“I didn’t even do anything! I wasn’t even on this floor when it happened,” Parker moaned. “Why do I have to go to the principal’s office?”
Keating stood, grabbing her briefcase off the table. “Now, I can represent both of you until it becomes a conflict of interest between you. Itwillcost you.”
“You sound like a spirit I know,” Parker said, sighing. “Okay, let’s go find out if we have detention.”
CHAPTER FIVE
The chiefof police wasn’t in his office, but the captains who were at the station had gathered in a conference room on the fifth floor. Nick recognized them on sight—Tate was there for Paranormal Crimes, Owens was the Major Crimes captain, Falk had transferred from the LAPD to replace the previous CGPD captain, and Rios was the Traffic and Emergency Services captain, although word was he had his eye on the deputy chief position. He’d been present at the battle for San Amaro, but like most people who were there, he pretended he didn’t know what he knew.
When Nick and Parker entered, he saw both Avila and Zahide hesitate at the door before coming in behind them. Keating showed no such hesitation, striding in and taking a seat at the table. Tate’s brows twitched, and the other captains shared looks.
Rios cleared his throat. “Alright, we talked to Murtola, and he said that you knew something was going on before the incident in the break room.”
Nick was suddenly aware of every eye on him, and his posture straightened, hands going behind his back. He opened his mouth, but Parker cleared his throat, muttering, “Lawyer.”
Tensing, Nick glanced at Keating, who nodded once, twitching the fingers of one hand to indicate he could answer.
“When Parker was being interviewed, I looked at the crime scene photos and saw that there were circles carved on the bones that had survived.” Nick frowned. “If I could see the entire circle, I might be able to determine what the circle did or if it was related to the explosion.”
Owens looked around the table, his gaze falling to Tate. The implied question was answered immediately.
“He’s one of my best detectives,” Tate said. “And he’s done more than enough to make him trustworthy in my eyes. Anyone who was here during the battle for San Amaro would agree.”
“You just so happened to see these photos while yourhusbandwas being interviewed for murder?” Falk said, leaning back in his chair, lazily swinging back and forth. “Convenient.”
“My understanding is that Major Crimes intended to show me the photos in order to rattle me or see if I was going to give them any evidence against Parker.” Nick made sure his expression was nothing more than mildly curious when he looked at Owens, the Major Crimes captain. Beside him, Parker shifted but managed to bite down on whatever he was going to say.
When Nick glanced at him, Parker had an expression that reminded Nick of when they’d tried playing Pictionary at Christmas, and Sugar had drawn something that looked like a dildo, and everyone had been struggling not to say it because there was nowaythat had been in the deck, and then it turned out she’d been drawing a tree. (“These are roots, guys!” “Sugar, I know you’ve seen enough dicks that you know that looks like pubic hair.”)
“Is that true?” Tate asked Owens. “You were trying to get him to incriminate his own husband?”
“You were the one who said that he was one of your best,” Owens said, shrugging. “We were making use of his knowledge.”
Tate leaned forward, his hands clasped on the table in front of him, and Owens straightened, both of them glaring at each other.
“Based on what Murtola said, we had Rictor take full photos of the circles,” Rios interrupted. He slid a tablet across the table. “This is what he sent. Andtheseare the photos the crime scene techs in the building took from Buford—the CSI who just exploded. Does it have to do with the explosions, and is it contagious?”
Nick picked up the tablet, swiping through the photos quickly. He frowned when he saw the writing. It should make sense—it had all the correct elements—but it wasn’tright. He knew that the same way he knew how to breathe, how to walk.
“Zahide?” He needed a second opinion. There was no way he wanted to make a mistake when the captain had put his political weight behind Nick.
She took a step forward, her eyes narrowed on the photos. “This is?—”
“Nonsense,” Nick said, but he drew out the word because all the elements were right, but still…
“So the circles have nothing to do with the explosions?” Rios said, his mouth going tight. “Alright. We’ve called in the CDC; they’re going to be checking everyone out. We’re treating this as an emergency situation. Everyone needs to check their department for emergency supplies.”
“That still leaves a question,” Parker said.
When everyone turned to him, he didn’t flinch under the attention. His posture might have even gottenworse, a slouch worthy of a high school slacker. Nick couldn’t help but wish he had that assurance, that when he was confronted withauthority, he didn’t react with the training of all of his parents’ disappointments.
“And what is that?” Rios didn’t seem angry, and Nick hoped he did get a position higher up. He deserved it.
“How did the circles getonthe bones?” Parker asked. “If they didn’t cause the explosion, were they a side effect? A signature? Punishment? This isn’t some temporary tattoo—someone wanted these carved into thebone.”
“You’re suggesting they’re a message,” Falk said. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “So, ifyoudid it, what would you be saying?”
Keating held out her hand. “Neither of my clients are going to make any guesses about the intentions of an unknown criminal.”
