Whitaker’s phone chimed multiple times in a row. “That’s Pen. She must have—”
The door burst open and a uniformed police officer escorted a man in a suit inside.
“Are you talking to my client without his representation present?” The suited man raised an eyebrow so far it looked like it was about to find a new home in his hairline. “I’m going to have a field day with this.”
Tanner crossed his leg and Whitaker leaned back casually against the wall. “No, no questioning. We aren’t even Dallas PD, just fellow officers consulting from Colorado. So of course we wouldn’t be questioning Mr. Webster, especially not once he’d asked to call you.”
“Absolutely.” Whitaker gestured to the camera. “I’m sure the recordings from this room will back us up. We were just in here keeping Elliot company. If he wants to make any sort of officialstatement, he’ll need to make it with the Dallas PD, with you present, of course.”
The lawyer glared at both of them, then turned to Elliot. “Is this true? They weren’t harassing you into talking?”
Elliot studied his hands. “Everything’s cool. But I should tell them—”
The lawyer held out a hand. “No. You say absolutely nothing.”
“Tell us what, Elliot?” Tanner pushed. It would be worth the cost to save three lives.
“Do not talk to my client. If you have questions, you can refer them to me and I will advise him as to whether—”
“It’s a chess game, man.” Elliot ignored his lawyer and looked right at Tanner. “Chess.”
“Mr. Webster!” the lawyer screeched. “I highly advise you not to say anything at all.”
Elliot nodded. “Don’t worry. I’m done.”
Chapter Fourteen
They were barely outside the room when Penelope came rushing around the corner.
“We’re okay,” Whitaker reassured her. “Elliot actually covered for us a little bit when his lawyer arrived.”
Penelope let out a sigh of relief. “When I saw the lawyer was Curtis Lowman I nearly had a heart attack. He’s known for getting clients off the hook on technicalities. Did you guys get anything from Elliot?”
“Not anything of consequence,” Whitaker said.
Tanner looked over at him. “I don’t know about you, but I kind of believe the kid when he says he never planned to let Jean Adams drown.”
They began walking back toward command central.
Penelope turned to them. “Did he have anything to say about the first two victims?”
Tanner ran a hand through his hair. “Look, he could be totally playing us, but I don’t think he knew anything about them. I think for him this entire thing has been about seeing if he could get away with taunting the police. Some sort of game.”
Whitaker nodded. “I think you’re right—I don’t think he ever planned to kill Jean Adams.” Whitaker glanced at Penelope. “And unfortunately, I think he was telling the truth when he said he didn’t know who or where his ‘partners’ are.”
Penelope let out a curse. “Another dead end.”
“We know Elliot met them online. Maybe Bree will find something.” Tanner hoped it was true because they were running out of options pretty quickly.
“Leon is checking missing persons. Maybe that will get us something,” Whitaker said.
Penelope reached for the door of the command area. “Let’s see if we’ve gotten anywhere here. If not, I think we’re going to need to question Jean Adams. I’d hoped to be able to wait—God knows she’s been through enough. But we’re running out of time.”
The command center was still bustling with activity. Tanner’s eyes automatically found Bree. He wasn’t surprised to find her still working frantically at the computer like she had been when he’d left.
Leon met them as soon as they made it through the door.
“I found two other missing persons who fit the size and weight description. One—Betty Neighbors—actually lives in Waco. She’s forty-five years old, divorced, lives alone. Her friends are not exactly sure how long she’s been missing but definitely more than three days. I’ve already sent Morris and Gonzales there to interview.”
