Page 38 of Zero Divergence
Sawyer knew where this was going. “In what parts of her home will we find your DNA, Senator?”
Vincenzo winced and dropped his head, breaking eye contact. “Probably every room except the guest bedroom.”
“Including the master bedroom?” Sawyer asked. He would not give the man an easy out.
Vincenzo met his gaze once more. “Yes.” Even though he anticipated the answer, it still felt like the man punched Sawyer in the gut.Never meet your heroes.
“How frequently did you visit Vivian’s home?” Royce asked.
“As often as my schedule permitted. I had a lot of campaigning events in the area and took advantage of the proximity to meet with Vivian, either in her home or at my hotel.”
“Including this weekend?” Sawyer asked.
“I spent Friday night at her house instead of staying here since Lucinda wasn’t making the drive from Atlanta until a few hours before the benefit at your parents’ home on Saturday.” His answer surprised Sawyer because it didn’t line up with what Kendall told them. It was possible they fought and made up, but it was also probable one of the men was lying, or not telling the whole truth. Vincenzo started to cry again. “When did she…die?”
“We arrived on the scene after five this morning, and the ME gave us a rough estimate of twenty-four to thirty-six hours,” Royce replied. “What time did you leave her house?”
Vincenzo’s brow furrowed as he contemplated the question. “I left just after nine on Saturday morning because I had a meeting with my campaign manager at ten thirty. Vivian made a big breakfast for me just like she used to do when we were first married. The woman loved to cook and was remarkably good at it.”
“Senator,” Sawyer said firmly but not unkindly, “we need you to account for your whereabouts from the time you left her home until we arrived at your house this morning.”
“You can’t possibly think I killed Vivian.” Vincenzo shook his head as if the mere thought was ludicrous. “I wouldn’t harm a hair on her body.”
Sawyer remembered the dried blood beneath Ms. Gross’s fingernails. While the senator didn’t have visible scratches or scrapes from a recent fight, his skin beneath his clothes could tell an entirely different story. He’d been cooperative up to this point, but he’d make them produce a warrant to search his body or collect a DNA sample.
“Is that why you threatened to kill her last week if she didn’t sign the divorce papers?” Royce asked, taking off the kid gloves.
Vincenzo’s entire demeanor changed right before their eyes. All traces of the broken man disappeared, and the merciless prosecutor and poised politician took his place. “This conversation is over, gentlemen. I’d like for you to leave. If you wish to speak to me again, I suggest you do it through my attorney. His name is Richard Eckstein.”
Sawyer and Royce exchanged a glance, then rose to their feet. Neither of them wanted to leave, but they both knew he was finished cooperating…for now.
“We will be in touch with Mr. Eckstein,” Royce said before turning to exit the study.
Sawyer followed Royce but paused at the doorway, looking over his shoulder at the man whose body shook with fresh tears. His gut instinct said Vincenzo wasn’t their killer. The man was a liar and a cheater, but that didn’t make him a killer. His grief seemed genuine. Sensing Sawyer’s perusal, Vincenzo lifted his head and met Sawyer’s gaze.
Sawyer turned and faced him. “If you truly loved Vivian as much as you claim, you’d help us find her killer instead of hiding behind your lawyer. You disappoint me, Jack,” Sawyer said, stripping the man of his title.
“My constituents won’t understand if this gets out,” Vincenzo replied, digging himself deeper in a hole as far as Sawyer was concerned. “The truth will crush Lucinda, and I want to spare her from the heartache and humiliation.”
“Don’t bullshit me. I think it’s funny how you didn’t give two fucks about Ms. Fairchild until you’re at risk of having the truth get out. You’re not worried about your fiancée. You’re worried about losing your bid for re-election.”
“Your mother wouldn’t approve of you talking to me like this,” he said, lifting his chin arrogantly.
“If my mother knew your true character, she’d never have let you cross her threshold. This is the only warning you’re going to get, Jack. Stay away from my family. Do not take calls from my parents or return their texts and emails. Consider our endorsement rescinded.”
“You’re not going to tell them about the affair,” Vincenzo scoffed. “Divulging details of your investigation will get you in hot water with the upper brass, Sawyer.”
“It’s Detective Key,” Sawyer countered, revoking the man’s right to use his first name. “You don’t know what I’m capable of doing to protect the people I love. Keep that in mind, and do the right fucking thing here.”
Sawyer turned around and nearly ran into Royce, who’d stopped and waited for him.
“Threatening a senator, huh?” Royce asked with a quirked brow. “I think your gold is starting to tarnish a bit.
“Write me up, Sarge,” Sawyer said, skirting around Royce and heading toward the front door.
Royce followed at a more leisurely pace, so Sawyer had time to get himself under control before Royce joined him in the car. Neither man said anything until they cleared the woods and neared the end of the driveway.
“This is why I didn’t accept my mother’s invitation to the fundraiser this weekend,” Sawyer said when he made a sharp turn onto the road. “It had nothing to do with being ashamed of us. I stopped going to these things a while ago, and I don’t know why my mom persists in inviting me. There was no way I was going to spend even a few hours of my final days on leave rubbing elbows with liars and cheats when I could be home naked with you. I’ve had a lifetime of the political bullshit, and I hate it with a passion.”