When he wanted to be.
So I wondered what he wanted now. “What?”
“Have you had lunch?”
“No. Why?”
“I’m following up on another case and wondered if you wanted me to bring you something back from Taco John’s?”
Thoughtful. And so very un-Shay-like. “Sure. Whatever you’re having is fine.”
“Cool. Oh, and while I’m gone, could you make copies of the files I gave the receptionist?” He leveled that charming smile on me.
And… that was very Shay-like. But I’d get lunch out of the deal, so I wouldn’t complain.
• • •
After lunch, I headed to my pickup to grab a sweater because the conference room we were working in was like a meat locker.
It’d been a while since I’d been waylaid in a parking lot during the day. To my credit, I didn’t pull my gun on the young Indian woman leaning against my truck, angrily puffing on a cigarette.
“Are you Gunderson?” she demanded.
“Yeah. How’d you know this was my vehicle?”
“FBI tag in the window. Good way to get your tires slashed.”
“I’ll take that under advisement. Who are you?”
“Mackenzie Red Shirt.”
Ah. The no-show teenage interviewee. “Well, Mackenzie, you’re late. I can spare a half hour if you wanna go back inside-”
“No fuckin’ way am I goin’ into the cop shop.”
“Why’d you volunteer to come in?”
“I didn’t volunteer.” She inhaled quickly and blew out a violent stream of smoke. “That little bitch Naomi called and told me she signed me up. She set me up.”
My gaze flicked to the main road. We weren’t exactly inconspicuous. “So why are you here?”
Mackenzie glared at me. “To find out what Naomi said.”
“Why not just ask her?”
“I tried, but she wouldn’t tell me nothin’.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “So you what… jumped Naomi after she left?” I tsk-tsked. “Not the brightest crayon in the box, are you, Mackenzie? Threatening another minor in full view of the cop shop.”
“I didn’t leave a mark on her.”
A bully. Lovely. One who used words was no different than one who used fists. The only thing a bully understands is another bully. “Am I supposed to be impressed? Here’s the truth: leaving bruises is a more effective threat than reducing a girl to tears.” I leaned closer. “Need a personal demonstration on how that one works?”
Her eyes showed a hint of fear. “No.”
“First smart thing you’ve said. Now move it so I can get to my truck.”
That caught her off guard. “But… I thought you wanted to talk to me.”
“I did. But now after meeting you? I doubt anything you’ll tell me will help our case.”
“Oh yeah?” An indignant Mackenzie aimed a cool look at me. “What’s it worth to tell you the name of the guy I hooked Arlette up with?”