“That’s pretty observant.”
She lifted her chin. “When someone’s stabbing someone else in the back, you kind of pay attention to that person, you know?”
The detective nodded. “I suppose you would. And you’d be able to identify the tattoo again if you saw it?”
She nodded. “Definitely. It was unusual and it covered his neck all the way around.”
The detective nodded. “We’ll enter the specifics in the database. If he’s got a record, it’ll come up.”
They had to believe her. Joey didn’t kill Larks. It didn’t matter that she was his sister. Fact was fact and Joey would be proven innocent soon enough.
After she gave her statement, she was allowed to leave. AJ and Pax were waiting for her outside the room, the looks of concern on their faces the only comfort she’d allow herself. What she wouldn’t give to step into their arms.
But that wasn’t who she was, wasn’t what she’d allow herself. She wrapped her arms around herself instead.
“You okay?” AJ asked.
“Fine. I told them what I saw, what really happened.”
“That’s all you can do. What about the lineup?”
“Detective Warner said he’d come get me when they were ready.”
“Can you identify this guy?” Pax asked.
“I’m sure of it. I already gave the detective a description of him. Of course they all wear the Fist leathers, and so did he. But he was totally bald, with pretty specific neck tattoos. Shouldn’t be hard to ID.”
Pax nodded. “I saw a few guys like that in the bar.”
“So did I,” AJ said. “At least it reduces the number of Fists in the lineup.”
“True.” Exhaustion weighed her down. She wanted to go home, crawl into bed and sleep for days. But she had to stay here for Joey. “Do you know anything about Joey?”
“His lawyer’s with him now.”
“Good. I hope this is over with fast.”
Detective Warner came out and motioned to Teresa. “We’re ready for the lineup, Ms. Oliveri.”
Teresa nudged to her left at Pax and AJ. “They’re coming with me.”
“Fine, as long as they don’t speak.”
They stepped into a room with a long, darkened window. Detective Warner stood at the window. “The men will be on the other side. You can see them but they won’t be able to see you. I’ll call them to step toward the window one at a time. After you look at them you can tell me which one is the one you think stabbed Larks.”
“Okay.”
The room was icy cold and she rubbed her arms. Suddenly a leather jacket was placed over her shoulders. She glanced around at Pax. “Thank you.” She slid her arms into the jacket that was miles too big for her, but it was warm from his body heat, and at least she wasn’t shaking anymore.
The room on the other side of the window brightened. Four bald guys stood there, all wearing leathers. Detective Warner called each one to step forward.
Teresa studied each face carefully, noticing the hands and the tattoos on their necks. When they had all stepped forward and back, the detective turned to her.
“These were the only bald guys belonging to the Fists that were present at the scene. Is one of them the guy you claim stabbed Larks?”
Disappointment filled her. “No. He’s not there. Are you sure that’s all of them?”
“Yes.” The detective cast her a sidelong glance, as if he didn’t believe her story.
“I know what I saw. And who I saw. None of those guys was the one who stabbed Larks. He had a distinctive tattoo on his neck. I’d recognize it again if I saw it.”
Detective Warner nodded. “Thank you for your time.”
“That’s it? We’re done?”
“For now.”
“What about my brother?”
“For the moment, he’s our best and only suspect. We’ll wait for the testing on his clothing and body to come back.”
“You’re going to check out that tattoo I told you about, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Teresa could already tell from the look on Warner’s face that they believed Joey was the killer. “The guy used a knife to kill Larks. Did you find it?”
“We took weapons off several people in the bar, including your brother. We’re testing all of them.”
She inhaled, let it out on a shaky sigh.
“Come on,” Pax said, pulling her against him. “Let’s go get something to drink.”
“I’m fine here. I want to wait for Joey.”
“He’s in with his lawyer right now. After that he’s going to be processed. You won’t be able to see him until tomorrow.”
Teresa closed her eyes, feeling the distance between Joey and her. She didn’t like it. With their parents both dead, it was just the two of them. They took care of each other, watched out for each other. She felt responsible for making sure Joey got out of this.
“We’ll be back in the morning,” AJ said.
Detective Warner shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
After he walked away, Teresa looked at AJ. “What does that mean?”
“It means they won’t have all the evidence compiled against Joey by morning. But they won’t be able to stop you from seeing him.”
“I need to go back to the bar, clean everything up.”
“No good,” Pax said as they stepped outside the front door of the police station. “It’s a crime scene now. They’re going to have it roped off and shut down.”
Tears pricked her eyes. “It’s my business, the only job for the girls. What are they going to do?”
AJ slid his hand on the back of her neck, his touch comforting—not demanding anything of her. “I think that’s the least of your worries right now. They’ll manage. We’ll take you home.”
“You can just drop me at my car.”
Pax slid his hand in hers. “We’ll take you home. If you did see the guy who killed Larks, he might have seen you, too. And he might be looking for you.”
That hadn’t occurred to her. “You think I’m in danger?”
Pax shrugged. “Don’t know yet, but it’s a possibility. We’re coming home with you.”