Janssen remained next to the door. “Since his incarceration is largely due to your testimony and efforts, I’m going to give you privacy with the inmate.”

He nodded and stepped through the door before closing it. Not that it should matter whether he stayed or gave them privacy, but Terra felt restrained in the man’s company.

Jack crossed his arms. “No wall or window separating us here.”

“Because Joey isn’t a violent criminal. That’s why he’s in Club Fed.” Another name for a white-collar, or a low- or medium-security, facility.

“Given the reasons we’re here,” Jack added, “I’m not so sure. I don’t like this.”

“We wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think there was a chance he could give us information—something he was able to hide from the task force. Something that will help us in this murder investigation.”

Jack’s response was to stand in the corner.

Terra’s heart rate jumped. She worked to calm her breathing and appear relaxed so Joey would remain relaxed too. “Everyone involved in Joey’s group was shut down. But his isn’t the only artifact-trafficking organization out there. I just want to see if he can offer up anything else.”

“He’ll want a reduced sentence in exchange.”

She pursed her lips, then said, “He only got eighteen months as it was. But as I said, I have some leverage.”

“Right. The mother. I look forward to watching you work.” Jack hitched a grin and, oddly, that reassured her.

It was taking too long for him to arrive. Was he refusing to see her? She might as well tell Jack what she’d wanted him to see firsthand.

Terra lowered her voice. “Joey is a twentysomething computer nerd who still has acne. He looks much too young to have been such a big player. But it was because of his tech-savvy skills and love of digging up artifacts from a young age that he was able to grow a far-reaching trafficking organization.”

“Interesting. So, he’s close to his mother.”

“He lives with her, yes, well, not while he’s incarcerated. She’s sick, and he partly used his talents for illicit gain to care for her. She didn’t know anything about his activities, and when she found out, it almost destroyed her.” Terra hated that awful part of the investigation.

“And you’re okay using that relationship as leverage?”

She heard the incredulity in his tone.

“I hope it doesn’t go that far, but two people have been murdered. Pauline died indirectly. Relax, I’m not a monster.”

The door opposite from where they had entered opened and in stepped Joey DeMarco, looking no worse for the wear. His eyes widened, then his brows shifted into a deep frown. He grudgingly plodded over to sit and stare at her.

“Hey, Joey. You look good.”