Page 57 of Nightshade

“No, it had nothing to do with anything. It was a personal matter that I had to take care of and I was back here on the first boat this morning. I have nothing new for you on the mutilation case. Still working it but no comment at this time. I’ll talk to you later.”

He left McKey there and headed to the sub to interrogate Duncan Forbes.

20

FORBES WAS ALREADYin the interview room when Stilwell got to the bullpen at the sub. Lampley had turned on the room’s camera and was looking at Forbes on the computer screen at his desk.

“Are you recording?” Stilwell asked.

“Not yet,” Lampley said. “Now?”

“Yeah, now. Where’s Ramirez?”

“She went back out. Mercy had a call for her.”

“What call?”

“Somebody ran out on their tab at the Bluewater and she went to take a report, maybe go catch the guy before he gets on the ferry.”

“Then she might need backup.”

“I doubt it. Anyway, I want to watch the master do the interrogation.”

“Just be ready. If she needs you, I want you there.”

“Copy.”

Stilwell looked at Lampley’s screen. Forbes was sitting at the table but his back was to the camera.

“You put him in the wrong seat. The camera should be on hisface, not mine. And he shouldn’t be by the door. He should have to go past me to get to the door.”

“Oh, shit, you’re right. I wasn’t sure where the camera was in there—we haven’t used this room since I’ve been here. I’ll go back in and—”

“No, I’ll handle it. You make sure Ilsa doesn’t need you. You can watch the video of this later. It’s recorded.”

“Copy that.”

Stilwell went into his office, locked his sidearm in a drawer, and grabbed his laptop. He then went to the interview room, where he was greeted by a sign on the door that saidNO FOOD STORAGE. He wished he had taken that off when he cleared out the room.

He entered, startling Forbes, who now had his head down on the table.

“About time,” Forbes said. “I’m falling asleep in here.”

“Sorry about the wait,” Stilwell said. “Stand up for me, Duncan.”

“Where are we going?”

“Just the other side of the table. Stand up.”

Forbes slowly rose from his seat, confused by the need to switch. Stilwell saw that he was not a big man. Five eight, at most, with a lean build, long curly brown hair, and a dark complexion.

His hands were cuffed in front, which was another fuckup on Lampley’s part. But Stilwell was not concerned. He had sized Forbes up and knew he would be able to handle any confrontation. He had at least four inches and twenty-five pounds on the younger man. He had also been through the department’s physical-combat training.

Forbes moved around to the other side of the table and sat down.

“This is bullshit, man,” he said. “There’s no warrant on me. That’s old shit.”

Stilwell took the seat across from him.