“We came so I could see for myself the place where Jack was murdered. Is that against the law now?”
“No, but interferin’ with a police investigation is. So is dealing heroin and cocaine.”
Quinn laughed. “It’s us you’re after now? No wonder you cannae catch Jack’s killer. No one is interferin’ by standin’ here, and neither of us have touched drugs.”
“I heard you paid a visit to Clive MacDonald and asked him questions about Jack Murray. Some might wonder why. Now, if you’d get back in your car and follow me back to the station.”
“Are we under arrest?” Elizabeth asked.
“Not yet.” Wilson turned his back on them and walked back to his car.
* * *
Elizabeth satin an interview room with PC Patel, who asked questions, while pretending the two of them were just having a conversation. Was she enjoying her holiday? Where did she work? How long had she and Quinn known each other? Why go all the way to Edinburgh to talk to Clive MacDonald when there were better things to do and see there? What did she think of legalized marijuana in Colorado? Did she or Quinn smoke pot or take edibles? Never? Had she ever tried anything harder—like cocaine or heroin? Had she ever brought heroin back from Afghanistan?
None of this fazed Elizabeth at all. She knew all the games interrogators played. She’d mastered them working for the Agency. Because she and Quinn had nothing to hide, she told the truth. Yes, she was enjoying her time in Scotland. She and Quinn met at Cobra. They’d gone out to eat in Edinburgh, but they’d stopped to see if MacDonald was willing to explain why he’d threatened to kill Jack. Elizabeth hadn’t lived in Colorado when pot had been legalized, and, no, she’d never tried it or any other illegal drug. No, really. Not once.
After the last question, Elizabeth turned the tables. “If you know I’ve been to Afghanistan, then why did you ask me where I work? You already know the answer.”
Patel’s friendly façade vanished. “Where did you work before Cobra?”
“You’re not going to find that on your own.” Elizabeth smiled sweetly. “I was a counterterrorism analyst and interrogator for the Central Intelligence Agency.”
Patel’s mouth formed an O of surprise.
Elizabeth went on. “Between you and me, Wilson is wasting his time if he thinks either Quinn or I had anything to do with Jack’s alleged drug dealing. Quinn can’t even bring himself to believe that Jack was dealing drugs, even after getting the news about the toxicology reports. You’re on a fishing expedition, but you won’t find anything because there’s nothing to find.”
“Why did you visit the site of the murder?”
“Quinn is grieving right now. Surely, that’s not hard to understand. If someone you loved were murdered, wouldn’t you want answers? You might even want to go to the place that person died to pay your respects.”
Patel’s gaze dropped to the table. “My sister was killed in a crash. We put flowers by the side of the road where it happened every year.”
“I see you understand.” Elizabeth stood. “Unless you’re going to arrest us, I think it’s time Quinn and I were on our way.”
“There’s a lot to see in Scotland. You should be enjoyin’ your holiday and no’ playin’ detective.” Patel stood and opened the door. “DS Wilsonwillarrest you if he thinks you’re tamperin’ with his investigation.”
Elizabeth stepped into the hallway then turned back to face Patel again. “Did you find the man who followed us?”
“Not yet.”
“How long have you had us under surveillance?”
Patel’s pupils dilated—an adrenaline response. “I don’t know what you’re goin’ on about.”
Liar.
Elizabeth smiled. “Right.”
She walked down the hallway, spotted Quinn in another room with Wilson, his face almost as red as his hair. She tapped on the glass, smiled, motioned for him that it was time to go.
He stood, shouted something at Wilson, then joined her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“The bastard wanted to know whether Jack and I were dealin’ drugs together. He didnae ask it outright, but I know what he’s thinkin’. Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
They walked through the lobby and out the door in silence, Quinn’s anger palpable. Only when they were out of the building did he speak, cursing most of the way back to the car.