Page 147 of Deep Tide

She tried to keep her face neutral.

“Massey and Rincon,” he added.

“Is there a question in there?”

“Another source tells me the FBI is investigating this guy in connection with a third murder. Amelia Albright.” He waited a beat. “Can you confirm that?”

“No.”

“No, you can’t confirm? Or no, the FBI is not looking at him for that?”

“No, I can’t confirm or deny any information for you.”

Miguel’s brown-black eyes bored into hers. “How about on deep background?”

“Can’t do it.”

He darted an exasperated glance at the bright blue sky. “Look.” He met her gaze. “This source is solid gold, as far as reliability. I know Brian Bentworth was doing hits for Saledo.”

Just hearing his name put a sour taste in her mouth.

“The feds have proof.”

“What kind of proof?” she asked, disturbed by the idea that someone was leaking details of that search warrant to someone in the media.

Miguel’s mouth curved into a sly smile. “Pick up a copy of my paper on Sunday and read about it for yourself. What I need is confirmation of whether he’s being investigated in connection with Amelia, too.”

Nicole stared at the reporter. He was tenacious as hell, she’d give him that.

She watched him, battling the urge to give him Luc Gagnon’s name. It was so damn tempting. The wealthy young tech mogul was skating almost scot-free, as far as Nicole could tell. Both Joel and Brady had told her not to get hung up on that and to see it as a valuable trade. Gagnon’s cooperation, evidently, was netting big new leads for a long list of law enforcement agencies. Just last weekend, some tip gleaned from an intercepted message from one of Gagnon’s doctored phones had led police to bust a sex trafficking ring operating in Corpus Christi. So, that was good, obviously.

But Nicole still felt bitter about it. Whatever reduced punishment Gagnon’s lawyers had negotiated for him would never be nearly enough.

And then there was Gagnon’s company, which seemed to be humming along just fine. Nicole hadn’t seen a single headline about GhostSend in the past few weeks, and she’d been looking.

Encrypted phone apps were a double-edged sword. They allowed thugs like Saledo to operate secretly as they trafficked drugs and guns and people, all the while keeping their criminal activities hidden from law enforcement. But those same encryption apps were used by journalists and dissidents all over the world.

Miguel leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Come on, Nicole. Totally off the record.”

She stared at him, realizing just how brave it was that he was here, talking to her about an investigation into one of the most dangerous criminals in the Western Hemisphere. He risked his life sniffing out information and bringing corruption to light. Some people hated reporters, but Nicole was grateful for them. At least for this one.

“I’m not confirming or denying anything,” she told him. “But if you were to write a story like you’re describing, I wouldn’t have a problem with it.”

Something flared in his eyes. Pride? Gloating? She couldn’t tell.

“And that, too, is off the record.”

He nodded. “What I can’t figure out is motive,” he went on. “Why would Saledo want to take out this young woman who worked at a coffee shop?”

“Can’t help you there.” She glanced at her watch. “And looks like my time is up.”

He smirked. Then they both stood up from the table.

“Good luck with your story for Sunday.” She put her sunglasses back on. “I better not see my name in it.”

•••

It’s no problem,” Leyla lied.

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