Deadly Awakening (The Ashdale Reaper Series Book 1) by G.K. Lund

Author:G.K. Lund [Lund, G.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9788293663126
Publisher: Northern Quill Press
Published: 2018-06-16T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 21

As far as fashion statements went, Alwin Cooper had shied away from his former green mop of hair. The man seated across from Olivia on the other side of the table looked more put together than in the photo. He was dressed in the gray security uniforms they wore at the Winter Fortress, and his hair was now no more than half an inch long. She thought it might have a dark blond color, but couldn’t be sure. His square face was the same, but he looked better, more alert, and lean. Unlike the unfocused man in the photo, this version of Alwin Cooper was much more in the present, as well as scared. That was the biggest tell. The hair by his temples was damp with sweat, as was his upper lip. She could also feel the vibrations on the table from his jumping leg. Of course, that was not unheard of, but combined with the shaking hand he had moved to his lap to avoid her noticing, she knew he had something to hide. Whether that was murder, cheating on a girlfriend, or hiding drugs somewhere, she didn’t know yet.

“You seem to have gotten your life back on track since the last time we had dealings with you, Mr. Cooper.”

“Do I need a lawyer?”

Olivia shrugged. “Do you want one? We can fix that.”

Cooper looked around, eyes darting from side to side. They rested a second longer on the recorder that was preserving everything that was said.

“Can you turn that off?”

“Can’t do that I’m afraid.”

His lips seemed to press together a little at that. Not a good sign.

“I know WGI gives second chances to non-violent offenders in need of jobs. They also have extensive background checks and run frequent non-scheduled drug tests as a habit. You’ve been with them for over five years now. Must mean you really turned your life around.”

“I did,” he volunteered.

“That is commendable. Truly. Which is why it puzzles me to find your fingerprints on a hammer that was used to kill someone.”

“I didn’t,” he protested, shaking his head.

“Then why were your fingerprints on it?”

“Maybe it’s a hammer I’ve used before?”

“One of the prints was placed in the victim’s blood, Mr. Cooper. Care to explain that?”

He shook his head and looked down at the table. “I think I want a lawyer.”

“I’m not surprised,” Olivia remarked and leaned back in her chair. This man did not alert her in any way. She didn’t feel the need to watch his every move in case he might try something. He struck her as a genuinely okay guy. There was no threatening demeanor to pick up on. It could be a ruse of course, but she didn’t really think so. So what could this man’s motive be? It made no sense. She decided to go the nice way with him.

“Do you live alone, Mr. Cooper?” she asked him. He said he wanted a lawyer, but she was not forbidden from talking to him.

He looked a little surprised. “Yes.” He was of course not forbidden from answering her either.

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