“I’m just interested in how this person might have gotten around your car’s security system.” Chitwood wrote something on his notepad.
“I could do it,” Adam replied. “I’m sure there are a lot of people out there with the technical skills. You cops have to deal with this crap all the time. You know a criminal with purpose can get through just about anything.”
Hernandez stared a hole through her. “Or someone has a key.”
She felt her face flush.
Chitwood stopped writing and looked up. “Does someone else have a key, Ms. Brooks?”
“No one else has a key,” Adam said, and then he sighed. “Bridget or Chris?”
“Bridget is too disorganized. I left one with Lara. I sometimes lose things. I had two sets from the dealership and a valet key. I gave Lara the extra set. But she wouldn’t do this. The only way she would touch a snake is on a pair of Manolo Blahniks.” They couldn’t possibly think that Lara was involved.
The two cops exchanged glances. She could tell immediately that they didn’t believe her. They had decided that she was using them to further her career at the beginning of the investigation, and nothing had happened to deter them from it. They weren’t going to change their minds until they had a body on their hands.
Chitwood smiled, an unctuous little expression. “That can certainly be cleared up with a simple phone call. Don’t worry about it. I’ll call her myself tomorrow. Now, we have animal control determining the breed of snake.”
“It rattled. I think it’s safe to bet it was a fucking rattlesnake,” Jake said, his voice low.
“There are many different varieties of rattlesnakes, Mr. Dean,” Chitwood pointed out. “I would like to know the breed. I would like to know if it’s common or rare. Perhaps it was bought from a store that specializes in reptiles. There might be a money trail to follow.”
“Of course, it could all be normal. You know we do have snakes in Texas,” Hernandez said. “Sometimes they find their way into cars.”
Serena shook her head. “I can tell you what kind it was. It was an eastern timber.”
“You’re an expert on snakes?” Chitwood adjusted his tie.
“I’m an expert on my own work,” Serena replied, her voice a flat monotone. She was sure what she told them next would do nothing but confirm their suspicions about her. “In Sweetheart in Chains, I had a scene where the bad guy slipped an eastern timber rattlesnake into the hero’s car.”
“Shit,” Jake muttered under his breath.
“I really kind of wish I hadn’t written that particular scene now. Next time I’ll make it a fluffy bunny. It seemed so exciting when writing it, but it was actually quite terrifying.” She looked at Adam, who had come so close to that snake. He’d pushed her backwards and taken her place. If he hadn’t been there, she would have surely climbed in and been bitten, possibly multiple times. “Did I thank you?”
His hands squeezed hers. “No, but it’s all right. You can make it up to me later.” Adam yelped a little as Ian’s hand came out and swatted him on the head.
“Forgive my employees, officers,” Ian said. “They’re the best in the business, but they can be a little unprofessional at times.”
Adam frowned back at Ian. “Hey, I very professionally shot that snake.”
“He did. He didn’t girly scream or anything.” Jake shot him a smug grin.
Adam’s middle finger came up, pointing directly at Jake. “As if.”
Jake shrugged. “I can still hear the screaming you did on that op in South America.”
“I got caught by a twenty-nine-foot anaconda. Fucker broke two ribs and I still managed to finish the mission.”
“And you still screamed like a girl.”
“Shut up, both of you,” Ian said.
Jake stood up. “I don’t see why, boss. It’s obvious they aren’t going to help. They’ve made up their minds.”
Chitwood stood as well. “That’s not at all true, but we do have to look at all the angles. This isn’t cut and dried. Usually in stalker cases, the stalker lets the victim know who he is. He wants the victim to fear him in particular. This is different. This person seems to have a point to make. He seems to want Ms. Brooks to understand that what she’s doing is wrong. His words, of course. Now, I understand you’re looking at the CCTV footage? Do you have anything on it yet? We couldn’t find any matches.”
“I’m playing around with the software, trying to refine it,” Adam explained. “I should know if it works in the morning.”
“If you get anything, we expect you to share it with us,” Hernadez stood and stretched. “I know you guys are professionals, but it’s obvious that you’re personally involved. I don’t want any vigilante justice.”
“It might be the only justice we get,” Adam said, earning him another slap on the head. “Damn it, Ian. Stop it.”
“I will when you stop saying dumb shit in front of the cops.” Ian walked to the door and opened it. “Officers, I thank you for your time. I assure you, the press has been dealt with. The news vans are gone. The only story that will run tonight will feature one of my employees and her encounter with a snake. It will be explained away as she and her boyfriend must have picked it up when they went fishing. If the station runs the story at all, it will be nothing but a minor, humorous story.”
“You’re very good at manipulating people, aren’t you, Mr. Taggart?” Chitwood frowned at him.
“Remember that.” Ian closed the door behind them. He turned back. “Those two are useless. They think she’s working the system, and nothing is going to change their minds. Adam, how close are you to being comfortable with the CCTV shit?”
Serena took a deep breath. “You still believe me?”
Ian shrugged. “Serena, you’re the client. I’m asking you right now. Are you playing some sort of game that’s gone wrong? Did you start this and someone else is finishing it? Tell me right fucking now because it’s the only way I can protect you.”
It was the first time anyone had just asked her flat out. She really appreciated it. “I didn’t have anything to do with it. I don’t know what’s happening. I’m really scared.”