“What the hell’s Sniper 1 Security?” the guy asked, his mouth a hard line.
“Private security firm. We’re looking into the case. And you are?”
“In charge,” the man said, a tic in his jaw.
Based on the glint in his narrowed eyes, this guy was short on pleasantries and obviously not impressed to see Reese. Not that Reese cared. Nor was he going to let that distract him from his objective: finding out what they had on Magnus.
“And you are?” Reese prompted.
“Detective Ron Weatherby.”
“What’s goin’ on here?” Reese asked, glancing around at the men and women who were currently going room by room. “What exactly are you lookin’ for?”
The detective didn’t answer, so Reese gave him his full attention, held the guy’s hard stare.
“Look, I know you don’t like others in your sandbox, Detective, but we’ll either work together or my boss’ll make one call to the governor and officially take over the case. Up to you.”
Sure, it was an empty threat, but Reese knew if push came to shove, Brantley would call in a favor to the man they used to work for. Governor Greenwood owed the task force more than a few favors after all they’d done for him since the task force had been disbanded and forced into the private sector.
“Well, I’ll trump yourgovernorwith one Texas senator,” Weatherby said with a smarmy grin. “Missin’ woman’s his wife.”
“That right? Why’re you questioning Magnus?”
The detective exhaled roughly. “We believe he’s responsible for the disappearance of our missing person.”
“How’d you come to this conclusion?”
“An anonymous tip,” Detective Weatherby said snidely.
“A tip?” Reese cast a sideways glance at an officer carrying a laptop. He nodded. “Does the warrant cover his electronics?”
The detective didn’t look pleased by the question. “No.” He peered over at the officer. “Leave the computer.”
“Yes, sir,” the man said, setting the laptop on the fireplace mantel.
Worried this detective was overstepping his boundaries, Reese continued with the questions. “When was she reported missing?”
“This morning. Her husband called it in when she didn’t come home last night.”
“What time?”
“Shortly after six.”
It was eleven forty. “Isn’t it standard for the MP to be gone for forty-eight hours?”
“It’s been escalated,” Weatherby snapped.
Which meant someone was making a stink. More than likely due to the senator’s political clout.
Not that Reese didn’t think they should be spurred into action as soon as a person was suspected to be missing, but something sounded off. Not to mention, Reese knew Magnus, knew the man would not be responsible for anyone’s disappearance.
“And you’ve been workin’ the case since she was reported missing?” Reese asked.
“I … uh…” Weatherby looked sheepish. “The officer who answered the call wrote the report, yes. I was assigned when the tip came in.”
“So one call to report and another with a tip?”
Weatherby’s eyes narrowed. “That’s right. It’s cut and dried if you ask me.”
