You can’t make me mad, Morris. Not today.”
“You got it bad for our girl, don’t you?”
“You’re claiming her now?”
“You gonna dispute my claim?”
“Guess it depends on what you’re trying to claim.”
Morris slapped Gil’s back. “Just some of the responsibility for keeping her alive. And the name of your firstborn.”
Faith and Tessa burst into laughter.
Gil couldn’t stop his own grin. “You got any name other than Morris?”
Morris had a definite twinkle in his eye now. “Daniel.”
Crap. Daniel was a great name. “We get to that point, I’ll keep it in mind.”
