Symphony of Bones by L.T. Ryan (most romantic novels .TXT) 📗

Viotto and Mannis took in a collective breath and held it. Davenport looked up, first at the agents to search their faces for some kind of joke, and then at Cassie, as though he was seeing her for the first time.

“You’re bullshitting me.”

Cassie took a seat with a smirk on her face. It had been worth it just to see his jaw drop like that. Mannis joined her in the other chair while Viotto leaned against the wall. He looked like he was trying to smother his laughter.

Cassie leaned forward. “Don’t you wish I studied bugs now?”

Davenport ignored her. He turned to Mannis. “You believe this horseshit?”

“Doesn’t matter what I believe. The Agency believes it. She’s got a file two inches thick. She does good work.”

“We solved the case.” Davenport shook his head. “We caught the killer. What do we need a psychic for?”

Cassie opened her mouth to respond, but Mannis beat her to it.

“She came to us with doubts about Anthony Lewis’ involvement in the murder.”

“We found the murder weapon with his fingerprints all over it.” Davenport threw up his hands. “We have motive. No alibi. And proof. What more do you want?”

Mannis held up his hands in surrender. “I wouldn’t be here if she didn’t have at least some credibility. But this is a career-making case. Solving the murder of a prominent local politician’s kid? We both know you’re headed up the food chain with this. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Senator takes you with him on his way to the White House.”

Cassie was surprised Mannis was laying it on so thick, but it seemed to achieve its intended purpose. Davenport glared at Cassie, but he sat back in his chair and linked his hands behind his head. “What are your doubts?”

Viotto stepped forward. “Actually, they’re my doubts. When Ms. Quinn approached me with her own, they made me nervous.”

“Nervous?” Davenport sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Kid, you’re gonna have to take care of that. Can’t be nervous in this line of work.”

“Humor me.” Viotto smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “This is a high-profile case. It needs to be airtight, right? We want it to go to court without a single doubt that they’ll convict this guy.”

“That’s the plan.”

“Great, so we’re on the same page.” Viotto ran a hand through his hair. “My issue is that it all happened so fast. The abandoned car, then the body, then the murder weapon, then the arrest.”

“This kid isn’t smart.” Davenport’s laugh made Cassie’s skin crawl. “It’s not the first time we’ve arrested him.”

“I’ve talked to Mr. Lewis.” Viotto’s voice was firm. Unwavering. “He’s an intelligent man. Those arrests were ten years ago. He hasn’t had any run-ins with the law since then. Then he jumps straight to murder?”

“He started with aggravated assault,” Davenport countered. “It’s not that much of a jump.”

“He’s adamant that the gun the police found on him—which he says he only had for protection in case one of his old friends paid him a visit—was confiscated months ago.”

“News flash, kid, criminals lie.” Davenport looked at Mannis. “You guys gotta keep them in training longer or something.”

Mannis smiled. “Viotto’s relentlessness grows on you. He’s got a good eye. Saved my skin on more than one occasion.”

“So, what are you asking for?” Davenport gestured around the office. “I’ve got enough work on my plate as it is.”

“And we wouldn’t dream of putting more on there.” Mannis gestured to Cassie. “Ms. Quinn has a hunch there’s more to this case.”

“Oh, well as long as the psychic has a hunch.” Davenport rolled his eyes, then glared at her. “How much are you getting paid?”

Cassie couldn’t keep the disgust off her face. “Nothing.”

“That’s too bad. Then at least one of us would benefit from all the time you’re wasting.”

Mannis stood before either Cassie or Viotto could say something they’d regret. “Tensions are high. This case is important to all of us. We want Mr. Grayson to get the justice he deserves. We’re only here for another day or two. We could use that time to kick back and watch daytime TV in our hotel rooms, or we could ensure there are no blank spots in the investigation where the defense could poke a hole.”

Davenport folded his hands in front of him. The gears were turning behind his eyes as he looked at all three of them. “Fine. But keep a low profile. The public thinks we’ve got an open-and-shut case. I want to keep it that way.”

“Deal.” Mannis smiled. “Anything else?”

“I want to stay informed.” He unlocked his hands, grabbed his pen, and took up his paperwork again. “Regular updates, you got me? And if you don’t find anything new by this time tomorrow, you’re done. We’re wrapping the case, and that’s that.”

“You got it.” Mannis reached across the desk to shake Davenport’s hand. “Thanks for humoring us.”

“No problem.” Davenport eyed the door. “Good luck on your wild goose chase.”

27

As soon as the trio made it back to the interview room, Cassie sank into her chair with a groan. “Well, that was painful.” She eyed Mannis. “Any reason you’re keeping specifics from him?”

“Because then he’d have more to discredit.” Mannis dropped into his own chair with a groan. “He doesn’t like to be second-guessed.”

Viotto was pacing. “As I found out first-hand.”

“So, it’s more about making sure he comes out looking as good as possible. Or, at least, convincing him that’s what we’re trying to do,” Mannis said.

“Anthony Lewis is not the killer.” Cassie looked between the two agents. “He’s going to look like a fool when we figure out who really is.”

“That’s a problem for a different day.” Mannis flipped open his binder and skimmed the pages. “The question now is, where do we start?”

The agents both looked at Cassie.

“You’re the detectives. I’m just the psychic.”

“There’s nothing else you can tell us?” Viotto asked.

“You know everything I do.” Cassie folded her hands on top of the table. What would David say at a time