Page 145 of Hard Rain

“Same haircut,” Alvarez laughed. “From behind.”

“Yeah, but he wasn’t even our suspect,” Cho said.

Axel smiled. “Did he at least commit a crime?”

“He jaywalked.”

Whip nearly spit out his coffee.

Axel took another bite of pizza. “Crime’s a crime.”

The room lost it.

Davis closed the file and leaned back in his chair.

“You’re making a mistake, Cutter.”

Silence filled the small interrogation room inside the downtown Marshals office.

“You’re the only one in this room who can help yourself.”

Whip watched Cutter through the observation glass.

Twenty minutes ago, Cutter had walked into the room wearing the same cocky attitude he’d carried since they were teenagers. He’d always had an answer. Always another excuse. Another lie.

Then Davis told him Charleston had walked away.

Not just escaped.

“He left you behind to buy himself time.” Davis tapped one finger on the file.

Back in high school, Cutter would’ve argued with a stop sign if he thought it would help. Whenever he got caught, he’d deny it, deflect, or find somebody else to blame.

There was nothing to argue with.

Charleston had abandoned him.

Cutter should’ve fought it. Instead, he’d gone quiet.

From there, Davis had changed tactics three times. Pressure. Patience. Silence. None of it mattered.

Cutter stayed mute.

He wasn’t fighting the interview.

He was waiting.

“We are getting nowhere,” Boone said.

Davis exhaled. “Cutter, this is your last chance.”

Cutter finally lifted his head.

“I want Tauber.”

Davis frowned.

“You don’t get to make requests.”