Page 31 of Silent Road

"No, Sheriff, it would be in my best interest to exercise my constitutional rights."His voice had a practiced quality as if he'd prepared for this moment."Either arrest me or let me go."

Sheila hesitated.They couldn't risk letting Morton leave—not when two people were dead, and night was only hours away.It seemed he was forcing their hand.

"James Morton," she said, "you're under arrest for suspicion of murder."

"Are you serious?"he asked, looking bewildered as Tommy approached him with handcuffs."Get away from me!You can't arrest me!"

"Actually, we can," Tommy said."Don't make this more difficult than it has to be."

Morton shook his head incredulously as Tommy handcuffed him."My lawyer is Richard Hallibeck," he said, his voice higher now, as if on the edge of panic."I won't be saying anything else until he arrives!"

"Watch your head," Tommy said as he helped Morton into the back seat.

Morton looked up at Sheila through the car window."You're making a mistake," he said quietly."The real killer is still out there, still working.And you're wasting time with me."

Something in his tone made Sheila pause.Was it a threat?A warning?Or did he genuinely know something about the murders?

Sheila didn't know for sure.What she did know was that they had forty-eight hours to get him to talk.

Or else they'd have to let their primary suspect walk.

* * *

By late morning, Morton sat in interview room one with his lawyer.Through the observation window, Sheila watched them confer in low voices, Morton's hands moving in agitated gestures despite his earlier calm.

"Well?"Tommy asked, handing her a fresh coffee."What do you think?"

She accepted the cup gratefully."About Morton being our killer?"

"Yeah.The photography obsession, the fixation on authenticity, the conflicts with both victims..."He leaned against the wall."It fits."

"Maybe too well."Sheila sipped her coffee, grimacing at its bitterness."His reaction when we mentioned the murders—did it seem genuine to you?"

"Hard to say.He definitely got worked up talking about social media, though."

"That's not enough for a conviction."She watched Morton push his glasses up his nose for the dozenth time."So far, our evidence is circumstantial at best."

Tommy shrugged."Sometimes circumstantial is all you get.And we've got forty-eight hours to build something stronger."

She gave him a long, appraising glance."Look at you, talking like a veteran."

His cheeks colored."You learn quickly when you learn from the best."

Sheila stifled a yawn."And you learn a lot more quickly when you're not sleep-deprived.You should get some rest—I'll keep an eye on things."

Tommy grinned wryly."Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?The new guy has to do the hard work?Come on, Sheriff.You must be exhausted."

"And you aren't?"

He shrugged."Nothing a little caffeine can't cure.I went through most of college without sleeping.What's one more night?"

Sheila studied him, considering the offer.It would definitely do her some good to get a little sleep.

"If Morton decides he wants to make a deal," Tommy added, "or if anything else develops, I'll wake you right away.What do you say?"

The word 'develop' triggered something in Sheila's memory—Star's darkroom plans, which suddenly reminded her that she hadn't checked if the girl had come home last night.

She cursed under her breath and pulled out her phone.

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