Raleigh adjusted his tie and spoke in that calm lawyer voice of his. “We’ve got two interviews today. Phillip Thorne first, then the General. Both of them know we’re watching. Don’t give them any ammunition they can use later.”
Jaxon kept his eyes on the empty interview room. “I know how this works, Raleigh. You don’t have to worry about me.”
The door creaked as Phillip Thorne walked into the interview room like he owned the place. He wore a perfectly tailored suit and carried a thin leather briefcase. His smile looked polite on the surface,but something oily sat underneath it. Jaxon clocked him immediately. This man was dangerous in a different way than the General. It was hard to imagine it, but Thorne was even smarter. Colder.
Ezra entered the room and motioned for Phillip to sit. “Thank you for coming in, Mr. Thorne. We’ve got some questions about the note that was found at the DA’s office.”
Phillip settled into the chair and folded his hands on the table. “Of course, Detective. I’m happy to help in any way I can.”
Jaxon watched every movement and listened. There was a reason Thorne had a reputation as a smooth talker. And a liar. It would have been nice to know that when Thorne supposedly represented him against the state.
Thorne looked straight at the two-way mirror and smiled. Oh yeah. Thorne had seen his fair share of interview rooms.
Ezra leaned forward. “Can you tell us how you discovered the note and why you kept it at the DA’s office instead of turning it over to the police directly?”
“It was on the floor just inside the door when I arrived for a scheduled meeting. I assumed it had fallen from the desk. I picked it up and read it because it had a unique watermark. I happen to know the General uses paper with that mark. I thought it could have been important to his case.”
Jaxon narrowed his eyes. Something about the wording felt off.
Raleigh muttered beside him, “I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets nominated for an Oscar after this performance. It’s so clearly been rehearsed that it’s laughable. He knew exactly what he was doing.”
Ezra continued. “Are you aware that the General has been spotted outside of his confinement area? You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
“As far as I know, he’s right where he’s supposed to be. It was my understanding that you’re able to track him with his ankle bracelet. So you tell me, has he been out wandering the streets or squares of Darling?” A brief smile played across Thorne’s face, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
Behind the glass, Jaxon growled. “That bastard knew all aboutBoucher’s plan to attack Tazzy. Hell, he probably helped him get the fucking paintball rifle.”
“I know, I know. Let’s just keep it down. His time will come,” Raleigh said.
Jaxon refocused his attention on the interview room.
Ezra was scribbling something on his notepad. “I’ll have to check into that. As his lawyer, I’m sure you get to see him frequently.”
“Not as often as you might think. He’s not my only concern.”
“Have you ever observed him with the leg bracelet off?”
“Detective, how in the world would that be possible? Doesn’t it alert or something if it’s tampered with? Even if it didn’t, I’m sure you remember that one of your esteemed colleagues checks every week or two. Surely, they would notice any tampering. Unless, that is, you’re hinting at someone on the DPD of negligence or dereliction of duty.”
On the other side of the mirror, Raleigh grimaced. “Did you notice how he avoided answering that question directly?”
“Yeah,” said Jaxon, “I noticed. And he always comes back with a question of his own.”
“Ezra’s too experienced to fall into that trap. He’s no slouch when it comes to that either.
Ezra guided Thorne through a series of questions about paintball, where he was on certain dates, purchases he did or didn’t make for the General, and everything in between, including one question about the black SUV.
“Yes,” Thorne answered. “I own a black SUV. By my estimate, there are probably 3000 black SUVs owned in this state, and that doesn’t even count any that may have been brought in from the eight states that border Tennessee.
“How the fuck does he know things like that? Who has statistics about black SUVs at his fingertips like that?” Jaxon wanted to punch something. “That wasn’t for Ezra. That message was for me.”
Raleigh nodded. “He probably agreed to this interview just so he could say that. It’s like saying he knows all about what happened last night, and there’s not a damn thing we can do.”
“He thinks he has everything under control, doesn’t he?”
“That’s a good thing. He underestimates us. Don’t let it get to you. I promise you, we’ll beat him in court.”
“If you don’t, I’ll beat him later,” Jaxon murmured. If Raleigh heard him, he pretended otherwise.