Page 99 of Solid as Steele
“Nah,” he said. “Nah. No way they can do that. If she was in my truck, which I’m not saying she was, I’ve cleaned my truck hundreds of times since the date you said it happened.”
He had a point, but one Owen wouldn’t concede. “All it takes is a single hair.”
Tovar’s face paled. Just for a moment before he recovered and scoffed at Owen. Still, he proved he wasn’t quite as cocky as he was trying to make out.
Time for Owen to go in for the kill. “You’ll be brought up on an untold number of charges for those women, but here’s the thing you need to remember, Tovar. A single murder charge trumps all of them.”
Tovar pressed his palms flat on the table but didn’t speak.
“Maybe it helps to know we have a program that reviews your answers,” Owen said. “Tells us when your voice modulation changes for a lie. Your earlier interview proved you were lying about knowing Cassie. I’m sure this one will too. When a jury hears you lied to us about knowing Cassie and tried to hide your involvement, they’ll be even more inclined to give you the death penalty.”
“Fine,” Tovar said between his teeth. “I talked to her in the bar, but that’s it. I didn’t see her again, and I sure didn’t kill her.”
“But you threatened her,” Owen clarified.
“Maybe. I don’t remember. Sometimes I just spout things off when a chick blows me off like she did.”
“Do yourself a favor, Tovar,” Wheeler said. “Tell us what you did with Cassie, and we’ll make sure this goes easier on you.”
“The only thing you can do to makethiseasier is to release me.” Tovar crossed his arms and leaned back, cocky smirk back on his face. “Since I know you won’t, you might as well quit wasting your time. I have no intention of answering your questions.”
Owen sat forward. “Maybe it will help if I refresh your memory. You shot Cassie out in the desert about two years ago. In a location where Monday night you decided I shouldn’t live either. You hit me over the head and left me to die.” Owen cast his own snide smile at Tovar. “As you can see, I’m not dead.”
“Yeah, I can see you’re not dead,” he finally said, his tone and manner calm. “But again. I don’t know what it has to do with me.” Tovar looked at his attorney. “I’m tired. I need to rest. Can we stop now?”
Prichard closed her binder. “As my client said. He’s tired. We’ll take a break.”
Owen pushed to his feet. “No worries. We’ll be back after the forensic evidence is in and the DA is ready to charge you. You’re going down not only for the abduction and unlawful imprisonment of twenty-one women, but Cassie Collins’s murder as well.”
Mackenzie used the hand on her uninjured arm to protect her eyes from the dust swirling like a tornado under the chopper’s rotors as the big machine landed outside Tovar’s fence. Owen stood next to her, his whole body tight and rigid as it had been since Tovar’s unproductive interview a few hours ago.
The helicopter touched down, and the rotors slowed, now more of athump-thump-thumpthan a smooth whirring hum. The pilot’s door opened, and Riley Glenn hopped down. Mackenzie would recognize the blond hair of Blackwell Tactical’s other pilot anywhere. He slid open the back door, and weapon’s expert, Grady Houston, was the first one out, followed by computer expert, Nick Thorn, and team criminal investigator, Blake Jenkins.
“Who are these guys?” Owen asked.
Mackenzie told him as she watched Grady help down Ainslie, his wife and team photographer. Blake held out his hand to Emory, his wife and DNA expert. A pang of jealousy bit into Mackenzie when she saw the sweet smiles the couples shared. Maybe she wanted to be in a serious relationship more than she’d realized. Or maybe she just wanted it now that she’d found an incredible man.
Last, Riley and Blake helped Sierra and a very pregnant Kelsey down. Mackenzie was extremely thankful Kelsey would travel this far again, but didn’t know why she’d come along.
Mackenzie updated Owen on the women’s identities. “Looks like they sent most of the team.”
Owen stared at them. “Impressive.”
Riley unloaded equipment from the back of the helicopter and each team member grabbed a bag or two, leaving the larger bins behind. They started toward the gate. Mackenzie was reminded of slow-motion action in a movie when heroes arrived on scene. These men and women might not face down danger in their jobs, but they were still heroes in Mackenzie’s book. They worked long hours to help put criminals behind bars. Often for little or no pay.
They stopped in front of her and Owen, and she did the introductions.
“Thank you for coming.” Owen smiled. “I didn’t expect so many of you.”
Blake widened his stance. “We don’t do things halfway, and an investigation of this magnitude requires our full effort. I’ll be coordinating the collection of evidence and compiling the findings as they come in.”
“He’s our taskmaster, and he’s very good at what he does.” Emory grinned at her husband.
He chuckled, but turned his attention back to Owen and Mackenzie. “I’d like to tour the property with you to set priorities, but if you know your number one priority for each of our team members, they can get started right away.”
Owen looked at Mackenzie. “I say we have Sierra and Emory start with the truck used to transport the women and maybe Cassie. Grady can look for weapons and ammo, and Nick can check the truck for GPS recordings and then search for a phone. Tovar didn’t have one on him at booking.”
“I concur,” Mackenzie said.
