Page 31 of Secrets and Lies

At four o’clock on the dot, Logan, Gage, and Dani walked into the precinct. The detectives were there to greet them.

“Let’s get you processed,” Montrose said.

“Is there a rush?” Logan asked. “Why don’t we sit and discuss this first?”

Montrose got into Logan’s face. “You’re on our turf, Counselor. We’re going to do this our way.”

Logan was pretty sure he heard Connors sigh. The taller man commented. “Let’s just get him in a room and go from there.” He gripped Gage’s arm and walked him back to the interview room. Montrose’s lip curled, but he said nothing as he followed. Logan and Dani brought up the rear.

At the door of the interview room, Montrose stopped Dani. “No way, sweetheart. You go no further.”

Dani’s brows dipped, and she opened her mouth to utter what Logan was sure was an insult.

“Ms. Pierce is an investigator with my office. She is also my assistant. I would like her to be present.”

“No,” Montrose growled.

He turned to Connors, but he too shook his head.

Logan turned to Dani and whispered, “Go sit out in the waiting area in the front of the precinct. Tell Lacy so she can come sit with you. I’ll get you in here when I can.”

Dani nodded once, glared at the two cops, and then stalked awkwardly down the corridor, pulling her phone out as she went. Logan hauled in a deep breath and then went into the interview room. He pulled out a chair next to his brother and sat.

“Mr. Callahan,” Connors started as he took a seat across from Gage. “We have in our possession some photographs that show you in Central Park at the time of the theft.”

Logan had told Gage beforehand not to answer any questions or say anything unless Logan instructed him to do so. Gage remained silent.

Connor spread the photographs out on the table in front of Gage. Both he and Logan leaned forward to study them. Sweatbroke out across Logan’s shoulders. They really were photos of Gage walking in Central Park. They had snapshots of him walking along a pathway and then disappearing into the trees by the Met.

“Care to tell us what you were doing there?” Connors asked.

Gage glanced at Logan. They’d gone over a story just in case, but it was lame. Unfortunately, they didn’t have a choice. He was going to have to say something. Logan nodded once.

Gage cleared his throat. “I went for a walk.”

Montrose, who was standing leaning against the wall, snorted. “A walk. After midnight? Leaving your pregnant girlfriend at home? Try again.”

“It’s the truth. I was out for a walk. I needed to clear my head. Do you have children, Detective? Fatherhood is coming up fast, and I gotta tell you, the anxiety is crushing.” Gage was almost serene with his answer.

Montrose shifted his stance, but didn’t respond to Gage’s question.

Logan kept a straight face and showed no emotion, but inside he was cracking up. Gage, of all people, was probably the least likely to be anxious about anything. Fatherhood would look good on him, no doubt.

Connors narrowed his eyes. “And you just wandered off the path into the woods, for what? Something to do?”

“I had to take a whiz. There were no open bathrooms around, so I watered a tree.” Again, Gage answered with a straight face, no fear. That was important. Fear could sink a man in this situation. If the cops even started to smell it, they would go for the kill no matter what evidence they had.

“Public urination,” Connors pointed out.

“Write me a ticket. I will happily pay it,” Gage stated.

“So, you were just out taking a walk, and youhappenedto be next to the Met where a statuehappenedto get stolen.” Connors appeared to be frustrated. He drummed his fingers on the table.

Gage shrugged. “I guess so. I have no idea about what happened at the Met. Was the statue expensive, or a national treasure?” He waited for a reply, but when the detectives stayed silent, he shrugged. “I was just out for a walk.”

“What if I told you we have video of you holding the statue that was stolen from the Met?” Connors asked.

Gage frowned. “I would say you are lying. I can tell you categorically I did not steal a statue from the Met, and I have never held a stolen statue in my hands.”

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