Page 36 of Breaking Rules

Mick leaned back, his expression serious. “I can’t tell you how I found this out, but apparently, there was some sort of an investigation going on. Something to do with a big loan the bank had made to Convale.”

Sam’s brows shot up. “Convale? What was the investigation for?”

Mick shrugged. “That was so long ago, there weren’t many people for me to talk to, but something about some rules being bent to give the loan. The state banking commission was looking into it, but get this… all the documents were destroyed in the explosion when the bank was robbed.”

“Whoa.” Jo glanced at Sam. “You don’t think the robbery was a cover-up?”

“If it was, then that sheds a whole new light on the old case and maybe even the Alex Sheridan case,” Jo said.

“Sure does. But what would Alex know about the old bank robbery?” Sam asked.

“Wouldn’t surprise me if Convale was behind it. Is it any coincidence we found the cigar ashes at the crime scene and Victor Sorrentino smokes cigars?” Jo asked.

“I was thinking about that too,” Sam said. “And if that site out by the storage facility is where Alex went into the water, it’s on Beryl Thorne’s property,” Sam said.

Mick chuckled. “And we all know how close Beryl and Victor are.”

“But then, there’s Marnie and Amelia.” Sam sipped his beer. “And I also saw Victor coming out of Henley’s campaign office. There might be another angle we haven’t thought about.”

Mick raised a brow. “Campaign espionage gone wrong?”

“Crazier things have happened.”

Jo put her empty beer bottle on the table and stood. “Well, either way, it looks like we have our work cut out for us, which is why I’d better get home and get a good night’s sleep. It’s going to be a busy day tomorrow.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Jo awoke to the aroma of cinnamon buns. She stretched, the events of the previous day still swirling in her mind. The information Mick had found about the old bank loan was quite interesting, but what did that have to do with Alex’s death? Alex’s death was the case they were working, and she needed to keep her investigating thoughts on that.

She padded into the kitchen, where Bridget was bustling about, her hair pulled back from her flushed face. “Morning, sis,” Bridget said, sliding a plate of warm cinnamon buns across the counter.

Jo smiled, grabbing a roll and taking a bite. “Thanks, Bridge. These are amazing.”

Bridget grinned. “I was thinking about making a shepherd’s pie for Garvin and one for Kevin. Are you going to Garvin’s again tonight?”

Jo nodded, her mouth full of cinnamon and sugar. She swallowed then said, “Yep. Gonna stop by after work.”

Jo walked over to the window, cinnamon bun in hand. She peered out at the porch. Pickles was snoozing contentedly, his tail twitching occasionally. Jo smiled. “Looks like Pickles has finally decided to make himself at home.”

Bridget joined her at the window, grinning. “About time. He knows where his bread is buttered.”

Jo nodded, her expression thoughtful. “I’ll see if I can work on Garvin about him. He didn’t seem to mind when I told him we were feeding a stray cat on the porch, but maybe I can get him to agree to us having the cat inside.”

“I’ll be sure to make the shepherd’s pie extra tasty so he’s in an agreeable mood.”

Jo laughed and turned away from the window, her mind already back on the case. “I gotta get to work. See you there later?”

“Yep. I’ll drop off the pies later this afternoon so you can go straight to Garvin’s with his.”

“Perfect.”

On her way to work, Jo stopped at Brewed Awakening and arrived at the station with a box of donuts.

“Donuts!” Reese jumped up from her desk. “I hope there’s a Boston cream.”

Jo opened the box and tilted it toward Reese. “There’s only one. Better take it before one of the guys gets it.”

Wyatt, Kevin, and Sam were already in the squad room. Jo passed around the box and sat on the edge of her desk. “Are we going to search the woods today?”

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