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"I didn't tell them my plans."

Agent Richards gave her a heartfelt look. "Charlotte, I can't help you if you're not honest with me. Perhaps if we speak alone."

She swallowed; a lump in her throat had formed, thick and constricting. "I'm fine." It sounded shallow even to her ears. What if Sinclair was involved with the missing women?

"Move her to the viewing room," Thomson said, standing up and leaving.

"Follow me, Charlotte," Agent Richards said.

"Where are we going?" She looked at Gabriel.

"It will be all right," he said. He helped her up and they followed the woman to a room at the end of the hallway. "You'll be fine. I'm going to go be with Sin."

"But…" She looked back over her shoulder. Gabriel was already going into the room where they were holding Sin.

The woman cleared her throat. The room was empty, the only thing of note was the large window on the wall. She watched through the glass as Gabriel sat down next to Sin, patting him on the shoulder while Thomson sat down opposite them.

"Charlotte, can you identify Sinclair Stuart?" Richards asked.

"Yes," she said. "He is the one on the right."

"I want you to know, you can tell me anything. You don't need to protect him," the woman said, standing next to her.

Thomson laid five photographs on the table. They were all of women, none of them older than thirty. Their dead bodies were naked, their arms and legs wrapped in chains, so they were forced into a ball position with their knees bound to their shoulders. "Tell me, do you rape them before or after you cut their throats?" Thomson asked.

Sin remained silent.

Charlotte felt ill. 'I'll cut your throat.' She swayed on her feet, the blood in her head rushing to her stomach in hot rage.

"Get me a chair," the agent said out the door. Someone brought one in and she sat down. Agent Richards took her hand. "Tell me once and for all. I promise you never have to see him again. Is he holding you against your will? Did he take you against your will?"

"What evidence do you have on my client?" Gabriel asked.

"We have eyewitness testimony. A neighbor saw Mr. Stuart leaving Charlotte Hanover's flat on the night she went missing, with her in obvious distress."

That wasn't true. Charlotte looked at Agent Roberts, and she could feel tears running down her cheeks. She thought of Sinclair and no matter how wrong he had been in taking her or the threats he delivered, she knew he never took her from her apartment. She didn't think he had it in him to murder those women or she would be dead now too. Sokolov, yes, but not Sin. "No."

"You can't charge my client on evidence from one witness, corroboration is required in Scots law. You don't have sufficient proof."

The door to the room Sinclair was in slammed open, making Charlotte jump. A serious looking man in a crisp blue suit entered.

"Chief Superintendent," Thomson said, standing.

"This interview is over." He set Sinclair's weapons and wallet on the table. "Uncuff him."

The PC removed the handcuffs on Sin. "I'm sorry, gentlemen, for your trouble. There's been a terrible mistake," the chief said. "My deepest apologies for the misunderstanding."

Gabriel and Sinclair stood up.

"What's going on?" Agent Richards asked, going into the room. Charlotte followed her.

"The officers in Edinburgh made a mistake," the chief said to Richards and Thomson. "A bad one." He shook Gabriel and Sin's hands. "Thank you for your understanding."

Sin holstered his gun and knife. "Let's go." He stopped and looked at Thomson. "The passport and card?" Thomson gave them to him.

He stopped when he saw Charlotte. "Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes laced with concern. She nodded, and he took her hand. "Let's get out of here."

She looked over her shoulder as she left, but Agent Richards had already disappeared.

"What took Alex so long?" Sin asked Gabriel when they were outside.

"No idea. Our client is not always easy to reach." Gabriel smiled at Charlotte. "Thank you for not saying anything. I can imagine that wasn't easy."

"I gave my word. I won't break it, for Imogen's sake."

"Regardless. I know the strength it took," the priest said. "I'll drop you off at your car."

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