Page 28 of To Die For

It would be tricky, but then pretty much everything Devine had ever done had been tricky.

But I’m still standing. At least for now.

CHAPTER

12

BRADDOCK HAD ON THE SAMErumpled trench coat from the previous night and his face held a bit more beard stubble. He methodically sipped his coffee as he and Devine perched at a back table away from all the people staring at their phones and computers as though their lives depended on it.

“Sodidyou make the call back East?” he asked. “Because if you didn’t, I’m going to be one unhappy local detective and you will be an even unhappier federal agent.”

“I did. But keep in mind I don’t know everything.”

Braddock casually looked at his watch. “Pretty early to clock the first bullshit response of the day, but go on. This might be fun. Or not. For you.”

Devine met his eye. “If you really know feds, their favorite phrase is ‘need to know’ and yours truly is not high up in that chain. Same in the Army.”

Braddock’s eyebrows flickered with interest. “You were in the Army?”

“Mustered out as a captain.”

“West Pointer?” asked Braddock.

“Yep.”

“Like my old man.”

Now Devine looked intrigued. “He still around?”

Braddock nodded, his expression turning somber. “In an assisted living facility with his memories, the few that he can recall.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“My mom died a year ago, so it’s better that he doesn’tremember she passed. He’s happy and safe. So, East Coast?” prompted Braddock.

Devine had to make a decision. And he was going to base it on his ability to read people. He was betting that Braddock was smart, tough, and a straight talker. Those were traits that Devine could get on board with, but there was something he needed to check first.

“I was sent here to escort a young girl to meet with her uncle.”

“And why is that the concern of the federal government?”

“The uncle is Danny Glass. And the young girl is Betsy Odom.”

Devine got the reaction he wanted to get.

“Okay, Danny Glass, the RICO man,” said Braddock.

“Right. The trial is scheduled to start soon, but DOJ has three dead witnesses and counting.”

“I read the papers, and our police bulletins. So I know the score on that. And I also know that Odom’s parents died from drug overdoses in the southeast corner of the state. The daughter tried to revive them, but failed.”

“That’s the official police version, at least.”

That comment, Devine noted, definitely got the detective’s attention.

“Is there another?”

Devine leaned forward and spoke in a low voice. “When I was in the Army, I had to fight lots of enemies. A few of them turned out to wear the same uniform I did. It cost me. A lot. But I thought it was the right thing to do.” He leaned back. “What do you think about that?”

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