drugs. He fidgeted on the small chair, scratching his ear once in a while.
Nick leaned back. “He looks nervous already.”
I nodded, my mind thinking over the day. “Hey. The sheriff from Silverville called, and I told him to release copies of my ongoing case files about Jareth Davey to your friends.”
Nick turned. “What friends?”
I sat up straighter, my spine snapping to attention. “Somebody federal. I figured it was you calling in favors.”
“No,” Nick said slowly. “I have a couple of private investigators I work with who are the best. I have them hunting down Jareth Davey.”
Wait a minute. “Then who asked for my files?”
Nick shook his head. “Don’t know, but we’re going to find out after this. I promise.”
I didn’t have time to answer because Detective Pierce strode in, still wearing his tac gear and looking powerful. Probably to intimidate the scientist. Pierce slapped a manila file down on the table, and Melvin jumped. “Do you understand your rights as they’ve been read to you?” he asked.
Melvin looked up; his eyes sharp. “Yes.”
“So you’ll be interviewed?” Pierce asked, taking a seat to the left and keeping our view unobstructed.
“Sure.” Melvin shrugged a narrow shoulder. “I have done nothing wrong. What is going on?”
Pierce leaned back as if he had all the time in the world. “How do you know Aiden Devlin?”
“Going right for it, is he?” Nick breathed. “Nice.”
Melvin fidgeted more. “I’ve never heard that name.”
Pierce pulled the manila file toward him. “You’ve never met Aiden Devlin?”
“No.”
“Ever talked to him on the phone?” Pierce asked.
“No,” Melvin breathed, looking toward the door.
“That’s interesting.” Pierce drew out a piece of paper that had been highlighted across a bunch of rows. “Because these are your phone records, and these highlighted rows show phone calls between you and Aiden Devlin, who is a Lordes Defender and a well-known criminal in the area.” He pushed the paper across the table.
Melvin swallowed, his Adam’s apple jiggling. His gaze dropped to the paper, but he didn’t reach for it. “You didn’t have probable cause to search my phone.”
Pierce nodded. “Probably not, but Devlin committed a battery and took evidence in an ongoing investigation, so I had plenty of probable cause on him to get a warrant. This is his phone dump…and here you are. Over and over and over again.”
“You just lied to me. That proves something.” Pierce drummed his fingers on the tabletop before pulling out two large photographs. “Here are two guys who ticked Devlin off. As you can see, they’re both dead.”
Melvin paled; his gaze caught on the paper. “Then I shouldn’t tick him off.”
“Ah, but now you’re a loose end. It’s my understanding, as a Lorde’s Defender, that Devlin takes care of all loose ends. You’re a smart guy. What do you think one bullet does to the brain?” Pierce asked.
“Where’s the lab, Melvin? Give me the info, and I’ll make sure you get a good deal. A safe deal that keeps you far away from Devlin and his motorcycle gang.” Pierce pressed him.
Nick glanced at me. “Pierce is pretty good at this, but I’ll bet you twenty Melvin lawyers-up before giving the info.”
“I’ll take the bet,” I murmured, leaning forward. Melvin was starting to sweat, and his thin hair was looking greasy from the extra moisture. “Pierce has him.” Where was the Beast lab, and who was the distributor?
Pierce sighed. “All right. Let’s go easier. You’re obviously a genius, having learned how to cheaply mass produce opioids. You’ll be famous if word gets out.”
Melvin flattened his hands on the table. “I work for a seed company, splicing all sorts of grass. Legally. No opioids.”
“You know how I know?” Pierce leaned forward. “Remember a guy named Mark Channelton? Young guy?”
Melvin paled.
“Yeah. Channelton turned snitch about three months ago because he helped you acquire the yeast. This guy can finger you. The walls are starting to close in,” Pierce murmured.
Melvin looked away from the table. “Never heard of him.”
Nick cleared his throat. “We have Channelton in Boise on ice as we wait for a trial. Gave the asshole complete immunity and will hand him over to the US Marshals for a new life once this is over.”
Pierce pressed Melvin harder. “Tell me about the distribution plans. We have a copy of the map, so we know the routes and times. How are you planning to transport the opioids?”
Melvin looked toward the mirror and then back at Pierce. Red