“This isn’t your first run-in with the law, either. Vandalism, petty theft, battery. The courts aren’t going to look kindly at you.”
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, he spoke. "What's in it for me?"
"What do you mean?”
"If I talk to you, what's in it for me?"
"Depends on what you tell me."
He hesitated another moment. "I want some kind of a deal."
“I can’t give you a deal until I know what you’re going to tell me."
"See, that isn't going to work for me.”
“I’ve got news for you. Nothing is working for you at the moment.”
Connor frowned. “I need assurances. You get me some kinda deal, and I'll tell you who else is involved."
“Right now it looks like you’re the only one involved.” I shared a look with Jack, then said to him, "I need more details. Give me something."
"Look, I'm not admitting to anything. But if I did do something, it's because somebody else paid me."
"Who?"
"Do we have a deal, or don't we?"
I didn’t have the authority to give this guy a deal. I told him to hang tight for a minute. I stepped into the hallway and talked to the sheriff.
“Think this guy is full of shit?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Let’s see where this goes.”
Daniels got in touch with the state’s attorney, and within half an hour, we had a tentative agreement.
When I returned to the interrogation room, I told Connor, “The prosecuting attorney is willing to drop the Aggravated Battery and give you Felony Battery instead,ifyour testimony leads to the conviction of said co-conspirator. That’s a maximum of five years, and you could get a lighter sentence. If I were you, I would take that.“ Then I added, “If you’re pulling my leg, no mercy.”
Connor considered it for a moment, then said, "Okay. Vanessa paid me $50,000 to do it."
“Vanessa? Sebastian’s assistant?”
“Yeah.”
"Why?"
"She didn't say, and I didn't ask.”
"I hope you got the money in advance," I quipped.
"Half."
The motive was obvious to me, but I asked again anyway. "You don’t know why she wanted Ava out of the picture?"
"I think she's still in love with Sebastian. I think she thought she could get him back.”
“That’s a hell of a way to win someone’s affection,” Jack muttered.
"How do you know Vanessa?" I asked.
