'They were all real edgy.
Rebecca did the best job of concealing it from us, but I could see it
in her eyes.'
'And her hands, ' Cole said. 'She was gripping them.
' 'Yeah, she was, ' Daniel remembered. He reached up and rubbed the
back of his neck, trying to work the knots of tension out.
'I sure was wrong, ' Cole said. 'I thought it was going to be a waste
of time talking to Jessica and Grace. What the hell kind of a game are
they playing? ' 'I don't know, ' Daniel replied. 'I was pretty sure
it was going to be a waste, too. I was just following procedure,
hoping one of them might have noticed something unusual. It sure as
hell got complicated, didn't it? ' 'Yeah, it did, ' Cole agreed. 'And
it doesn't make any sense. They've got to know they were seen in the
bank earlier that afternoon. They all stood in line with men who would
remember them. Why did they go to all the trouble of rehearsing what
they were going to say? ' 'No, it doesn't make any sense. Which one
of them is lying? ' 'Maybe all three of them are. They're obviously
hell-bent on protecting one another.'
'Or what? ' 'They're protecting someone else, someone we don't know
about yet.'
'How do we find out the truth? ' 'They're going to tell us, ' Daniel
said.
'Tomorrow, one way or another, Jessica and Grace and Rebecca are going
to tell us what they know.'
'And if they don't? ' 'No one's going to get in my way, man or
woman.'
Daniel's voice shook with emotion. 'If I have to lock them up, by God,
I will.'
'Don't do anything crazy.' Cole saw the irony in his remark and let
out a harsh laugh. 'I think this badge is changing me. I'm usually
the one doing crazy things, and now I'm cautioning you. I know how bad
you want those men. Hell, I'd feel the same way, but you've got to
keep it legal.' Daniel disagreed. 'I'm going to get them any way that
I can. I don't care if it's legal or not. Are you going to help me?
' 'I already told you I'd help.' The conversation ended when they
reached the hotel and went up to their rooms. Cole threw open his
window to get rid of the musty smell, then stripped out of his clothes,
