Desert Rose

Chapter 6

Spencer's POV

The fear I saw in Grace's eyes when she awoke next to me broke a piece inside of me. I know it wasn't towards me, she just experienced a traumatic event but for her to look at me with fear in her eyes makes me wonder how she will look at me when she finds out who I am. 

Arriving at work I decide to go interview the attackers and get whatever evidence I can. Grabbing my gear and the paperwork I head on over to the first suspect Dean. He's easy enough to find, same with Shane and Mark seeing as they are all partners at a gym they are building up. Once I finish with Dean I can head over to Shane and then Mark. 

Arriving at the gym I look around in boredom, it's just like every other gym around here just with a few alterations. 

Heading to the desk I notice that Mark is tending to the books and guests. "Hey Mark." Once I get his attention I see the slight fear as well as shock flash in his eyes before he covers it with a fake smile. 

"Oh hey Spence! What's up man? Come to join the next rising star gym?" He asks nervously, I can sense his nerves the way his eyes shift slightly to my shoulder instead of my eyes. A man who can't look you in the eyes is a guilty man hiding secrets. 

"Well no Mark, I'm actually here to chat with your partners."  I emphasize the last word to invoke a slight panic and fear in him. With these three I need to find a weak link. One that will roll over on the other two in order to arrest anyone. They left semen on her as well as in her but the problem is I need to have a valid reason for suspicion in order to get a court order for DNA on all three of them. One needs to roll to get two. 

"Oh? What for if you don't mind me asking?" The tremble in his words leads me to believe he knows what they are wanted for, which means he's the accomplice, making him just as guilty as the others if not worse for not stopping them. 

"Well I have a case that I need to discuss with them. I need to speak with Dean and then I'd like to speak with Shane." 

"Alright, let's head this way, you know with my sister being a cop and all I know how this works and we don't want to be a hindrance to the investigation. We are willing to help you in any way you need." The rambling tells me he's trying to oversell himself to seem less suspicious. 

"I'd appreciate that very much."

"Isn't my sister your partner?" Things begin to click in place for him. The worry seems to grow in his eyes as the realization his sister isn't with me means that she chose not to be or can't. In this case it's both. 

"Well your sister didn't want the case, she is looking to find a different field to work in. She prefers the action over the questioning." A slight weight seems to lift off his shoulders making him relax slightly. 

Good, I want him to relax and I want him to make a mistake thinking that he is free and clear. "Hey Dean!" Mark hollers to his friend before opening the door to Dean sitting at his computer watching something with joy. Slamming the computer closed he looks up noticing Mark with me dressed in uniform and I see his face drop the anger and a blank expression shadows his face. The one thing he hasn't been able to perfect though is his eyes. Once you master masking your emotions in your eyes you have the upper hand. He shows everything through his eyes. He will be tough, but I'm tougher.