Page 45 of So Twisted

Michael stepped next to Faith and said, “The police are on their way. They’ll stay in their cruisers unless they see Reed run or hear us call for help.”

Reed lifted his eyes from Turk, and his scowl deepened. “Tell me why you’re here, and I’ll tell you if we can talk.”

Faith considered a moment before she replied. She didn’t want to spook Reed before their backup arrived. She tried a half-answer. “It’s related to an ongoing Bureau investigation. We believe you might have information that can help us.”

“What’s the case about?”

She hesitated again. “I’d prefer to have this conversation inside where your neighbors can’t hear us.”

“They won’t be able to hear a damned thing over that racket coming from your police cruiser. If you’re not going to be honest with me, I’m not going to talk to you. How’s that?” He looked at Turk. “Boy, tell ‘em to be square with me. That’s only fair, right?”

To Faith’s utter astonishment, Turk looked at her and barked reprovingly. She looked at Michael to find him similarlyshocked. Then she turned back to Reed. “We’re investigating the murders of Marcus Reeves, Alison Chen and Dr. Elena Vasquez.”

Reed's eyes popped open. There was no more anger in his voice, only surprise. "Well, shit. All right. I guess you better come in. Cookie, Brownie, that's all right."

The Rottweilers instantly calmed. They remained close to the fence, and when Reed opened the gate, they flew out and rushed to Turk, sniffing and panting excitedly.

"They don't get a lot of visitors, unfortunately," Reed said to the once-more-stunned agents. "They're happy to see another dog." He frowned. "It's too bad that so many dogs are attached to people."

He turned around and headed for the door. All three dogs followed him, tails wagging. Faith and Michael shared a look, then took up the rear. Out of the corners of her eyes, Faith could see the police cruisers pulling to the curb on either side of the house. She wondered what they would make of what they saw. Hell, she didn’t know what to make of it herself.

When they stepped inside, Reed said, “Close the door if you don’t mind. Cookie and Brownie are harmless, but the assholes next door get antsy if they see them outside without them being on a leash.”

Faith closed the door while Michael regarded the dogs, who were excitedly showing Turk around their home. “Well, they look harmless now.”

“They’re harmless always,” Reed snapped. “Unless you’re an asshole trying to hurt me. You an asshole trying to hurt me?”

“I very much hope not.”

“Then they won’t hurt you.”

Nathan Reed’s word on its own wouldn’t mean much to Faith, but when Turk trotted up right next to the Rottweilers to accept the treats the gruff old Animal Control officer provided, she started to feel they might have the wrong man.

“Always loved Shepherds,” Reed said, “but when I saw Cookie and Brownie at the shelter, I just had to take them home.”

He smiled tenderly at his dogs, but his smile vanished when he looked up at the agents. “All right. Say your piece.”

“Marcus Reeves was murdered at the Council Bluffs Animal Sanctuary four days ago. Two days later, Alison Chen was killed in her apartment, and last night, Dr. Elena Vasquez was murdered in her office at the Big Wilderness Zoo.”

“Good. Good riddance to them. They were assholes who hurt animals.”

“Did you get rid of them?” Michael asked.

“No.”

“I’d like to believe you, Nathan,” Faith said, “but we have evidence that places you near the scene of Elena Vasquez’s murder shortly after she was murdered. Security footage at a convenience store near her office showed you wearing bloody clothes.”

“Yes. I was clearing roadkill. I volunteer my time to do that. The least respect we can show these animals is getting their bodies off the road.”

“Do you have the clothing for us to look at?”

“I do, but they’ve been cleaned.

“We’ll take it anyway.”

He headed to his bedroom, muttering something. Turk followed him, and he reached down and scratched the German Shepherd behind his ear.

“Well, Turk likes him,” Michael said.

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