Chapter 175

The sniper was tight-lipped. Even under interrogation, he refused to budge, not answering a single question, let alone telling the police whom he served. There was nothing that they could offer him, not protection or leniency, that would get him to talk.

Fortunately, the tattoo on his neck gave away his association. The three black pawprints in a triangular formation told Chief Callaghan that the sniper worked for the Bianchi crime family. When Chief Callaghan told Andrew about his findings, it was enough for Andrew to demand that Edoardo Bianchi be brought in for interrogation.

The day that Bianchi was arrested for conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, Andrew paced outside the interrogation room at the police station. He knew that he should let the police handle this case, that he was too close to it to keep a clear head, but he couldn’t let this one get out of his reach. His girlfriend had nearly been killed; he would not let that go unanswered, especially not if his daughter’s fiancé was a co-conspirator.

He paused at the door and strained to listen to the conversation going on inside. The room was soundproofed for human hearing, but not for a werewolf’s ears—most certainly not for an Alpha’s.

“We know that you hired Jason Booth to kill Crystal Blanchard and any potential witnesses,” Chief Callaghan said without a hint of doubt to his tone.

Silence rang on Bianchi’s end.

“Do you deny these claims?” Chief Callaghan asked.

Again, silence.

“We know that you had a co-conspirator as well: Lisa Dubois’s fiancé, Bob,” Chief Callaghan continued. “Do you deny THAT claim?”

The silence was deafening.

“Will you answer any of our questions, Mr. Bianchi?” Chief Callaghan asked, his tone now tinted with a hint of frustration.

Andrew’s muscles tensed as Bianchi continued his refusal to speak.

“We can do this all day, Mr. Bianchi, but a one-sided conversation will not be very productive for either one of us.”

“Then I want my lawyer,” Bianchi finally said in a deep, deceptively soothing voice.

“Pardon me?”

“My lawyer. I know my rights. I don’t have to answer any of your questions without a lawyer present, and I want mine.”

Chief Callaghan sighed.

Andrew’s hand curled into a fist. He knew that their chances of getting Bianchi to admit anything would be slim to none with a lawyer present, but he would not speak without one, either. He prayed to the Goddess that Chief Callaghan would hold out.

“Wait here,” Chief Callaghan finally said.

“Where would I go?” Bianchi said, followed by the rattling of handcuffs.

Andrew stepped away from the door just before Chief Callaghan exited. Chief Callaghan removed his hat and ran his hand through his hair. Then he placed his hat back on his head and faced Andrew.

“He wants a lawyer,” Chief Callaghan said.

Andrew’s jaw clenched, but he tried to remain calm.

“What do you think we should do?” he asked.

“I think that he won’t talk unless we comply,” Chief Callaghan replied. “At the same time, he probably won’t talk if we do, and he will also see that he can get the upper hand if we give in. But…”

“But?”

“But it is the law.”

Andrew breathed deeply in and out through his nostrils. He squared his shoulders and held his head high as he charged for the door.

“Screw the law,” he said, one hand on the knob. “Let me have a go with him.”

“With all due respect, Your Highness, are you sure that is such a good idea?” Chief Callaghan asked hesitantly.

Andrew cracked his neck.

“With all due respect, Chief, I am Alpha King. It is not your place to question me,” he said with a tone that left no room for argument.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Andrew took a deep breath, then opened the door to the interrogation room.

He walked first into the observation room attached to the interrogation room and examined Bianchi through the two-way mirror. He watched the blonde, slick-haired man sit stiffly still, his brown eyes darting about the room as he calculated every possible escape. He took in Bianchi’s lean muscles and shorter stature.

This was a man who relied more on his wit than on his physical prowess. Andrew could use that, if he could just appeal to the man’s sense of self-preservation.

After a few more minutes of careful consideration, Andrew decided to face Bianchi.

“Good day, Mr. Bianchi,” he said as he closed the door behind him.

Bianchi smiled wickedly.

“Well, well, what did I do to have the Alpha King himself interrogate me?” he asked.

“You know what,” Andrew replied, “even if you won’t admit it.”

“I will neither confirm nor deny anything until my lawyer is present.”

“Yes, so you said. The problem is that we have enough evidence to try you on conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, whether you confess or not.”

Bianchi’s smile weakened, and a vein in his temple twitched.

“I am not talking without my lawyer,” he asserted, more timidly this time.

“I understand. It is the law, after all. We can get you your lawyer, although it will probably take a few hours.”

Bianchi shook his head.

“Call my personal lawyer. I’m sure that he will be here in half an hour, tops.”

Andrew shrugged.

“Very well. Give me his name, and I’ll pass it along to Chief Callaghan. However…”

He paused, ensuring that he had Bianchi’s attention. When he saw that Bianchi was leaning towards him, eyes and mind on him, he continued.

“However, if you just want out of here, we could arrange that as well.”

Bianchi’s finely manicured brows furrowed in confusion. He leaned back in his chair and stared Andrew straight in the eyes.

“What’s the catch, Your Highness?”

“We know that you are not conspiring against Crystal alone.”

Andrew’s voice dropped dangerously low.

“My daughter’s fiancé is in on it as well. I want you to inform on him.”

Bianchi arched a brow.

“You would have me snitch on your future son-in-law?”

Andrew slammed his hands down on the table in front of Bianchi, causing the other man to flinch.

“That man is untrustworthy,” he snarled. “He’s done harm to my family. He is nothing to me.”

Andrew stood up straight and brushed off his suit, doing his best to regain his composure.

“So, do we have a deal?”

Bianchi reached his cuffed hands up to stroke his chin. He did not say anything for several minutes, forcing Andrew to wait for his verdict.

Andrew crossed his arms over his chest and tapped his foot, barely keeping himself from pacing to burn off the impatient energy. He could not let Bianchi know that he had that much influence over the Alpha King and his mood. It was bad enough that he had lost his temper once already.

Finally, Bianchi leaned forward, folded his hands, and placed them on the table. He smirked and shook his head.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. We don’t have a deal.”

Andrew dug his fingers into his arms. He wanted nothing more than to leap across the table and rip out Bianchi’s throat, but he had to remain in control. They might still be able to use him if they only gave him a little time to think about his options.

“Now,” Bianchi said, “what about my lawyer?”