“This is a fairly new practice you have here, how long has it been? Six months? What inspired the move?”I ask.
Bennet’s eyes narrow, his hackles obviously raising now it’s clear we’ve looked into him. “My in-laws live out this way. My wife wanted to be closer now her father’s fallen ill.”
“Must be nice to be somewhere quieter as well. Less chance of any more break-ins.”
“I suppose so. I’m sorry Agent, I want to help but I’m really not sure what you’re getting at.”
My smile is brittle. “I apologize. Let me make things clear. Six years ago, a week before Arthur Maxwell killed and abducted Jennifer Partridge, there was a break in at your veterinary clinic. Four vials of tranquilizer were taken, among other drugs. Now, Maxwell is killing in Quantico. It seems like quite the coincidence that you’d be here too.”
Bennet scrunches his face up and shakes his head. He blows out a breath like he’s at a loss for words. “Well, I can certainly see why you’d want to check in, but I have nothing to do with those murders. Like I said to the FBI six years ago, it was just a local break-in. One of the addicts from the shelter.”
Eli steps forward, planting his hands on Bennet’s desk. “But you do know Arthur Maxwell.”
Bennet’s eyes catch on Eli’s hands, and I watch him tense. Apparently, the good doctor doesn’t like his space beinginvaded. “Yes, but I’m pretty sure that’s not a crime. I wasn’t the only one fooled by Maxwell’s façade. If it was a façade that is. I still think you might have the wrong man.”
I nod steadily, like he’s got me convinced. “The thing is, Colin, I don’t like coincidences and there seem to be an awful lot of them around you. We have a witness who can match the times you visited Maxwell to shortly before each of his murders.” I pin him with a sharp look. “I don’t think there was a break in at your old clinic. I think you took the tranquilizers and gave them to Maxwell, then staged a robbery to cover yourself in case the police came looking.”
Bennet loses the innocent act and cocks his head, an amused smile playing at his lips. “That is quite the story, Agent Park. One I seriously doubt anywitnesscan corroborate.”
I don’t bother answering him. I just open the door and call out into the reception area. “Freya, you can come join us now.”
I turn back in time to see Bennet stiffen. When Freya walks into the office he turns as white as his lab coat.
He swallows and tugs at his collar. “Angelica. Or should I say Freya?” He shakes his head, eyebrows raised in shock. “I must say I’m surprised to see you here. And with the FBI? It was only two years ago that you seemed joined at the hip with your father.”
I freeze, ice shooting through my veins.
Eli’s fingers dig into the wooden desk. He picked up on it too. Bennet just said he’d seen Freya with her fathertwo years ago.
Ever so slowly I turn to look at Freya.
She avoids my eyes, staring straight at Bennet. “Time must be getting away from you Uncle Peter,” she says, “I haven’t seen my father in six years.”
Bennet blinks.
My hands drop to the cuffs clipped to my belt. I would deal with Freya later, right now I need to focus on Bennet. “You toldus you hadn’t seen Maxwell since he went on the run six years ago.”
“Lying to a federal officer is a crime, Dr Bennet,” Eli adds.
Bennet smiles. He’s yet to take his eyes off Freya. “Ah, well, I suppose Angelica is right. I must be getting confused with my dates. I was correct earlier. I haven’t seen Maxwell - or his daughter - for six years.”
I let my hand come away from the cuffs. He’s lying but it still isn’t enough to take him in and he knows it. And now I have a bigger problem to deal with. “I see. Well, thank you for your time,” I say, cutting the interview short. “We’ll be in touch if we have any more questions.”
“Of course, let me show you out.” Bennet escorts us to the door. He places a hand on Freya’s shoulder to stop her. “It was good to see you Angelica and you should know, whether or not your father is guilty of the things they say he is, I’m sure he misses you dearly.”
Freya looks sick but I can no longer trust her reactions anymore. To my surprise, it’s Eli who takes her arm, pulling her away from Dr Bennet.
“That’s it?” Freya asks as we walk back to the car.
“That’s it,” I say, my voice flat. We climb into the car, Freya sliding into the back with Jude as Eli rounds the hood and I take the driver’s seat.
“We barely got any answers,” Freya protests.
I twist around in my seat, locking her in place with my gaze. “The only answer I care about right now is how you were with your father two years ago when you claim you haven’t seen him since you ran.”
She sinks back into her seat and turns away from me, staring out the window.
I turn the engine on and pull away from the vets.
