The Sixth Man (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell 5)

“You cop one more feel on my ass, you’re going to have to learn to live with prosthetic hands,” she snapped.

He stepped back, stared at the ceiling, and motioned that they could proceed.

They waited in the little room. Edgar Roy was brought in. His appearance and demeanor remained unchanged. When Megan saw him she gasped and then sat in her chair, enthralled. When the guards had left and the door had clanged behind them, Megan remained silent. Finally, Sean said, “Uh, do you want to try and ask him some questions?”

Megan started, her face reddened. She opened her briefcase and meekly

tapped on the glass wall separating them.

“Mr. Roy, I’m Megan Riley.” She pressed one of her business cards against the glass. Her face flushed again as Roy just sat there staring at the ceiling. She slowly withdrew the card and put it back in her pocket.

“Mr. Roy, I’m representing you in your legal case. You are being charged with multiple counts of murder. Do you understand that?”

Nothing.

She stared at Sean, who nodded encouragingly at her while Michelle gave him an incredulous look.

Megan said to Roy, “We have to prepare your defense and we need your full cooperation in order to do that.”

The ceiling, however, still captured Roy’s full attention.

Sean said, “Mr. Roy, another person connected with your case has been murdered. Hilary Cunningham worked for Ted Bergin. She was shot and her body left at his house.”

This also prompted no reaction from Roy.

Sean abruptly got up and moved around the glass so he was standing right next to the man. Michelle immediately rose and joined him.

“Do you think this is wise?” she whispered.

“I don’t know, but I figure we have nothing to lose.”

“Except a body part if he really is a psycho.”

“That’s why I have you, for protection.”

He leaned down so close to Roy that he could smell the man’s breath. At least, Sean thought, he was still breathing. That was more than could be said for Bergin or Hilary, or the six guys in the barn.

“We met the client,” he whispered. His voice sank even lower. The only one who could hear him now was Roy. “Your sister, Kelly Paul?”

Sean leaned back, studying the other man. Then he hunched forward again, his cheek nearly touching Roy’s ear. “And Judy Stevens sends her best. And she believes in your innocence. She asked me to tell you that.”

Sean scrutinized the other man’s features again. Silence lingered for a few beats.

Megan started to say something, but Sean stopped her. “I think that’s enough for today.”

“But he hasn’t said anything,” exclaimed Megan.

Sean looked at Michelle in a way that indicated he didn’t necessarily agree with this statement.

As they walked down the hall, Sean slowed his pace as Brandon Murdock approached.

Michelle said, “What, does the Bureau have a satellite office at Cutter’s Rock now?”

“I thought you’d have something better to do with your time than talk to a wall.” He glanced at Megan. “You know, you really should think about who your friends are here. The wrong alliances can get you in trouble.”

“I’m Edgar Roy’s lawyer. That’s the only alliance I’m concerned with,” replied Megan.

“You’re his lawyer for now.”