Page 12 of Cohesion

The smile on Greer’s face twisted, a glimpse of himself appearing. “I don’t sleep well, Jack. It leaves so much time for useless trivia. I have all the time in the world to sit here with you.” He shared a glance with the lawyer, one that had Quinn narrowing his eyes. He was missing something here. He was sure of it. “If you’d like a history lesson on the very first instances of organised religion”—Greer tapped his temple—“I’ve got it all in here. It’s debatable, of course, on what one considers religion since—”

“I’m not religious,” Sweeney said, unable to quite mask the horror in his voice.

Quinn could relate. Did Greer actually have that just sitting in his brain, waiting for the next unprepared idiot, or was he bluffing? Quinn wouldn’t have bet a hand on it. He’d never seen Greer like this, and it was nothing short of terrifying how convincingly he was morphing into someone completely different.

Was the Greer they saw in the office even the real one either?

“Is the cross for show, then?” Greer asked, tapping the photo. Must have been wearing one. All his belongings would have been confiscated when he was admitted into the prison where he would stay while he awaited trial. Based on the charges, no bail would have been given. “No answer? We’ll come back to that.” Greer sifted through the papers, barely glancing at each one. Quinn at least recognisedthattechnique.

“Last time we spoke, you were adamant that you didn’t know who Arthur Mulhall is. We both know that’s a lie, so let’s skip the bullshit.” Greer leaned back, hooking an ankle over his knee.“Tell me, what was the deal with Arthur? You suck his dick, and he keeps you off the streets? Like mother, like son?”

“You don’t have to answer that,” the lawyer said. He raised an eyebrow at Greer, who smirked.

“You were his right-hand man,” Greer said innocently. “The right hand does a lot of things.” He didn’t make the lewd gesture, but it was clear in his tone.

Riley sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Let’s hope no one asks for a copy of this.”

“Yeah.” What was Greer doing in there?

“What was the end goal, Jack? Kill everyone on your hit list and go home to Arthur, both free men? Didn’t see a flaw in that plan at all?”

Quinn narrowed his eyes.List.

No one but Quinn, Grady, his men, and Jericho’s team knew about that list. Definitely not someone who wasn’t in a particular inner circle. Grady wouldn’t have told him. Quinn hadn’t. His men didn’t know him. That only left Jericho and his team.

Motherfucker.

He fished out his phone and tapped out a message to Jericho that simply said:We need to talk.

“These are baseless claims, pulled out of your own overactive imagination, detective,” the lawyer said. “Unless you have proof, I don’t think my client has anything to say to you.”

Greer didn’t look away from Sweeney. “He knows what I’m talking about. Don’t you?”

“Keep going and I’ll have enough here to have this case dismissed.”

“No, you won’t,” Greer replied. “He ambushed an old lady and attacked an officer of the law with the intent to kill.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Whether you talk to me or not, you’re going away for a long time. But we both knowthat you aren’t who we want.” He tapped his fingers on the table. “Help us, and we’ll help you.”

“I have nothing to say.”

Greer closed his file and let his foot slip off his knee, landing on the carpet with a dullthud. “Pity.” He stood and tucked the folder under his arm. “We’re going to find him, Jack. And we’ll make sure that he’s put away for a long time, with or without you. You could have helped us, made it easier on yourself. Now? Well, do enjoy your jail cell. The next step in your long incarceration won’t be so comfortable.”

“Threats now, detective?” the lawyer asked mildly. “The insults weren’t enough?”

“Just having a friendly conversation,” Greer said with a light smile. “Nothing threatening about that.” His gaze flitted to Jack, and then he left the room, whistling a tune.

Riley let out a long breath as Greer left the two men alone in the room. The lawyer murmured quietly to Sweeney before he led him out as well. There would be guards waiting on the other side, ready to take him back to the prison.

“Why isn’t Henry working this with him?” Quinn asked.

“Henry is too green.”

“That’s not how it works.” That’s how anyone got experience. Greer was one of the most senior detectives in the precinct, and Henry had been paired with him for a reason. “And Greer can’t work it by—” Fucking hell. “You’re working the case,” he deduced. Riley hadn’t picked up a case foryears. Why this one? Why now?

Riley kept his stare straight ahead, into the now-empty interrogation room. A deliberate tactic that made the hair on the back of Quinn’s neck stand on end.

“Yes,” was all Riley said.

“You’re not going to tell me why.”

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