"As a matter of fact, it probably would. However, I'm going to answer the question since we've taken such a liking to each other. I do grunt work for a firm of criminal attorneys. With white-collar crime, I find dirty little secrets hidden in records and reports. With blue-collar cases, I locate witnesses and talk with cops when possible. We're usually on different sides, however sometimes it's to our mutual advantage to trade info. Did I mention I'm very good at this stuff?" She gave him a grin. "You need any help these days?"
"You may have been the darling of the police force up there, but you've absolutely no authority here. You can't scurry around questioning people. If you do there's going to be a problem."
Her face colored with anger. "I don't like your insinuation. My relations with the Philly police are strictly professional. I don't drink with cops, don't date them and don't hang in cop bars," she said it sharply. "You must be thinking of one of your local badge bunnies."
"Hey, slow down woman. I didn't mean anything-." He took a deep breath and removed his sunglasses. "…you misunderstood. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking of anything like that."
She stared at him. Loved his steely eyes. He appeared contrite, so she cooled a bit. "This is how it is. I'll scurry around questioning anyone who cares to answer me. If they don't want to talk to me, they can say no. You see, you don't get to say no for them in advance. As for my authority, you can check that with the Supreme Court. Are we done here?"
He handed her license back. "I'm being straight with you, Miss Reid. We have some real problems here and don't have time for this. If you interfere in any way with my investigation, I'll deal with you. And I'm the one who gets to define interference, not you. If you don't like it, you can debate the judge regarding the Supreme Court and why you think you have a constitutional right to mess around in police business."
"Nice try, Detective, but my personal problem trumps your job problems. You're holding my brother for a crime he didn't commit. On the day of the murder you couldn't just let him wander away, I realize that. But by now, you should have crime scene reports, lab reports and plenty of evidence that points elsewhere. Would you like to make a bet? Would you? I'll bet my ability to set fire to the media against your evidence. We'll see which of us folds first."
"You're not going to push the police around."