Page 27 of So Sinister
“I’m already not a problem, sweetheart,” Craig retorted.“Youguys are the problem.You have no proof I was anywhere near those crime scenes.”
“Do you have an alibi that can explain your whereabouts yesterday morning and the night before that?”Faith asked.
Craig thrust his chin out at her.“Innocent until proven guilty, bitch.”
Jessica's eyes flashed fire, but Faith held up a hand for calm."Speaking of news, Mr.Daniels, how do you think the news would react if they heard about you?You had an altercation with one of the murder victims."
"Yeah, because the prick fired me for no reason!It's not my fault my dog failed that training mission!The conditions were unrealistic!
"And you described the second victim with whom you also worked as an asshole.I suspect a search into your history with her will find a history of complaints, probably about you from her.Is that true?"
“She—” Craig lifted his hands to the top of his head.He was nervous now.They were getting to him.“Look, I was home when the victims were killed.I watched the stories on the news.My neighbor will confirm that.”
Faith recalled the cagey old man who insisted he “ain’t seen nothin” and doubted he would come to Craig’s aid.Even if he did… “You would have had more than enough time to complete the murders, call in the bomb threats, and get home before the news began broadcasting.”
“I—”
Turk stiffened.He turned around and barked in alarm.Faith followed his gaze, and the blood drained from her face.“Oh,shit.”
“What?”Craig asked.“What’s going… Oh, youassholes!”
He turned to head back to the loading dock, but the news van screeched to a stop right in front of him.The passenger window rolled down, revealing everyone’s favorite newslady.
Craig recoiled.“Shit, you’reworkingwith her?”
“No,” Faith snapped.“Definitely not.”Faith stepped ahead of him, eyes blazing, and confronted the leering Bridgette.“Get this van the fuck out of here,” she hissed.
Bridgette giggled, and Faith wished she could slap the woman unconscious.She nodded at the back, and a cameraman jumped out and aimed his camera at Faith.
“Any of that footage airs, and the FBI will sue you personally,” Faith warned.
“It’s already airing,” Bridgette said, hopping out of the van.She smiled at the camera and said, “We’re live at the Great Maryland Textile Company’s shipping center in Port Covington, Baltimore speaking with Special Agents Faith Bold and Jessica Torres.Faith, is this man a suspect in the murders of Jackson Entwhistle and Raelynn Hayes?”
“You assholes!”Craig shouted.“I didn’t kill anyone!Fuck you!”
“Special Agent Bold, will you be placing this man under arrest?”
“I’ll be placingyouunder arrest if you don’t get out of here,” Faith replied.
Bridgette feigned shock.“The people have a right to know if they’re safe, Special Agent.”
“I have an assignment for you,” Faith growled.“Go look up obstruction of a peace officer.If you leave now, you can look it up from your office.If you don’t, you can look it up from a holding cell.”
“Faith,” Jessica interrupted.
Faith turned around to see two more news vans screech to a halt in front of them.One of the vans skidded slightly, nearly colliding with a shouting loader who had to jump out of the way when the vandidcollide with a stack of boxes.The loader immediately approached the driver of the van, unleashing a stream of epithets that the third van’s news crew gleefully caught on camera.
Faith turned to Bridgette, who grinned innocently.“I’m sorry, Special Agent.I’m only doing my job.”
“You just made the wrong enemy,” Faith said.
She turned away from Bridgette and grabbed Craig.He pulled away, and she hissed, “I’m getting you out of here.”
Craig allowed Faith to grab his arm and lead him through the growing crowd of reporters.Jessica shouted at the reporters to clear a path while Turk facilitated that by baring his teeth at anyone who came close.More news vans arrived as they led Craig to Faith’s car.Their shouting voices implored Faith for answers.
“Is this the man who killed Jackson Entwhistle and Raelynn Hayes?”
“Is there a bomb in that warehouse?”
