POV: Thomas Webb
The interview room was small and the witness was nervous.
Marcus Sterling's associate,a man named Dmitri who'd been present when DeVos made his final decision about Daniel,sat across from Thomas Webb, looking like someone who'd made a calculation about which danger was less dangerous: organized crime retaliation or police custody.
"DeVos said Daniel was a liability," Dmitri said in accented English. "Not in those exact words. But the meaning was clear. Daniel had created obligation. Daniel was trying to escape obligation. People don't escape DeVos."
Thomas recorded the statement. Took notes. Understood that Dmitri was giving him testimony that was valuable but legally precarious. DeVos had never directly ordered Daniel's death. The conversation had been coded. Suggestion and implication rather than explicit instruction.
"Did DeVos name who would handle it?" Thomas asked.
"No. That's not how it works. He indicated the problem. Others determined the solution."
