Connor gave an eye roll that Cami clearly interpreted as having had quite enough repetition of the word “friend.”
“This your first time here?” he asked.
“Yes,” the blue wig woman replied.
“You know this man from before?”
“No, we…we don’t.”
Connor sighed. “I need you to be truthful. I’ve got a tech expert here who can hack your phones in five minutes flat and tell you your life history over the past year. If you are lying, I’ll press charges. If you know him from before, all I need from you is information and you won’t be in trouble. I’m not here because of you. But the truth is what I want.”
The blue wig lady glanced uneasily at Cami, as if wondering whether she had x-ray eyes.
Cami was impressed by his matter-of-fact approach. It wasn’t like he wasn’t recognizing other crimes. It was just that, in the circumstances, he was choosing the approach that would give him the most information on this crime. The murder. The most serious crime.
“Honestly, no. We…we were hired through an online agency. They told us the address and what gear we should wear. It’s our first time here.”
“Then go. We don’t need to question you. Just get dressed and go.”
“Thank you,” the blue wig lady said. Not needing to be told twice, she stood up and grabbed her bag and made for the bathroom, closely followed by her red-wigged friend.
“While they sort themselves out, let’s get back to Guy,” Connor told Cami.
He strode back through the house to the guest bathroom, from where Cami realized the crashes had now lessened.
Connor yanked open the door. Guy was now seated sullenly on the closed toilet, with a mutinous expression.
“Get up, please, Mr. Vernon.” Connor grasped his arm and led him firmly back into the lounge.
“Look, I can explain. They’re—” Guy was now looking more cowed, as if the time-out had given him a chance to regret his decisions.
“Just friends. Yes.” Connor finished for him. “That’s not why we’re here. We’re here in connection with text messages you sent to a woman shortly before she was murdered.”
“What?” Guy stared at Connor, his face draining of color. “I didn’t send any texts to anyone! I don’t know why you’re here. You guys, you must leave. Now! I want my lawyer. You need to wait. I’m not saying a thing without my lawyer. Seeing as how I’m an innocent man and all.”
Cami thought that was a pretty strong comeback. Guy was pushing his point in no uncertain way. If she had been Connor, she acknowledged, she wouldn’t have known what to do. She wouldn’t have had a clue. The threat of the lawyer was hardcore, surely. And looking at this apartment, Cami had no doubt that he could afford a lawyer.
But Connor didn’t even seem thrown off his stride.
“Now, let’s not start down that path. Denial is pointless. We have the proof. Lawyers can come later, if needed, when you’re in police custody.”
“And why should I be in police custody?” Guy shot back.
“Because you sent Adriana Knight threatening messages. You propositioned her and then you sent her deliberately threatening texts.”
There was a moment of horrified silence.
“Her? VixenThree? She’s dead?”
He’d used her in-game name. Cami wondered if that would prove to be a breakthrough.
Connor gave Guy a look so blisteringly cynical it could have burned a hole in the wall.
“Yes. She’s dead. Surprise to you?”
“Yes! Yes, it is. I…I didn’t even know her. I met her online. I…I might have messaged her. When drunk, I mean. Just because—well—out of a desire to meet up in real life. I know I’m not a good communicator. Maybe I used the wrong approach. But that’s not a crime! I didn’t even know where she lived!”
“Give me your phone. Unlocked, please.”