Delko's face screwed up in recognition. He knew. He knew exactly what party she meant. Suddenly he was out of excuses.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Ruby dragged Delko out of the butcher shop as their back-up arrived in a flurry.

A wall of headlights greeted them, the response team descending on the scene, ready to separate the pig blood from any evidence of human remains.

Ruby's body tensed, reacting to a memory faster than her mind did.

Was this not eerily similar to the way she brought Vallejo in? Acting before anyone else could arrive to help her? Her head spun with familiarity, only her instincts keeping her on course.

“I’m not the trespasser,” Delko insisted. “Why are you arresting me?”

“Are you familiar with your rights, sir? Anything you say can and will be held against you?” Ruby said.

“You’re not listening. I did nothing. Three pigs wasted and you cuff me?” the butcher said accusingly.

“You assaulted a federal agent,” Gabe said. “Don’t think you have a leg to stand on.”

They reached the car. Gabe paused, looking from Ruby to Delko.

“I'll give the locals an update,” he said.

What he was really doing was giving Ruby a moment alone with their suspect. She shoved him into the car before getting in herself.

No prying ears would be listening in on their conversation.

“You have something to tell me?” she said.

“I only ask that you listen,” Delko replied. The fight was gradually draining out of him. His tone grew less manic.

Ruby nodded. Lights from the scene illuminated the car in a harsh orange glow, reminding her of the night she arrested Vallejo.

She couldn't afford to make any more mistakes.

“Do you want a lawyer?” Ruby asked.

“I want you to believe me,” he said.

He said that, but Ruby wasn’t in a particularly forgiving mood after he’d tackled her to the chilled floor of a meat locker.

Ruby leaned back in her seat. “Why should I?”

“Because I am not a killer,” Delko said firmly. It was not entirely convincing, seeing as his work apron was smeared in animal viscera.

“You’re a butcher,” Ruby said, “and you have access to animals. Those animals have a very specific pattern stabbed into them.”

“Yes, so?” he asked, confused.

“We’re looking for a killer who happens to be pretty good with a knife,” Ruby said, “and who practiced that pattern a lot.”

Delko gave her a blank look in return.

Ruby ground her teeth, studying him carefully. She considered her next words before she spoke them, prepared to watch for any little tell.

“How have you been in contact with Vallejo?” she asked. Even if he lied, his body language could speak volumes.

“I don't know what you're talking about,” Delko replied. He looked around, as if looking for someone else he could talk to instead. “We must be looking for the same person. Why would I ruin perfectly good meat?”