Symphony of Bones by L.T. Ryan (little bear else holmelund minarik .txt) 📕

was the first to break the silence, but all she could think to say was, “Wow.”

“Yeah.” Viotto rubbed a hand down his face. “I’m not sure I believe him.”

“About what?”

“That this isn’t personal.” He gestured to the screen. “That email he sent his father was personal. Maybe that’s not all it was, but it was a large contributing factor.”

“Mara said he liked the idea of being a hacktivist. Maybe this was where he cut his teeth.”

“If he could take down his father, he’d gain some respect. Maybe get a career out of it. Or at least some accomplices.”

Cassie nodded. “He wanted to be someone great, but he didn’t want his father to choose his path forward.”

“So, he’d take him out of the equation and get a little revenge while he’s at it.”

They sat in silence for a moment while they both contemplated the likelihood of that scenario. Viotto leaned forward, closed out of the video, and clicked on the folder labeled Evidence.

More folders awaited them. Connor had arranged them alphabetically according to the company’s name. There had to be at least twenty here. Viotto clicked on the first one—BestBed.

“Have you heard of that company before?” Cassie asked.

“No. Its gotta be on the smaller side. It wouldn’t make him a ton of money, but sometimes it’s better to steal pennies instead of dollars.”

They scrolled through the documents inside. Screenshots of emails. Pictures of Senator Grayson having dinner with the same man over the course of two years. Donations made to charities for oddly specific amounts.

“He was acting like his own private detective.” Viotto shook his head, but he looked impressed. “There’s got to be hundreds of documents here, if not thousands. This is going to take some time to go through.”

“Do you think this was enough of a motive to have him killed?”

“It certainly is compelling evidence.”

“But his own father? Do you think he’d be capable of that?”

“Everyone is capable of murder,” Viotto said. “It’s whether or not we’re pushed to do it.”

Cassie looked back at the laptop. She didn’t like that answer, but she couldn’t fault him for thinking that. She’d experienced plenty of horrors over the years, had seen what humans could do. They could be wonderful, giving, incredible creatures. Or they could be evil, disgusting monsters.

“So, what’s next?”

Viotto pulled out his phone, hit a few more buttons, and put it on speaker.

Mannis picked up on the second ring. “Any updates?”

“Yeah.” Viotto looked at the computer and shook his head. “Do me a favor and bring Senator Grayson in. He’s got some explaining to do.”

30

Cassie and Viotto crammed themselves into the tiny room on the other side of a one-way mirror where they could watch Davenport and Mannis interview Senator Grayson. It was hot and stuffy, and she was all too aware of how close Viotto was.

Their drive back to the station was full of unanswered questions. She had sensed his excitement as they trekked closer to the truth about what had happened to Connor Grayson. She still had her doubts. Maybe the senator had killed his own son, or maybe one of his so-called friends had gotten wind of what Connor was up to. Maybe his death had nothing to do with the information Mara had given them.

But as more time went on, that last one seemed less likely.

The vibration of Cassie’s phone interrupted the silence. Laura’s name appeared on the screen. Cassie was less angry with her mother now that there was some time and distance between them, but she wasn’t quite ready to have a conversation with her. She wanted to hear what Grayson had to say. Then she’d go home and fix things with her parents.

Viotto gestured to her phone. “You need to take that?”

“No.” Cassie slipped the phone back in her bag. “It’s just my sister.”

Viotto nodded toward Senator Grayson. “You picking up anything from him?”

Cassie looked at the man on the other side of the glass. The room was stark white and barren. He sat behind a desk and fiddled with a bottle of water someone had given him. It was already half gone. She wasn’t sure how long he’d been there, but he’d already put his jacket on the back of his chair and loosened his tie. He kept looking at the door in anticipation of someone walking through it.

“Psychically? No.” Cassie watched as he glanced at the door for the hundredth time. “But experience tells me he’s nervous about something. I’m surprised his lawyer isn’t in there.”

“He could’ve called him and chose not to.” Viotto crossed his arms. He looked relaxed except for his fingers drumming against his arm. “Davenport told him we had additional information about Connor. He either doesn’t think this is about him or he doesn’t want to look guilty by calling in his lawyer.”

“He’s about to get a rude awakening.” The door to the interrogation room opened and Mannis and Davenport walked through. “Here we go.”

“Senator Grayson.” Davenport’s earlier air of annoyance had disappeared. He seemed congenial now, like he was sitting down with an old friend. “How are you? Do you need some more water?”

“No, I’m fine.” Then, as an afterthought, he added, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Davenport gestured to Mannis as the other man sat down. “You remember my colleague?”

Grayson pushed his water to the side and folded his hands on the table. It looked like it took all of his willpower to appear as stately as usual. The bags under his eyes seemed even more pronounced in the fluorescent lighting. “Yes. It’s nice to see you again, Agent Mannis.”

“Likewise, Senator Grayson. We appreciate you coming down here to talk to us.”

“You said it was about Connor?” He looked between the two men. “Something about additional information?”

Davenport sat back in the chair. He wouldn’t have looked out of place if he’d had a cigarette in his mouth and a beer on the table in front of him. “We had a chat with Connor’s ex-girlfriend, Mara Young. Do you know her?”

“Not really.” Grayson shrugged. “I never