Page 35 of Broken Wheels

Josh sent Tanner a silent apology. “I was just goofing around. I’m fine with someone staying?—”

“That’ll be me,” Dixon cut in. “Change it to five rooms, Jazz. I’ll okay it with Michael and?—”

“I’ll be paying for it,” Josh insisted. It was the least he could do, considering they’d all come here because of him.

Dixon frowned. “We’ll discuss this later.”

Josh smiled.

I’ll take that as a small victory.

Then it occurred to him.

Looks as if I’ve got a roommate. No big deal, right?

Then why was his heart pounding?

Chapter 11

“Let’s go through this again.”

Dix couldn’t miss the barely hidden disgust in Detective Reginald Marsh’s voice. He knew the source of Marsh’s irritation: the officer plainly wasn’t happy with the course of the conversation thus far, although they’d been at it for nearly four hours.

It’s a good thing we’ve got beds for the night. They were going to need them after this shitshow.

Maybe it was time to bring said shitshow to a much-needed conclusion.

Dix leaned back in his chair, his arms folded. “We can go through it as many times as you’d like, Detective, but the answers are not going to change.” He counted off on his fingers. “Dr. Tanner contacted Dr. Joshua Malone, writing that he was in trouble and needed help. Dr. Malone arrived at the location stated in the email, where a bomb exploded, killing dozens of people and injuring three times that number. I went in and pulled my client, Dr. Malone, from the building. We spoke with the feds and gave them the same story.” He forced a smile. “You’re welcome to contact them. In fact, I’ve given you the number of Jeff Chalmers, the Special Agent-in-Charge, if you want to verify our story.”

Marsh ignored Dix’s statement and peered at his notes. “And you just happened to stumble across the body almost fourteen hundred miles from where CrossBow is located? That seems awfully convenient, wouldn’t you say?”

Dix took a deep breath. His hands ached to wipe that look off the asshole’s face. “As I’ve stated—several times—Dr. Malone researched Cliff Tanner’s whereabouts, and he discovered that Tanner had purchased that building. We went to see if we could find any clues as to his location. That’s when we found the body.”

“Why would anyone buy that place? It’s nothing but a pile of bricks.”

Dix met his stare. “No clue. And if that is Tanner’s body, as we suspect, it’s not as if he can tell us.”

Marsh mimicked his body language, folding his arms. “So you’re telling me this needed five of you?” he scoffed. “To watch one guy? That’s the part I find difficult to swallow. I just don’t buy it.”

Dix exhaled sharply, his patience finally worn thin. “I don’t give a flying fuck whether you buy it or not, Detective.” Marsh’s eyes grew flinty, but Dix was past caring. “We have reason to believe Dr. Malone is a very high-priority target for persons as yet unknown. He’s also very important to the owners of CrossBow, and we’re doing everything we can to ensure his safety.” He leaned forward, his fingers laced. “I’ve cooperated with you until now, but frankly? This is bullshit. All the information I’ve given you is the truth, and if I’m honest, I’m tired of these games. Have you spoken with the rest of my people? Or with Dr. Malone?”

The detective grumbled, then fixed Dix with a harsh glare. “Yes. The members of your team all tell the same story as you.”

“And have you contacted the Special Agent I told you about?”

“He corroborates it too.” The reply was almost a snarl.

“Then what’s the problem here?” Dix stood, ready to be done with this crap. “If there’s nothing more, I need to see my client, Dr. Malone, to ensure he’s okay.”

“He’s fine,” Marsh snapped. “That fed you just mentioned? He and a couple of others pulled Dr. Malone into a room less than ten minutes after we started questioning him.”

That the feds had Doc under surveillance was no big surprise.

“Then what else do you need from me, Detective Marsh?” Then he realized something. Yes, they’d been annoying as fuck, but throughout the whole wasted four hours, they hadn’t once threatened to charge them or jail them.

They know something.

He straightened. “Or have the feds told you to cut us loose because we’re part of an active federal investigation, and you’re seeing if you can delay releasing us?”