“Don’t keep me waiting, Chief. My client has rights that you are violating.”
“This isn’t over,” I snarl at Felix, then turn to walk into the lobby with my dad.
Chapter 21
It depends. Every lawyer’s answer.
“Take me to my client,” Ms. Carter demands the moment she lays eyes on Dad.
“Who’s your client?” Dad crosses his arms over his chest.
“Don’t play coy with me, Chief. We know each otherfartoo well for that.” She mimics Dad’s stance, and I want to vomit at the innuendo she put into her words.
“Not coy. The only person I have in custody is an unconfirmed Mark LaPointe, and since I haven’t been able to confirm his identity and he hasn’t had access to a phone, I’m wondering how you’re here.”
“And you know I don’t have to relay any information to you regarding my client, who, I can confirm, is indeed Mark LaPointe. Under what grounds are you holding him?”
“He was being detained until I could verify his identity,” Dad retorts.
“Is he under arrest?”
“He is now that I know who I’m charging.”
Ms. Carter narrows her eyes. “What are the charges?”
“Fleeing and eluding, driving without a license. I’ll have to review the footage, but I’m sure I have him on at least five other traffic violations.” Dad waves his hand in a welcoming gesture. “Let me take you to your client.”
Ms. Carter lifts her chin just a tiny bit and takes her eyes off Dad to focus on the long hallway he invited her down. As we approach the one interrogation room in the station, I get my first look at Mark since we arrived here. He’s sitting in a metal chair at a metal table, completely relaxed with the iron cuffs still around his wrists. Charlie is in the room with him, leaning against the wall and keeping his distance from the man.
“I want to speak with him alone, Marty,” Ms. Carter says when she sees who is in the room.
“Charlie,” Dad calls when he opens the door. “His lawyer is here.” Charlie pushes off the wall and exits the room. Instead of watching the officer leave, Mark has his attention on me through the window. The vacant stare in his eyes is enough to give me the creeps, but I keep my features schooled—there’s no need for him to know how much he unnerves me.
Dad closes the door behind Ms. Carter, but Mark still keeps his eyes locked on mine. I watch as the lawyer places a leather satchel on the table and extends her hand in greeting. Eventually, he takes his eyes off me and looks at the aging yet attractive woman in front of him. There’s no recognition in either of their gazes.
“They don’t know each other,” I observe out of the side of my mouth, not that they would be able to hear me, but I do it anyway.
“I didn’t find a phone. Unless he threw it out of the car at some point, he didn’t call her before he stopped. How did she know he was here?” Dad questions.
“Maybe he’s LoJacked?” I offer. There are some powerful magic users who treat their apprentices like property and mark them with sigils so they can find them anywhere. It’s arcane blood magic that comes with a hefty price, but the people who do that sort of magic don’t care. “Too bad he’s dressed.”
“I’m sure he would be happy to oblige you if you asked,” Remy snarks.
I ignore him and look over at Charlie. “Did you conduct the search?”
“Yes, with Monroe. He’s got tats. Any one of them could hide sigils,” he answers, understanding my reference to him being clothed.
“Did you call Murrey?” I look over at Dad. I don’t want to watch Mark and Ms. Carter anymore. He gives me the heebie-jeebies.
“I did, but he was in surgery, so I left a message. I’m expecting a call back anytime.” Dad turns away from the window. “We need to know why he’s in Hill Crest and what he has to do with the body in the morgue.”
“I mean, that’s not a leap, but we need to confirm he does have something to do with what happened and not just assume,” I remind him.
“I’m going to call Belinda and let her know not to come in yet. I need time to sort this out,” Dad says, and I know that means he’s ignoring my suggestion not to make assumptions. I don’t bother arguing. It’s not that I even disagree with having Belinda wait to come in, I just don’t want him to have a one-track mind.
“We’re not going to get anything out of him, especially now that she’s here. I’m going to hold him until he sees the judge tomorrow. I’ll call you if I hear anything.” After Dad dismisses me, he heads toward his office.
“Is he always so stubborn?” I ask the three remaining men, but I don’t really expect an answer.
