Frames studied Bennett’s face as he had seen Rivas do. He noticed the tension around Bennett’s eyes give way and a smile start to form. “So if you were seen on the parking garage’s security camera having sex with Ms. Durand in your car, you’re going to deny that?”

“Security camera? There’s no—” Bennett sat up in his chair. “Okay. Hold on a second. This has now gone too far. It isn’t right. You can’t—I came in here to help you.”

Bennett turned to Rivas. “Are you the one in charge? Can we turn that recorder thing off for one fucking minute? I have something to say.”

Rivas looked back silently.

Bennett took a deep breath. “All right. But everything I say from now on has to be in confidence. This cannot be made public. You understand, it cannot be part of any…public record or whatever you people call it.”

He tapped the table with the index finger of his right hand. “I did not do anything to hurt Elise. I swear to God. I could never hurt her.”

“Was she going to tell your wife?” Rivas asked.

“No. It wasn’t anything like that.”

“What was it like?”

“We met in my car a few times and…made out. That’s all it was. It was stupid and immature and a betrayal of my marriage.”

Frames suddenly thought he understood Rivas’s method: Keep your own body still. Watch the other guy’s eyes and body language. Pay attention to each word. “You made out? What? Like teenagers?”

“Do I need to be graphic?”

“Did you have intercourse with the victim?”

“That’s such a crude way to say it.”

“Did you?”

Bennett looked at the tabletop. “Okay. Yes, but it wasn’t anything serious. That’s all I’m going to say.”

“So Ms. Durand didn’t think it was serious either?” Rivas asked.

“That’s right.”

“Did you argue with her?”

“Sometimes, sure. She was doing a lot of drugs. Oxy, some E. All sorts of stuff. I didn’t think it was good for her.”

Frames could hear a tone in Bennett’s answer, explaining something obvious to the dumb Mexican. Why do people always think cops are stupid? Frames wondered. Does their size make them seem less intelligent? Or, does the work look easy? “When was the last time you and Ms. Durand were together?”

“A couple weeks ago. I don’t remember exactly.”

“We have the security camera tapes.” Frames sighed. “We’re going to find out.”

“Last week. But for a few months now, we haven’t been together as much. I think she was seeing another guy.”

“Did she say who?” Rivas asked.

“No. I asked, but she wouldn’t say.”

“That must have pissed you off.”

“A little, sure. She thought it was funny that I wanted to know. She made jokes about it.”