Page 40 of Their Wicked Games

“I sure would like to sit in.” Carter looked up from a laptop on the table. “I’ve been scanning Alicia Palmer’s social media for the last few hours, and she sure loves hunting. All her images are about her kills and there’s some pictures of a dog. I went through her list of friends but didn’t find any family members. Most of the people on the list are from all over the world. In fact, I didn’t find one friend from Black Rock Falls.”

Jenna nodded. “So she was a loner. Maybe that’s what pushed her into writing to Jimmy Two Cents. She was lonely and he enjoyed talking about hunting, the bloodier the better, no doubt.”

“I’d like to observe, if that’s okay?” Jo stood. “This guy seems so gothic and out of touch with the real world. It’s as if he’s living inside a video game. Did you notice the way he speaks, like he’s a tough guy? He seems so angry.”

“Maybe it’s a defense mechanism.” Kane shrugged. “It’s getting late. We should get at it. Sam Cross doesn’t enjoy being dragged out after six.”

Jenna gathered a statement book and pen from the desk. She waved at the door. “I’ll follow you down.”

She turned to Jo. “This anger, it’s unusual, isn’t it? I mean if this is a psychopathic serial killer, we usually see cooperation and self-assurance. Ripley is hostile and smart-mouthed.”

“See how he shapes up in the interview.” Jo headed for the door. “Do you want me to throw him the odd question?”

Jenna smiled. “Be my guest.”

THIRTY-SEVEN

Ripley gave Jenna a belligerent stare as they all filed into the interview room. Jenna switched on the recording device, gave the date and time, name of the suspect, and everyone present introduced themselves. She sat down opposite Ripley and placed the statement book on the table. “We would like to ask you some questions about a murder that occurred in Stanton Forest near the Devil’s Punch Bowl on Sunday. Deputy Kane will read you your rights.”

She waited for Kane to finish and looked at Ripley. “Do you wish to wave your right to an attorney?”

“No.” Ripley’s mouth curled at the corners. “Seems to me, it doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, Sam Cross or one of the other lawyers will be here.”

“I’ll go see if I can chase him down. Deputy Kane leaving the interview.” Kane stood and left the room.

Usually when criminals requested a lawyer they’d sit and say nothing until their representation arrived, but as Jenna and the others headed for the door to wait outside, it seemed that Ripley had changed his mind. She looked at him. “Is there something you want to say before I stop the recording, Mr. Ripley?”

“How does all this work?” Ripley leaned forward on the table and took sips from a bottle of water.

Interested, Jenna sat down. “Do you mean the way we run the interview?”

“Nope.” Ripley shook his head. “I mean if I did know something and didn’t tell you, what would happen to me?”

“You’d be an accessory before the fact.” Carter stared down at him. “Which makes you as guilty as the killer.”

“I see.” Ripley rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I guess I need to talk this through with my lawyer.”

When Jenna stepped into the corridor, Kane was coming down the stairs with Sam Cross. Samuel J. Cross, attorney at law, had become a prominent member of Black Rock Falls since arriving a few years previously and often didn’t see eye to eye with Jenna. She gave him a cordial smile. “Bill Ripley is a college freshman, just eighteen years old, with no family members.” She handed him the information on the murder. “We have reason to believe he’s involved.”

“Likely a good reason if you have detained him for questioning.” Cross read the document and raised both eyebrows. “This hasn’t made the press. How did you keep it quiet?”

“We try to keep murders under wraps for as long as possible to give us time to catch the bad guys.” Kane leaned against the wall with his arms folded across his chest. “We know there’s more than one person involved in this crime due to the evidence we found on scene. This kid is young enough to be influenced by someone. I’m sure a deal could be done to lessen his sentence if it gave us information on the others involved.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Cross looked at them all in one sweeping gaze. “I’m not sure I want you all in the room at the same time with my client. I don’t want him intimidated by you into making a statement.”

Pushing both hands through her hair, Jenna stared at him. “Very well but it will have to be me and Kane. As the arresting officers, we will be conducting the interview.”

When Sam Cross entered the interview room, Jenna turned to Carter and Jo. “When we interview him, I’ll turn on the intercom so you can listen. If we use our coms, you’ll be able to feed me questions. Alternatively, if Sam Cross agrees, we can change places, but knowing him as I do, he won’t give an inch.”

“I’ll go and get the coms.” Carter headed for the stairs.

Twenty minutes later, the buzzer on the door sounded, indicating that Cross had finished speaking to his client. Jenna led the way inside and sat down. “Is your client willing to speak to us?”

“Yeah, but he is under advisement not to say anything to incriminate himself.” Cross lifted his gaze from his legal pad and frowned. “From the information you have given me, you don’t have enough evidence against my client to keep him in custody. Unless you have something pertinent to the case to question him about, I can’t see the reason for this interview.”

As usual, Sam Cross’ attitude made her hackles rise. “If we’d collected enough information to charge him with murder, it would be in front of a judge now. The only way we can get information is by speaking to your client. If he is as innocent as you profess, then he can walk free from here and we’ll never bother him again.”

“Okay.” Cross turned to Ripley. “Answer the questions truthfully but remember my instructions.”

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