Page 70 of Draven

“I see.” Captain Beresford stands and crosses to the corner of his office. He pours himself a coffee without offering me one, then sits back down. He blows across the top of his drink before he sips. “I can’t make any promises, Rhodes, but coming here and admitting your mistakes took guts, and officers with guts is what this force needs. I will make sure to put in a good word with the investigating officer.”

“Thank you, sir. That’s all I ask.”

“Well, if that’s all, Rhodes.”

Here we go. My heart lodges in my ribs, and I’m sure he must hear how fast it’s beating. “There is one more thing, sir.”

He finger-taps his desk, and I catch a slight tightening of the skin around his mouth. He’s getting impatient with me. Maybe that will work in my favor, or maybe it won’t.

“Which is?”

“I’m hearing rumors. Murmurings of a dirty cop being involved in my sister’s case.”

Thud, thud, thud. My palms prickle, and I lock my knees in place, but still, my thighs shake a bit. I hope he doesn’t notice, and I watch his face closely for any signs of a reaction. Oh, he’s good. There’s not a flicker nor a twitch as he just stares at me with unblinking, cold eyes.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, sir. I wondered if those rumors have reached you?”

He takes another sip of coffee. “I can’t say they have, Rhodes, but listening to idle gossip isn’t advisable.”

I take a breath, knowing that as soon as the next words are out of my mouth, I’ll set in motion a chain of events that can’t be stopped.

“Oh, I wouldn’t say it was idle gossip, sir. I have it on very good authority that a senior member of the New Jersey police force is involved in a nationwide sex trafficking ring.”

His right upper eyelid twitches. Aha! It’s the first sign he’s given that beneath his cool exterior lies a seething mess of rage.

“And on whose authority might that be, Rhodes?”

I press my lips together. “I’d rather not reveal my sources at this time, sir. In the meantime, I’m going to turn over a few stones… see what I can uncover. If there is a dirty cop in our midst, we owe it to the people of New Jersey to expose them.” I lock my gaze on his, sending a silent message that screams I see right through you, you evil bastard. “Don’t you agree, sir?”

Gloves cast aside and cards played, he stares at me with pure hatred pouring from his eyes, which is unsurprising considering how much money he must have lost when Draven and I freed all those women. If he’s working across the country with others like him, they won’t have been pleased at the loss of income.

“I’d be careful if I were you, Rhodes,” he warns. “If your suspicions turn out to be true, you may find yourself in hot water with no one to bail you out.”

And there it is. A virtual threat hidden beneath a veneer of false concern.

“Don’t you worry, sir,” I say. “I know exactly what I’m doing.”

Chapter 26

Louise

My hands tremble, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins from the altercation with the captain. I don’t say a word as I race down the stairs and out onto the street. Taking gulps of air, I stride down the street, away from the precinct.

“He bit.”

I’m out of breath, and my legs won’t stop shaking, but my resolve is stronger than ever. I keep expecting a flood of cop cars to scream to a halt and cart me off to jail on some trumped-up charge. Then again, the captain is far too clever for that. He’ll want me gone, out of the way, and to disappear for good, which is what we’re all counting on.

“You’re sure?” Pete asks, his voice sounding tinny, as though he’s holed up in a small, windowless room. “We heard what he said, but having no visuals can be misleading.”

“I’m positive. As soon as I left that office, I bet he launched into action.”

“You okay, Lola?” Draven’s tone is stiff, his anxiety coming across loud and clear.

My stomach turns over, my chest expanding with a warmth that comes when you realize another person cares about what happens to you. His concern makes me feel all gooey inside. Not that I’ll admit as much to him. Try cutesy pie talk on Draven, and he’ll run screaming.

“Yeah,” I say. “I’ll be glad when it’s over, though.”

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