And we're off to ACT II. Time to get those thinking caps on, detectives.
ACT II
Carigio looked even more ill tempered than he did two hours ago.
When a smug-faced Tanner and Lessing escorted their latest suspect back into the bullpen, Mike smiled proudly, as he watched his detectives unceremoniously drop him into the guest chair of the northeast interrogation room.
"Well, that ought to get interesting.", Forester mumbled, as he walked past the Lieutenant, rubbing his hands together in expectation of what was to come.
It was obvious that the Boston-area specialist was sure that he'd find his answers in the slimy bar owner, but Mike wasn't quite ready to put all his eggs in one basket. Even though Carigio might have both, motive and opportunity, he didn't fit the description of the shooter, and his bank records didn't reflect a respective payment to a potential hitman.
Yes, he was an attractive suspect given his background, but he wasn't the only one holding a grudge against the gay bar, that much Mike was certain of.
Deciding to try another route, he glanced over at his partner who'd remained quiet, as the parade of detectives dispersed back to their respective desks.
"Steve, while I handle this…situation, go ahead and use your insight to talk to Flick. I want to know if there's any chance that he might be involved in this. Feel him out on his relationship to Barry even, see if there was enough friction to justify the murder and conceal it as a hate crime. Just remember that we still haven't gotten all his bank paperwork back yet, so play it safely."
He might as well have told his partner to scrub the toilets downstairs judging by the horrified look on Steve's face.
"What…what do you mean? Me? Alone? Are you sure about that?"
"I'm looking at you, aren't I?", Mike countered flippantly and gestured toward the interrogation room, where an anxious Carigio was pacing back and forth, while Forester watched him from the safety of the other side of the glass wall, "Listen, I'm going to have my hands full keeping those two apart. In the meantime, I just have…well…let's just say I have that strange gut feeling that the truth isn't going to be found in this room. It's still out there somewhere. And I don't want to stop our efforts betting on the wrong horse and allowing the killer to get away."
Drawing in a deep breath, Steve's eyes settled on Carigio, then some indiscernible spot along the file cabinets ahead.
"You think he's just going to bear his soul to me after what happened last night?"
Noting the slight trembling in his partner's voice, Mike smiled encouragingly, then patted Steve's shoulder as he headed for the interrogation room.
"If he's going to bear his soul to anybody, it's going to be you. Just be careful. Remember what I told you. And keep up your guard, Smiley."