“Yeah. Think about what you’d do if one of your guys was targeted by an outsider. I have friends like that too, Deputy.”
He curses, and the other guy turns and heads inside, calling for Kyle as Leonard holsters his weapon.
Briggs rubs his newly injured wrist, and I nudge him, forcing him inside in front of us. I’d rather talk to Kyle alone, but I don’t want them calling the sheriff in like an attack dog before I get a few words in.
“Kyle!” the other deputy shouts again.
“Yeah. Yeah. Coming,” says a voice from down the hall.
Kyle Davenport emerges, wearing nothing but a towel, and an arched eyebrow. “The fuck are you?”
He’s leaner than the other victims, but still solid, as though he works out but doesn’t want bulk. His hair is dark and hanging almost over his dark eyes. He’s tall, a lot like me.
“How about I ask you some questions,” I say with a smirk.
“These are some of the FBI guys,” the other deputy grumbles.
“Thought Dad said to keep those fuck sticks away from me,” Kyle drawls, completely unaffected by our presence.
He drops to a chair, still just wearing a towel.
“What you want with me?” he asks indifferently.
“We actually know quite a bit about you. Just wanted to get a read on the man who raped and murdered two kids when he was only nineteen. A man who also participated in a brutal assault a few nights before,” I toss out there.
Kyle’s lips twitch, but both deputies gasp.
“Hell no! You said you just wanted to talk. Not come in here and accuse him of murder,” Briggs shouts, lifting his phone.
Kyle just eyes me, his head tilting carelessly. He thinks he’s untouchable. Not even a flicker of emotion is on his face. He’s a sociopath. Not a psychopath.
He’s not our guy.
“I have all I need, Deputy,” I say as I stand.
They immediately start calling the cops, but Kyle speaks just as I get to the door.
“That sweet little brunette in town… That your girl, Agent?” Kyle asks, smirking at me when I turn around.
“Yeah.” The word is said with ease, not letting him see the rage simmering close to the surface.
He licks his lips, still smirking. “Better keep her close. Girl like that might get snatched up in a town full of bachelors.”
He expects me to lash out, probably wants me to. The veiled threat is meant to rattle me for his pleasure. It takes every ounce of effort I have not to let him win.
“Funny. I was just thinking how Lana would probably make you wish you’d never been born,” I say carelessly.
Leonard relaxes at my side, following
my lead as he forces his posture to exhibit a calmness.
“Women love me,” Kyle goads. “They love everything I do to them. I bet she’d like it too.”
Leonard steps in before I can lose my cool.
“I guess you don’t watch the news, do you?” Leonard asks him, holding the door open for our exit.
“Not much time for the news,” Kyle drawls.