Page 131 of Our Daughter's Bones

“No. She lost track of how many men there were because she was drugged throughout. She knew there were multiple men. One time she heard Nathaniel’s voice. I have to talk to her again when she feels a little better. The doctors are keeping me away for now.”

At least the noose around her neck had loosened. Abby was alive and safe. The sense of urgency no longer existed. The door to the room clicked open.

A short man wearing a tweed suit walked in first. He had a giant bald patch in the center of his head. His smile was lopsided and goofy as he shook Mackenzie and Nick’s hands. “I’m Tom Cromwell of Cromwell and Haskin. How’re you doing?”

Behind him, Nathaniel Jones followed. When he stepped in the room, Mackenzie’s instinct was to recoil. The local legend commanded respect. He had always been intimidating and unapproachable. But now his secret was out in the open, she saw pure evil.

With one hand in his pocket, the other fiddled with the button of his coat. She imagined that hand clamping her mouth shut. She pictured that massive mountain of a body exerting its weight on her, rendering her motionless and numbing her legs. She could peer into the arctic depths of his eyes and feel her end.

“Please take a seat,” Nick said abruptly.

Nathaniel showed no sign of remorse or concern. But she noticed his hand quiver when he grabbed the edge of the chair to pull it back.

“What questions do you have for my client? I wanted to spend time with him working on his defense against the crimes your colleagues already charged him with, not discuss others you haven’t.”

Cromwell was cheery and small. But he was cutthroat and one of the best defense attorneys on the West Coast. He had moved from Chicago around a decade ago, where rumor had it his clients included prominent members of the Outfit.

Nick placed pictures of Daphne, Chloe, Erica, and Abby on the table. Tom frowned at them. Nathaniel did not even sneak a glance.

“What is this for?” Tom asked.

“These are the girls you abducted, held captive, and raped. And you killed three out of four.”

Tom raised a finger. “Please, detectives. My client’s semen was found in Miss Correia’s genitals, but there’s no evidence tying him to what happened to Miss Cho, Miss St. Clair, or Miss Perez.”

“Yourbest friend’sdaughter, Nathaniel?” Nick scoffed and sat back. “She was your son’s girlfriend. That’s cold. Even for you.”

Nathaniel clenched his jaw but remained silent.

“Like I said, there is no evidence connecting my––”

“Forensics are combing through Mr. Falkner’s cabin,” Mackenzie said. “Of course, Abby’s alive and will be able to testify, even if Mr. Falkner can’t.”

Nathaniel exhaled loudly. “I’m sorry to hear about David.”

“Sorry about that?” Nick cackled. “What about what you did to these girls?”

“There’s no evidence––”

“Cut the crap, Cromwell. You sound like a broken record.”

His mouth flattened. “Detective Blackwood, we’re here as a courtesy.”

“You’re not here as a courtesy. Your client is under arrest for rape. You are here to get your client to cut a deal.” Mackenzie met Nathaniel’s eyes. “But I have a feeling your client doesn’t want to.”

“This is how this works.” Nick continued, “We know Nathaniel is a part of Club 916. We know all the crimes he has committed, and we have no problem going after him hard. You see, unlike those people on the other side of the glass—” Nick jutted his thumb over his shoulder—“I don’t give a shit about your local legend status.”

“Things might be easier for you if you reveal the name of the third member of the club,” Mackenzie added. “We know who it is. But we don’t have all the evidence we need. An official testimony coming from a member of the club will help us get that evidence.”

The corner of Nathaniel’s mouth twitched. “You think I will turn against my brothers?”

Mackenzie and Nick exchanged a knowing look. He was cracking.

Tom touched his arm. “Now, now, Nathaniel. Calm down. Detectives, my client is under a lot of stress. He runs a multimillion-dollar media empire, and his family is unaware he is here. As you no doubt know, his son’s playing for the Sharks against the Falcons tonight. But he’s here––”

“Am I supposed to empathize withhim?”

“Nick, I think we all need to take a break. Tensions are running high,” Cromwell said.