The man was having none of it, however.

A hood dropped over his eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think you do. You were on pickup duty tonight. That suggests you were likely on pickup duty in October too—the night they disappeared.”

“I’m done talking. I want a lawyer.”

Meaning he was willing to dish the dirt on Wilson’s nefarious activities but wasn’t going to implicate himself in a murder.

“Fine.” Zeke rose. “We’ll continue this conversation later.”

He crossed to the door, exited, and returned to the monitoring room.

“Nice work.” One of his colleagues slapped him on the back.

“Thanks.” His gaze sought hers. “Sorry I couldn’t get him to admit his involvement in Stephanie’s disappearance.”

“I didn’t expect him to—but Wilson may do the honors.”

“He’s next on the list.” Zeke checked another monitor, which showed the man sitting alone in one of the interview rooms. “Are you up to coming in if that seems like a prudent strategy at any point?”

“Absolutely.”

That was a lie.

Every breath hurt, and if her adrenaline hadn’t been flowing at warp speed for the past few hours, she’d have folded long ago.

But she could hold it together for another thirty minutes.

Maybe.

Zeke’s skeptical appraisal indicated he wasn’t convinced about her stamina either—but he didn’t argue.

Smart man.

After all the cases they’d worked together, he knew better than to try to rein her in this close to the finish line.

“I’ll signal to the camera if I want you to join us.”

She nodded.

He took a final swig of his coffee, set the empty cup on a cabinet, and left the room.

As he disappeared from view, Cate swung back to the monitor displaying the image of Wilson.

This was the moment of truth.

Would he tell them what they wanted to know—or clam up until an attorney was present?

Sad to say, the odds were in favor of the latter. The man was sophisticated enough to understand the importance of letting legal counsel speak for him in a situation like this.

On the other hand, Wilson wasn’t the usual suspect in a drug case. Nor were his motives likely typical. As a result, it was possible he’d be willing to talk about why he’d done what he’d done. Explain his justification. Try to create sympathy.

Hard to say how he’d play this.

But if anyone could convince him to talk, it was Zeke.

Zeke paused outside the room where Wilson sat. Took a calming breath.

Much hinged on the results of this interview. He had to watch the man’s nuances, give him whatever rope was necessary to hang himself—and pray he’d provide the answers that would wrap up both the DEA case and Cate’s investigation.