"I told you not to come back here."
"Move."
"Not without a lawful reason."
"This is a police matter."
"Then state the matter."
Brett looked past her toward Maya. "You've got something that doesn't belong to you."
Maya answered before Ruth could. "Then describe it."
"You already know what it is."
"That's your claim."
Brett took another step. Ruth did not move. For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Brett turned toward Daniel. "You still planning to drive to Atlanta tonight?"
Daniel looked at him carefully. "Eventually."
"You might want to reconsider."
"Why?"
"If this becomes a formal investigation, I may need a complete statement."
"You already have my name."
"I may need more."
Daniel shook his head. "There it is again."
"What?"
"You never order anyone to stay. You just make leaving sound like it'll create trouble."
"I'm explaining consequences."
"No, you're creating them."
Brett's expression hardened. "You want to be responsible for department evidence disappearing?"
"I don't even know if anything disappeared."
"You heard Maya."
"I heard you."
That answer ended Brett's interest in Daniel. He turned toward Eli.
"You've known me a long time."
Eli nodded once.
"You've seen me do this job."
"I've seen you around town."
"You've seen me help people."
"Yes."
"Then you know I'm not here because I enjoy bothering Ruth or her customers."
Eli looked at him for a moment. "I don't know why you're here."
"I told you why."
"You told us there's something in this building. That's not the same thing."
Brett leaned closer to his booth. "You think Maya's telling you everything?"
Eli glanced toward her. "No."
Brett straightened slightly. "That doesn't bother you?"
"It does."
"Then maybe you should ask why she's hiding something."
Eli considered that before answering. "Maybe I should."
Maya said nothing. Brett looked satisfied until Eli continued: "But that still doesn't explain why you won't tell us what you're doing."
The satisfaction disappeared.
Caleb remained at the rear booth, listening. Brett had tried pressure, familiarity, uncertainty, and fear; none of them had given him what he wanted.
He returned to Maya. "Enough."
Maya did not move.