CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Neil Browne sat across the table from Dan, Axel and Ryder. Dan thought that, under normal circumstances, they would have been a formidable trio.

Apparently not to Neil Browne, or whoever he really was.

He just stared at them all as they entered with folders and sat.

And he just kept smiling.

He spoke before any of them could begin to question him.

“I have nothing to tell you. And just what are you going to charge me with? I mean, all the garbled stuff you were saying... A murder in Florida? Come on, man, that’s... Wow. That’s stretching it. But you want me to say I’m guilty, that I’m the Axeman’s Protégé? Okay, if that’s what you want.” He started to laugh. “Prove it. Prove it in a court of law.”

Ryder looked at Dan and Axel and shrugged. “Not sure about all the murders, but there was an eyewitness to one. Except that was when you were Neil Browne. Most recently, you were Brian Denholm, but he’s dead and you stole his ID, and there’s a whole cast and crew from a movie who will swear to that.”

Dan thought Ryder’s words gave Browne concern, though he tried not to show it. Maybe he hadn’t known law enforcement had found the bodies of the dead man and woman he and Jennie had presumably killed, and from whom Neil and Jennie had taken their latest identities. Dan leaned forward, glancing at Axel and Ryder and then smiling at Neil Browne.

“Well, let’s see... I think there’s a lot we can prove. You were armed and attempting murder in the bar. That’s enough for them to hold you here for arraignment. And no judge is going to allow bail for a man who might be the Axeman’s Protégé. That will give us plenty of time to gather what we need to charge you with... Wow! I’m not even sure how many murders.”

“You can hold me. You can’t prove anything against me,” he said with a shrug.

“Well, actually, we can,” Axel said.