“He had pictures of you all over his place. It was totally creepy. There were shots of you from a distance working crime scenes, and he even had a police scanner.”

Sam’s stomach took a dive at that news. “I should’ve known he wouldn’t just give up and go away. I should’ve known that.”

“This isn’t your fault,” he said fiercely.

“So Natalie Jordan paid us a visit last night,” Sam said, anxious to change the subject. She relayed what Natalie told them and went over their visit with Noel. “I don’t think he did it, but I want to get him on a polygraph today. Will you set that up?”

“Sure thing. I don’t see Noel for it, either. Nothing about him screamed ‘murderer’ to me. Natalie, on the other hand, she’s a cool customer.”

“Nick said she’s lying about Noel, but he’s never liked her.”

“He’s got good instincts, though,” Freddie said.

“Do me a favor when we get in, ask Gonzo and Arnold to check out this address.” She gave him the slip of paper with Natalie’s parents’ address. “And have them go by Noel Jordan’s house in Belle Haven. Get me a couple of hours of surveillance on him before you bring him in.”

“Got it. Will do.” As they pulled up to the last intersection before the public safety building, he said, “Shit.” He pointed at the street leading to HQ, lined with TV trucks bearing satellite dishes.

“Goddamn it.”

He scowled at her choice of words. “Let’s go in through the morgue.”

“Good plan.”

They parked on the far side of the building, entered through the basement door and took a circuitous route to the detectives’ pit where Gonzo and Arnold waited for them.

“We’ve got Terry O’Connor in lockup. He’s lawyering up.”

“Figured.”

“They filmed us bringing him in,” Arnold said. “It’ll be the lead story this morning.”

Captain Malone burst through the door. “The chief just got off the phone with a very angry Senator O’Connor. He’s threatening to call the president.”

“He can call anyone he wants,” Sam said. “His son had motive, a key and can’t produce his supposed alibi. If he was anyone else, we would’ve had him in here days ago, and you know it. I need to rule him out.”

They stared each other down for a long moment before Malone blinked. “Get him into interview and either charge him or let him go. And do it quickly.”

“Yes, sir.” To Gonzo, she added, “Bring him up.”

Chapter 29

When Sam and Freddie entered the small interrogation room, Terry O’Connor leaped to his feet. “I didn’t kill my brother! How many times do I have to tell you that?”