The man winced and looked up at them like an embarrassed child. Joseph Quinn, he said. And then, sighing, he said, You guys cops or something?

Rachel took one wide step around the puddle of vomit and reached for her handcuffs. Something like that. Mr. Quinn, we have some questions for you. Id really like for you to come with us easily. Id feel bad cuffing a man in your condition.

Yeah, Id feel bad, too. He eyed them again, scanning them as if trying to determine the level of trouble he might be in. Whats this about anyway?

Just come with us, sir.

Quinn looked back to the back lot of the bar and sighed again. He got to his feet and took a moment to reorient himself. Lets go. You wont get any problems from me.

Jack placed a hand on Quinns shoulder and led him forward. Rachel followed, hoping such an odd start to the day might serve as an omen of sorts and bring them some good luck.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Rachel had been waiting for the moment Quinn would throw up again, this time in the back of their car. Fortunately, he managed to make the ride without making a mess. He asked several times why they needed to speak with him but neither Rachel nor Jack answered. And honestly Quinn didnt seem to mind the lack of answers right now. Rachel assumed that heading to a police station couldnt be any worse than sleeping by the side of his car in the back lot of a bar.

He got out of the car without any objection and only spoke up again after they walked through the front doors of the station. The smell of coffee filled the hallway on the way to the interrogation room and he responded right away.

Any chance I could get some coffee? And water? And maybe some aspirin?

Rachel and Jack shared a look, trying to decide without speaking who would try to get these things. Usually, neither of them catered to the whims of someone they were about to question, but it was clear that Quinn was in bad shape. Jack gave in pretty easily, not because he thought Rachel would argue him on it but because Jack had, ever since theyd started working together, made sure not to toss out any go fetch tasks or anything that seemed like housework on her.

Fine, he said, cutting his eyes at her as he veered off to the break room. Meanwhile, Rachel found a set of three interrogation rooms near the back of the building, a corridor adjacent to a row of holding cells.