I guess I'm just more of a risk taker than you are.To me,hiring a lawyer would delay the arrival of the day when the cops turned their attention from me to the real perp.
If I was guilty and had no intention of facing the music,I'd hire a lawyer the moment the guy at the door said "I'm Detective Smith from the Anytown Police Department".I'd also hire one the moment I was officially indicted/charged.But not before.
I understand your poimt about taking risks, but I'm not so sure that having a lawyer would actually make them suspect you more than a mistake on your part would if you went it alone. All it would take is one error on your part, one slip of the tongue, one mistake that a lawyer could have prevented, and that would significantly delay the arrival of the day you are talking about. For obvious reasons, the police are going to focus on family members first, so while I agree with you that cooperation is a smart move, it's also wise to know how to approach that cooperation. A local lawyer will know the local police department and how they operate.