Storm's Cut by Stone Mary

Author:Stone, Mary [Stone, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery
Amazon: B09Y99H922
Goodreads: 60864505
Publisher: Mary Stone Publishing
Published: 2023-04-17T07:00:00+00:00

17

Leaning against the beige drywall of the interview room, Zane spared a glance at the two-way mirror behind which Layton Redker sat. The screech of metal on tile jerked his attention back to the small table as Dean Steelman took a seat across from the newest person of interest in their case, Tim Moreno.

When Moreno had greeted them at the front door of his lavish residence, Zane had been taken aback. Between Moreno’s driver’s license photo and the images Zane had seen on Julia Suarez-Moreno’s social media, Zane had expected someone whose appearance was quite different. The pudgy, balding man seated across from Dean was far from the pictures Zane had pored over when researching the plastic surgeon. Sometimes, Zane forgot how many aspects of a person’s appearance could be hidden by clever camera angles, filters, and a simple hat.

When Zane cleared his throat, Moreno’s nervous gaze shifted over to him. A slight sheen of sweat had formed on the man’s forehead since they’d entered the interview room, and his right foot had barely stopped moving since he’d taken his seat.

A person capable of abducting and slicing apart another human being should’ve commanded nerves of steel, but Moreno was more like a tub of butter beneath a heat lamp.

“Mr. Moreno, do you know why you’re here with us this afternoon?” Dean’s steady baritone cut through the silence.

“That’s Dr. Moreno.” Licking his lips, Moreno returned his focus to Dean and shook his head. “No. You didn’t tell me. You just told me I could come with you, or you’d send a squad car to pick me up ‘in style.’ I think those were your exact words, weren’t they?”

Zane held back a chuckle. So the suspiciously wealthy surgeon was a smartass.

“Those were my exact words, yes. I’m glad you were paying attention.” Dean’s expression remained neutral as he spoke.

Moreno blinked a few times, confusion evident in his demeanor, but he didn’t respond. Apparently, he hadn’t expected one of the Feds to meet his sarcasm.

Dean didn’t give the man a moment to put his thoughts together. “What’s your relationship with Megan Manning?”

Start small. See if he lies about the little things. Smart.

“My relationship with who?” Moreno’s foot had paused but went right back to tap-tap-tapping as he folded his hands and attempted nonchalance.

For the second time, Zane barely suppressed a laugh. “Really, mister…um, Dr. Moreno? You’re going to play dumb with us about something this small? You know that’s not a good look, and you ought to know damn well we didn’t haul you into the FBI office to talk about how we think the Cubbies are going to do this season.” He rubbed his hands together, as if he was about to begin a laborious task. “One more time, all right? What is…your relationship…with…Megan…Manning?”

Indignation flickered behind Moreno’s dark eyes as his hands balled into fists. “Oh, Megan Manning. I must’ve heard you wrong.”

Dean’s smile was all teeth. “Guess it’s that Southern twang, ain’t it?” He gestured to Zane. “You heard my partner. Megan Manning.

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