Diesel shrugged. “I have to accept that she might not ever let her walls down.” Somehow that hurt more than having Marcus know that he had been abused as a kid.

“Is it her status?”

Diesel nodded. “That’s what she said when she told me to find someone else.”

Marcus frowned. “Did you tell her that you were okay with the risk?”

“I did. It didn’t change her mind.” He zipped his laptop case, unwilling to discuss it any longer. Shouldering the bag, he went to where Joshua was happily coloring. He bent down on one knee. “Hey, buddy. Everything’s okay, but Michael asked me to be with him at the police station. He’s a little scared and I’m going to keep him company. Are you okay staying here with Miss Scarlett, Mr. Marcus, and Miss Gayle?”

Joshua glanced at the adults around him, then nodded, pointing at Scarlett. “Yeah. She’s a police lady. My teacher says it’s the police’s job to help us.”

Diesel ruffled the boy’s hair. “That’s right. Miss Scarlett is good at helping people.”

Joshua stared up at him guilelessly. “Like the old man in the wheelchair today.”

“Just like him.” Diesel booped Joshua’s nose. “I’ll be back before you miss me.” Rising, he murmured to Marcus, “I’ll text you when I know something.” His gaze flicked to Joshua. “Keep him safe, okay?”

“You know it,” Marcus vowed.

Diesel did. Which was the only reason he was able to get into his truck and drive away.

Cincinnati, Ohio
Saturday, March 16, 6:00 p.m.

Deacon walked Diesel to the interview room and stopped outside the door. “I’ll wait out here until Michael’s talked to his attorney,” Deacon said. “Adam’s checking in with CSU. The two of us will come in when Clausing calls us, okay?”

Diesel nodded. “And nobody’s in the observation room?” Because simply turning down the speaker didn’t constitute privacy when dealing with sign language.

“No one. I’ll turn on the light on the observation side, so you’ll be able to see if anyone enters. But I’ll stand guard. You have my word, Diesel. No one will spy on Michael.”

“Thank you.” Because Deacon’s word was as good as gold.

Deacon hesitated. “See if you can get him to tell us who the bald man is, the one he thought you might have been. The one who scared him.”

“I will. Do you or Dani know the interpreter?”

“Yeah. Andrew’s a good guy. He’s interpreted for Greg more than once, and a few times it was because Greg had gotten into legal trouble. The guy knows the courts. And he is bound to confidentiality.”

“Yeah, well, there are a shit-ton of reporters out there who’d pay a pretty penny for an inside story on this case. Especially one including an abused kid with a disability who’s been accused of murder.”