Deadly Heat (Deadly #2)(61)

“We just have to make sure this witness stays alive,” Kenton snapped. Not like the last one. I should have done more for Powell.

“He’ll stay under police protection,” Monica assured him. “I’ll make sure that he doesn’t get out of their sight. Nothing will happen to him.”

“Uh, guys…” Jon’s voice was tense. Kenton glanced up and saw the guy hurrying toward them. “I think you’d both better f*cking get outside, right now.”

Kenton turned toward him.

Jon stood, eyes slits, jaw locked. “One of the cops just told me that Captain Lawrence is out there talking to some reporters that have been staking out the place.”

“What?” Kenton took off. No, oh, hell, no, this was the last thing they needed right now. He heard the tap of Monica’s high heels as she ran behind him.

He turned a hard right at the corner, shot through the quiet bullpen, and headed fast for the entrance to the station. Christ, he could see the camera outside.

No one had given Lawrence the all-clear to talk to the press, and if that guy so much as mentioned their witness…

Kenton’s hands slammed down hard on the door handle, sending the glass door flying open and the captain— “We are confident that the witness we currently have in custody will be instrumental in the apprehension of the perpetrator known as Phoenix.” Lawrence’s voice was loud and too confident.

“Shit.” Monica’s whisper from right behind Kenton.

Growling, he hurried to the captain’s side. Did Lawrence have any idea just what he’d done?

“Our witness saw Phoenix. We’ll have his description up and—”

“I’m afraid the interview is over,” Kenton said, amazed that his voice came out cool and halfway calm when rage pumped through his blood so hard and fast. He grabbed Lawrence’s arm, harder than necessary, but so what, and pulled the guy back. Then he stepped in front of him, deliberately using his larger body to block the idiot.

“What are you doing?” Lawrence demanded, voice low. “This is my—”

“Don’t say another word.” Kenton caught Monica’s order to the captain.

Kenton didn’t glance back at them. He stared at the group. A cameraman and a reporter from Channel Five. And the guy on the right—his press badge listed his name as Thomas Jones. He was a reporter for the Charlottesville Times. They all stared at him with eager, hungry expressions on their faces. Like a pack of wolves. “We have no further comment on the Phoenix case tonight.”

“But what about the witness?” The reporter from Channel Five, Elle Shaw, pressed forward.

“What does Phoenix look like? If you’ve got it, then give us his description,” Jones demanded.

“The SSD is currently following multiple leads on this case,” Kenton said smoothly, offering them a smile while he shoved down his anger. “And, yes, we are confident that we will be making an arrest in this case.” He wouldn’t leave town until they did.

“When?” Jones wanted to know.

Kenton’s glance drifted over them. “We are collecting evidence at this time.”

“Evidence supplied by your witness?” Shaw asked.

Now this was the dicey part. He needed to work some serious damage control. “I don’t want the witness’s name mentioned in your reports.”

Silence.

“Uh, excuse me?” Shaw blinked a few times. Right. Like she’d never been asked to sit on a story before. She knew this game.

“Turn off the camera,” Kenton ordered, still with a casual smile on his face. Letting the reporters see your fury was never a good idea. They needed finesse and charm.

Lawrence swore behind him. That guy had no charm.

The camera light blinked off.

“At this juncture, the SSD would like for you to refrain from running any story about a possible witness to the arsons.”

“What the hell?” Elle exclaimed. “The captain just told us about—”

“And I’m telling you—the SSD would consider it a personal favor if this information wasn’t aired, at least not until we’ve had a chance to follow up on our new leads.” Sweat trickled down his back, but Kenton kept his pose loose and easy.

Elle’s eyes narrowed. “What’s in it for us?”

His gaze swept between her and Jones. “The two of you will get the first call when we catch the bastard.”

Elle smiled.

Jones narrowed his eyes.

“You don’t talk about the witness yet, and you’ll both get the best interviews in town.” He offered another smile. “Or you can run the story as is and rest assured that you will not be privy to any more discoveries or statements from the SSD.”

He let that sink in, and after a moment, Shaw gave a grudging nod. Kenton’s stare centered on Jones. “Do we have an agreement?”

Jones smiled, flashing too many teeth. “Sure we do.”

And Kenton was sure that he didn’t believe the guy.

“Then we’ll be talking soon.”

He turned away, grabbed Lawrence’s arm, and tried to make the hold look friendly. But he failed and pulled the guy away with him.

When he passed Jon, Kenton leaned toward the other agent. “Until Lawrence goes home, make sure no other reporters get inside tonight. The SSD needs to keep control of the media.”