Split Second

CHAPTER 51

Maggie wasn’t sure what she expected. Could Albert Stucky or Walker Harding be stupid enough to get caught by the Newburgh Heights Police Department? Yet, when Manx showed her into the interrogation room, her heart sank. The handsome young man looked more like a college student than the hardened criminal Manx had described when he had insisted the man was guilty of something.

The kid even stood up when she entered the room, not able to stifle his good manners despite the situation.

“There’s been a huge misunderstanding,” he told her as if she was the new face of reason.

He wore khakis and a crew-neck sweater. Maybe this was what Manx expected burglars to wear in Newburgh Heights.

“Sit the hell down, kid,” Manx snapped at him as though he was jumping up to attack her.

Maggie walked around Manx and sat down at the table opposite the young man. He slid back into his chair, wringing his hands in front of him on the table, his eyes darting from Manx to the other two uniformed officers already in the room.

“I’m Special Agent Margaret O’Dell with the FBI.” She waited for his eyes to settle on hers.

“FBI?” He looked worried and fidgeted in his chair. “Something’s happened to Tess, hasn’t it?”

“I know you may have already explained all this, but how do you know Ms. McGowan, Mr.—”

“Finley. My name’s Will Finley. I met Tess last weekend.”

“Last weekend? So you haven’t been friends for very long. Did she show you a piece of real estate?”

“Excuse me?”

“Ms. McGowan is a real estate agent. Did she show you a house last weekend?”

“No. We met at a bar. We…we spent the night together.”

Maggie wondered if it was a lie. Tess McGowan hadn’t looked like the barfly type. Plus, she guessed Tess to be close to her own age. She couldn’t imagine Tess giving this college kid a second glance. Unless she had been trying to get back at her big-shot, country-club boyfriend. Of course, she also couldn’t imagine Tess McGowan with the guy who Agent Tully called an arrogant asshole. But then she realized she really hadn’t taken time to get to know anything about Tess McGowan. Nevertheless, she was certain Will Finley had nothing to do with Tess’s disappearance. Now she was glad she hadn’t dragged Tully away from lunch with his daughter for this.

“What’s happened to Tess?” Will Finley wanted to know. He looked genuinely concerned.

“Maybe you ought to be tellin’ us,” Manx said from behind Maggie.

“How many times do I have to tell you? I didn’t do anything to her. I haven’t seen her since Monday morning. She hasn’t returned any of my phone calls. I was worried about her.” He scraped a shaking hand over his face.

Maggie wondered how long they had kept him here. He looked exhausted, his nerves frayed. She knew after enough hours of the same questions, in the same room, sitting in the same position, that the most innocent of men could break down.

“Will.” She waited again for his eyes. “We’re not sure what happened to Tess, but she is missing. I’m hoping you might be able to help us find her.”

He stared at her as though he wasn’t sure whether to believe her or if this was a trick.

“Is there anything you can remember?” she continued, keeping her voice calm and steady, unlike Manx’s. “Anything you might be able to tell us that could help us find her?”

“I’m not sure. I mean, I really don’t know her very well.”

“Well enough to fuck her, though, right?” Manx said, insisting on playing out his role as the bad cop.

Maggie ignored him, though Will Finley stared at him and fidg-eted with the appropriate amount of guilt. Manx was right about the kid hiding something. It was the illicitness of the affair, not that he had hurt Tess.

“Where did you spend the night together?”

“Look, I know my rights, and I know I don’t have to answer these questions.” He sounded defensive now. Maggie didn’t blame him, especially since Manx treated him like a suspect.

“No, you don’t need to answer any of my questions. I just thought you might want to help us find her.” Maggie gently tried to persuade him.

“I don’t see how knowing where or when or how or what we did that night is going to help.”

“Hey, kid, you banged an older woman. You should be jumping at the chance to share the details.”

Maggie stood and faced Manx, trying to maintain her calm and bridle her impatience.

“Detective Manx, do you mind if I have a word with Mr. Finley alone?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“And why is that?”

“Well…” Manx hesitated while he manufactured a reason. She could practically hear his rusty gears grinding. “Might not be safe to leave you alone with him.”

“I’m an experienced FBI agent, Detective Manx.”

“You sure don’t dress like one, Agent O’Dell,” he said as he purposely let his eyes slide slowly over her body.

“Tell you what. I’ll take my chances with Mr. Finley.” She glanced over at the officers. “You gentleman can verify that I said that.”

Manx stalled, then finally waved the two officers out of the room. He followed but not before shooting a warning look in Finley’s direction.

“I’d apologize for Detective Manx, but that would mean I was trying to excuse his behavior, and quite honestly, there is no excuse for his behavior.”

She sat back down with a sigh and an absent rub at her eyes. When she looked up at Will Finley, he was smiling.

“I just realized who you are.”

“Excuse me?” Maggie asked.

“You and I have a mutual friend.”

The door opened again, and Maggie jumped to her feet, ready to snap at Manx. It was, instead, one of the other officers. His entire face seemed to be apologetic.

“Sorry, but the kid’s lawyer just got here. He’s insisting on seeing him before any more questioning is—”

“You shouldn’t be questioning him at all,” a voice from the hall interrupted. “At least not without his attorney present.” Nick Morrelli pushed past the officer and into the room. Immediately, his eyes found Maggie’s and his anger gave in to a smile. “Jesus, Maggie. We have to stop meeting like this.”