Riley escorts Viana to the interrogation room as Viana awkwardly sits down. Both take on their respective poker faces.
“Coffee?”
“No thanks… I don’t drink caffeine…”
“Fair enough. I’ll cut to the chase. What do you know?”
“Nada…”
“Bullshit. Any detective worth their salt can tell you know what’s going on.”
“Any, or just you? Sure your cop logic ain’t rusty?”
“Don’t bother. That trick doesn’t work on me. I learned to trust my instincts and my spider senses are saying you know everything we need to know to solve this case.”
“Know or not, sir, there isn’t a whole lot I can tell you.”
“Why not?” Riley’s eyes narrow in irritation that she’s dodging.
“Ya see… the people dying, they know what I know. And I don’t feel like painting a target on my back by being the one to sing about what Herrera didn’t talk about. They don’t know I know jack shit, and I’d prefer to keep it that way. Your boy is probably connected to this whole shit fest.”
“What the hell was Herrera involved in? And Fenton was in on it too?”
“Oh come now. Who’s the one group everyone knows about, nobody talks about, and can get a hired killer on a dime? You’re a smart man. I’m sure you can figure it out.”
Returning attitude similar to hers, he replies with, “A charity? Something around an election going on in the political parties, concerning a new Senator aiming for Governor of Rio?”
Viana facepalms and her right eye twitches. “I really hope that is not your most serious answer… But I guess they could be seen as one by those not in the know. Alright. Tell you what. It’s related to that. But they ain’t a fucking charity. The conspiracy related to these kills would give anyone a migraine. The conspiracy is fact even though people would silence those who know by either killing us or accusing us of being tin foil hats.”
“What’s being hidden by these kills?”
“Look, if Herrera didn’t say a word and they killed him for knowing, I ain’t telling you either. He had reason for keeping his trap shut even if I don’t understand the full reason it was better kept hidden. What I will tell you though is… Keep protection detail on everyone those two knew. I don’t know who else was involved besides those three guys, but it doesn’t hurt to cover as many bases as possible. ‘They’ want to eliminate all their loose ends with regards to a crime a while back. Which one, I’m a bit fuzzy on the details of anyway so I wouldn’t quote me. But considering who we’re after, none of you cops are gonna be able to touch these bastards.”
“Why not? Nobody is above the law…”
“Try telling me that when you try getting his employer and suddenly these people that died don’t exist by any records.”
The detective looked at her incredulously. “Who could do that? Nobody can…”
“These guys can. Herrera taught me everything I know, and I can track. I tried going after the killer already…”
“You what?!”
“I tracked him…”
“How? We never find anything…”
“I’m not sure as you’re quite ready for how I know… But let’s find out. Do you believe in monsters, detective?”
“Brothers Grimm? Big bad wolf? Cinderella? Twilight? That TV show with the two brothers who hunt what lurks in the dark? Shit, my dad was a loon. Supposedly my father was involved in a murder cover-up concerning a Perseus Herveaux… Although he was killed a few days after Perseus was murdered...”
