Page 88 of Sinner's Secret

“That’s a great idea,” Smith said with a relieved smile. “Davis, go grab Laura.”

“Laura Simpson?” Nika asked. “She works VICE?”

“Yes, you know her?”

“Just enough to say hello. And you’re right, she’s about my size. She’s got longer hair though.”

“Not anymore,” Smith said.

They left the interrogation room, heading toward the staff locker rooms.

“Smith, what do you think happened to Baz?” she asked.

“I don’t know.” He rubbed his face. “On one hand, he couldn’t have survived his injuries without advanced medical care, yet we’ve had reports of him walking around like nothing happened to him.”

“Reports? From who?”

“A few witnesses, some of them are cops.”

“Did you ask his cousin?”

“That is the next thing on my list.”

“Why don’t I come with you. He rammed the lieutenant’s car on purpose, maybe he’ll be more forthcoming with me in the room.”

“What part of rest and recover didn’t you get?”

“Five minutes, that’s all. It’s not going to stress me out.”

Laura walked up to them and introduced herself.

Nika shook her hand and they went into the women’s locker room. Nika explained some of her daily routines and apologized for the mess in her house.

The two women came out, Nika now dressed in grey workout pants and a hoodie. Laura in the jeans and t-shirt she’d been wearing. Laura went with Davis and Williams, who were going to drive Nika home.

The real Nika followed Smith to another interview room.

Yvgeny was sitting with another man also in an expensive suit. The man had no expression on his face. He looked like he was either bored or he didn’t care about anything.

“This is your lawyer?” Smith asked Yvgeny.

“Yes.” He grinned at Nika. “Nice disguise.”

She shoved the hood down and took a seat at the table. “I’d appreciate it if you and your lawyer could keep it confidential that the woman who just walked out of the station isn’t me.”

“We would be happy to,” Yvgeny said.

His lawyer’s expression didn’t change.

“Mr. Breznik, why did you run into the back of Lieutenant Thomas’s car?” Smith asked in an even tone.

“Because the person sitting next to you, who isn’t here, gave me that hand sign that means I need help.” He demonstrated the sign. “Besides, my cousin, Baz told me she’d been taken and that I should look for her.”

“When was this?” Smith asked.

“Yesterday. He’d just gone to see her house with you and some other officers. He wanted me to spread the word throughout my business connections.”

“So, before his car accident,” Smith said, absently making notes in his notebook. Only he never said anything absently. He was fishing and his comment was the bait.

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