Page 61 of Burning Truth

“Well, even he can’t dismantle everything I’ve set up, Addison. If I don’t use my cell phone to log into my system within the next,” his gaze flicked to the clock on the wall by the door, “two hours and fifteen minutes, Columbus is going to burn. And I’m going to laugh.”

“Addie,” Gabbie said softly. “It looks like he’s been at a storage building downtown several times, and I’ve found receipts for payment of the building under a bogus name. Oh, no, it’s under Victoria Sincenze’s name. She was the first one he killed!”

Was that the key to this whole thing? Obviously, he thought he was smarter than they were. Did he not think they would research his background and what he’d done? Addie tried to decide if she wanted to bluff him. If they’d found anything at his house or office, they would have told her over the earpiece.

“Johnson says they haven’t found anything connecting him to the arsons at his house or his office,” Severn said, as if reading her mind. “They’re spotless.”

“So, what is it you want from me exactly, Russell?” Addie asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I want you to do a news segment on me,” he said, lifting his chin as he sat back in his chair. “About how I’m cleaning up the police department.”

Addie frowned. “How exactly are you doing that? So far, all I’ve seen you do is burn the places where they hang out. Like a scorned child. I know they kicked you out of the police academy. And I can understand why, now.”

Russell’s face turned furious, and a coldness settled into his eyes. “That was their first mistake. But definitely not their last. They will pay for everything they’ve ever done to me.”

Gabbie’s voice whispered into her ear. “Besides washing out of the academy, they arrested him at work for the sexual assault case. He missed a court date, so they filed a bench warrant. They picked him up twice at work.”

“So, you’re mad at the cops,” Addie said, her voice tired, “just like the rest of Columbus. I got a parking ticket the other day. Doesn’t mean I’m going to kill somebody,” she said, laughing lightly.

“It’s more than parking tickets,” Russell snarled.

“You’re talking about Victoria?” she asked quickly, trying to take him off guard.

For a moment, he stalled out, his face going slack.

“And the protection order mess,” she continued. “I read a report on that. They arrested you at work. How the heck did you keep your job?”

His gaze had focused on her again, and there was a smugness there. He didn’t think she realized he’d murdered Victoria.

“Victoria misunderstood my intentions,” he said slowly, “and management agreed to look the other way.”

Addie cocked her head. Something in there seemed flimsy. “I don’t think they would have tolerated the police arresting you twice in the lobby of the building. Not unless…” she trailed off expectantly.

Russell gave a short laugh. “I would have told you in the interview. This is another example of their corruption. Not unless… I had incriminating evidence against the Executive Director. He has a few skeletons in his own closet that I happened to find out about. My job at the department is secure for as long as I want it.”

Damn. That must be something big. Johnson might have to circle back to that later.

“Well, doesn’t that make you a hypocrite?” Addie asked smoothly. “You’re as corrupt as they are if you’re blackmailing your boss.”

Russel’s face tightened. His lips pursed. He didn’t like it when the tables were turned.

“I’m not a hypocrite,” he snapped.

“But you are. You just told me you were. So, how is that saving the city?”

“There’s no saving the city,” Russell said eventually, “but if we cut out the rot in the police department…”

“And the Emergency Medical Services Department…”

Russell glared at her, and she knew she was pissing him off. She wanted to grin at his frustration, but maybe that would be too much.

“You’re doing good, Addie. Keep going,” Severn said. “Try to figure out what he has planned.”

“So, assuming that there is corruption in the CPD, how are you going to get rid of it? Do you have dirt on them, too?”

Russell shook his head. A new, frenetic light lit his eyes. “No, Addison. It needs to start at the source. It needs to be completely wiped out.”

“You want to take out the police academy.”

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