Kate sat down across from Jeremy, her expression blank. She could already tell that Jeremy was nervous, his eyes shifting back and forth between Kate, DeMarco, and the surface of the desk between them.

The good news is that youre a very convincing liar, Kate said. The bad news is, you arent particularly bright.

Jeremy said nothing. He continued to sit there, looking dumbfounded, waiting to see where Kate took the conversation next. Kate took the old cell phone out of her pocket and placed it on the desk.

You left this in your bedroom at your fathers place, she said. Stored away with all of your porn. We noticed that some of your own amateur stuff is also on this phone. Of course, I can tell by the look on your face that you know there is more than just incriminating pictures on here.

Jeremy still remained silent. He was not being defiant; he was simply at a loss. He had nothing to say. So Kate went on, assuming that if she kept pushing, hed end up talking.

There are very long conversations between you and Mercy Fuller on this phone, Kate said. Several times during those conversations, she talks about her parentsher father in particular. In one of those conversations, she goes so far as to say that she likely has the coolest father in the world, the exception being his taste in music. She also, at one point, tells you that shed like for you to meet her parents, even if only for you to taste how delicious her mothers homemade lasagna is. She also talks about being excited for college and how the only real thing that makes her afraid to leave home when college time comes around is leaving her parents behind. Now…that does not sound like a girl who hated her parents and not at all like a girl who was planning to kill her parents.

Slowly, Jeremy reached for the phone. Kate promptly grabbed it back up and got to her feet. Whyd you lie to us, Jeremy? Are you hiding something?

No, he said. I just wanted you running in circles for coming after me. The law in this stupid county is always after my brother. Gave my old man a hell of a hard time back in the day, too.

Trying to stick it to the law? Kate asked. You really arent very bright, are you? This is not you just screwing with some local investigation, wasting the time of the cops. This is interfering with a federal case. And based on all of the drugs I found in your brothers house, your little actyour bullshit storycould get you in a lot of trouble.