Page 28 of Not This Soon

Rachel led Elias towards the fire escape exit, making sure to keep herself between him and Ethan. Even handcuffed and atgunpoint, Elias walked with an air of arrogance. It seemed like he considered this whole ordeal beneath his concern.

But Rachel wasn't fooled. There was an underlying tension in Elias’s movements, like a cornered animal calculating its options for escape or attack.

As they neared the exit, Ethan swiftly moved ahead to open the door leading out to a fire escape. With a final glance towards Earl still huddled in the corner—terrified but ultimately unharmed—Rachel pushed Elias out onto the landing.

The warm morning air hit them instantly, carrying with it a sense of foreboding that curled around them like the Texas fog. The metal stairs hummed with the echo of distant traffic, and the pulsing rhythm of the city below served as a stark contrast to the stillness of the escape landing.

Ethan fell into step behind her, his boots clanging against the metal grating. The sound echoed through the warm air, punctuating the tense silence that had fallen over them.

Elias moved calmly ahead of her, his gait unhurried. His head tilted upward as if he was taking in the sight of the grey sky. "What a lovely morning," he remarked, his voice resonating in the hollow space between buildings. The nonchalance of his tone grated on Rachel's nerves.

She remained silent, her grip tightening around her weapon. Her eyes scanned their surroundings.

Suddenly, Elias turned to look at her, and she instinctively tightened her hold on her gun. But he merely raised an eyebrow at her, a half-smile playing on his lips—a chilling reminder that even in custody, this man was far from defeated.

The stairs were slick from an earlier rainfall, patches of sunlight reflected off of puddles scattered across their path.

“This is about Rebecca Morris, isn’t it?”

Rachel tensed. She didn’t say anything, hoping he’d continue to volunteer more information.

But Elias just set his shoulders, loosed a long sigh and muttered, “I really don’t have time for this. Her father is the one you should be looking at. Robert Morris. He’s as guilty as sin.”

“Keep moving!” Rachel snapped, and they reached the base of the fire escape, moving around the construction team still at work in the main foyer. Construction tape fluttered as they moved past, a stark yellow against the grey of the concrete.

The sounds of hammering and drilling echoed around them as they navigated through the scaffolding. Workers in high-visibility jackets glanced at them curiously, their gazes lingering on Elias's handcuffs.

Rachel kept her gaze trained ahead, ignoring the curious onlookers. Her mind was filled with new questions, new leads to chase down. Robert Morris...

She gave Elias a sharp shove towards their vehicle parked at the end of the street. "Get in," she ordered, pointing towards the back seat with her gun.

Elias paused for a moment before complying, lowering himself into the vehicle with an air of resigned patience, like this was just another inconvenience in his busy day.

Rachel swung the door shut behind him, securing it with a swift movement. The heavy click of the lock falling into place reverberated through the alleyway.

Ethan joined her by the driver's side, holstering his gun with a relieved sigh. "That went better than expected," he commented, his gaze flickering towards Elias in the back seat.

"Don't let your guard down yet," Rachel warned him, her eyes never leaving their captive. "A snake is most dangerous when it's cornered."

CHAPTER EIGHT

Rachel pushed open the door to the interrogation room, the harsh fluorescent light spilling into the hallway. She strode into the interrogation room, hands tense at her sides.

Rebecca Morris was dead, and Grant’s company had suffered because of articles the up-and-coming journalist had written. And now, she glanced over her shoulder, waiting to see if Ethan would appear down the hall. He was running a background check into Elias Grant and into Grant industries.

The information, she hoped, would be the edge they needed in the interrogation.

She approached cautiously.

Elias Grant sat across from her, his hands folded neatly on the metal table. His eyes met hers, a glint of amusement in their depths.

"Shall we begin, Ranger Blackwood?" he asked, his voice smooth and unruffled.

Rachel scowled. She settled slowly, splaying her hands on either side.

"We'll begin when my partner arrives," she retorted, her voice echoing through the sparse room. The walls were a dull grey in the harsh light, scratched paint revealing the concrete underneath. A single mirror stretched across the far wall, hiding observing officers behind its reflective surface.

Rachel watched Grant closely, taking in every detail. His suit was impeccably tailored, not a crease out of place despite his earlier encounter, and his hair was slicked back, professional as ever. His countenance remained unruffled, like he was attending a business meeting instead of sitting in an interrogation room.

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