Page 50 of Viper

William frowned and looked closely at the photo. Troy had to give the guy props for playing along.

“Um. Nah, I don’t think so.”

“You sure about that?” Wraith said, coming up beside Troy. He braced his knuckles on the glass threateningly close to William’s. “’Cause we’ve got proof otherwise.”

Alarm crossed William’s face. He sputtered, and his face turned red. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“No?” Striker approached the counter, his mouth in a fierce line. He held up his screen to reveal a still-frame shot of Craig at the Weed Deed’s back door. He quickly tucked the device back into the pocket of his shorts. “Let’s try that again.”

William’s face fell. “All right. He was here. I don’t know where he went, though. I swear to god.” He held up his right hand as if taking an oath.

“What’d he say?” Troy pressed.

“He came banging on my door saying it was an emergency. When I opened it, he asked to come in for a few minutes. That’s all.”

“Do you always open the back door of your business to strangers?”

William’s mouth tensed. He didn’t answer.

“I take it you know him pretty fucking well,” Havoc snapped.

“He’s a regular,” the guy admitted. “He started coming around a few weeks ago. That’s all I know.”

“You must be stupid if you haven’t heard that he’s wanted in the area in connection with Annamay Lewis’s death,” Striker said.

Sweat dotted William’s brow. He wet his thick, hairy top lip. “I don’t know what you want me to say. The asshole’s crazy. Turning him in could get me killed!”

“Not turning him in could get a young woman killed,” Striker spat. He straightened. “Give him a call.”

“I said I don’t know where he is!”

Troy seethed. His patience was getting really fucking thin. He leaned closer, bringing his nose an inch from William’s. “That’s not what he asked.”

A drop of sweat rolled from the man’s face. His mouth compressed with defiance. “I won’t do shit.”

Silence.

Havoc chuckled. The sound was too relaxed for the moment. Striker and Wraith joined in.

Anger vibrated every cell in Troy’s body. “Are you a comedian? ’Cause you’re fucking funny if you think you have a choice.”

Troy flicked his gaze to Havoc. “Put the Closed sign up and lock the door.”

His friend obeyed.

“Hey, you can’t do that!”

In a flash, Troy grabbed the back of William’s head and smashed it into the glass, cracking the case.

The man’s pathetic cry sent a wave of calm over Troy. If William knew something about Craig, he’d find out.

Right fucking now.

Chapter Thirteen

Paige grabbed her towel from the pool deck and wrapped it around her waist. She made her way over to where Reaper was seated. He looked like a corpse that’d died of boredom.

“How’s the swim?” he asked.