Taken by Tuesday

“Yes.”

“Shot in the back.”

Rick laid a hand on his thigh, remembering the pain of recovery after Mickey nearly killed him. Saw Mickey’s gun swaying toward Neil. He took the shot. “Not everything is as it seems.”

“Everything you tell me is confidential.”

“I’m more concerned with the long arm of the Marines than I am about confidentiality with an attorney. No offense, but I’ve known you for less than an hour. If the DA thinks they can use what happened in Colorado against me, they better be prepared for the USMC to shut that argument down.”

“Before we go to trial, if we go to trial, the DA will disclose everything they plan on using against you. My job is to counter every argument and to do that I need the facts.”

“If the DA brings up Colorado, I’ll give you the name of my superiors on the inside.”

“Fair enough.”

A knock sounded on the door. “The police have more questions. I suggest we let them ask so that I can start working on your ticket out of here.” Joe explained how he wanted Rick to wait for his approval before answering any questions. To keep his answers to as few words as possible.

Raskin and Perozo started with some of the same questions they had before. Where was he when . . . what time did he leave to pick Judy up for their date. Did he know that no one at the flower shop could identify him?

At one point Joe stopped the questions with one of his own. “It doesn’t sound like you have enough probable cause for an arrest, gentlemen.”

“Hold that thought, Counselor.”

“How long have you had a tracking device on Judy’s car?”

Rick glanced at his attorney. When he nodded, Rick answered. “Shortly after she moved here from Seattle.”

“Why?”

“I take her security seriously. Michael Wolfe’s fans have snuck on his property, tried to get close to those around him. As his sister living in his house, I thought it was best to keep close tabs on where she was.”

Raskin didn’t appear convinced. “Does Judy know about the tap?”

Rick held his answer.

Perozo tapped the side of the table with his toe.

“Not that I know of.”

“Why keep it from her?”

“Don’t answer that,” Joe said.

Rick wasn’t sure he could without sounding exactly like these guys wanted him to sound.

“You met Judy a year ago?”

“That’s right.”

“You’ve been keeping tabs on her ever since?”

“I’m head of her brother’s security, it isn’t uncommon of me to watch over all his family from time to time.”

“But Judy lived in Seattle.”

“So?”

Perozo tapped obsessively. “Michael has another younger sister, right?”

“Hannah,” Rick told them.

“And where does Hannah go to school?”

“I have no idea.”

“You knew where Judy went to school . . . knew where she lived.”

Ahh, he saw where this was headed now. “It isn’t a secret that Judy and I have an attraction. Yes, I’m head of her security, her brother’s when he’s in town. I kept track of where she lived so I could encourage her to move if she ended up in a bad neighborhood.”

“Did she know you kept track of her?”

Rick glanced Joe.

“Don’t answer that.”

The detectives smirked at each other and it pissed Rick off.

“Let’s speed up the clock a little. Where did you go after you dropped Judy off at work yesterday?”

“Don’t answer that,” Joe said before Rick could open his mouth.

“Why?” Rick couldn’t be more confused about the question or his need to not answer it.

Joe shook his head.

“How many cameras are in this room right now?” Raskin asked before glancing around the stark room.

Rick looked around and then took a peek under the table. “Six.”

“You’re good,” Perozo said.

“Keeping people safe is what I do.”

The questions dried up and Joe requested a private room a second time.

Once alone, Rick asked, “Why did they ask me about yesterday?”

Joe brought out another stack of papers and proceeded to tap them on the desk. “Another young woman was attacked a few blocks away from Judy’s building. Only she wasn’t as lucky as Judy.”

The hair on Rick’s arms stood on end. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” Another woman was attacked? And Judy is out there.

“Because as of right now they aren’t charging you with anything in regards to the second crime. Your reaction to their question wouldn’t have been the same if you knew it was coming. You obviously had no idea what prompted the question.”

“I don’t give a crap about that. This girl, did she look like Judy? Work with architects?”

“I don’t have those answers yet.”

Rick rubbed both hands over his face, scratched the stubble he would normally shave away every morning. “I’ve got to get out of here. This guy is going to come back. I can’t keep her safe if I’m in here.”

“Relax, Rick.”

“Relax? Have you ever had someone attack someone you cared about, Joe?”

Rick stood and started to pace.

“Listen, in regards to the assault case, it sounds like all they have is circumstantial evidence and Judy’s testimony. If she started answering questions about not knowing you bugged her car or kept track of her when she lived in Seattle, it can be damning enough to move the trial forward. There shouldn’t be any trouble getting the judge to grant bail, but chances are he’ll tell you to stay away from Judy.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

Joe shrugged. “Which might convince the judge to deny bail. Especially in light of the new attack.”

“You have to be f**king kidding me.” How the hell was this happening? He pushed both his hands against the wall and considered hitting his head to see if everything happening was just a nightmare and the jolt would wake him up.

“There is another route we can use to convince the judge that the DA doesn’t have enough evidence to hold you.”

Rick looked over his shoulder.

Joe took a deep breath and spread the papers out in front of him. “Spouses are not mandated to testify in any trial their husband or wife might be a defendant in. Right now Judy’s pending testimony on the attack is the only real evidence the DA is going on.”