Page 72 of The Lies We Believe

It’s too late. I’m sorry I wasn’t strong enough, Bane.

“Time to go.”

If I had to do this all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing because I got to meet you.

I love you, my heart. Please forgive me.

CHAPTER 29

BANE

“Benson?!” Montoya burst through the door to the changing room like a bull in a china shop. “Get up and come with me. We’ve got a,” she glanced around the room and lowered her voice, “visitor.”

“Now?” Marco, our informant, was the last person I expected to see this morning, especially after last night’s epic disaster. I looked at her in confusion, but pushed my sorry ass up and dragged myself over to her.

“Yes, he said you wouldn’t want to miss this.”

“I’ll just bet he did,” I muttered as I followed her through the station and out the back entrance to the parking lot.

We both checked the coast was clear and moved swiftly across the blacktop through the tree line that separated the station grounds from one of Holm Oaks rolling parks. “Did he tell you anything else?”

“Nope, but he said he wanted to go into protective custody.”

I snorted. “I’m sure that can be arranged.”

It just won’t be the type he’s expecting. There will be no twenty-four-seven guard or relocation to another state for this moron. I know Bower doubts his authenticity, but Marco doesn’t have two brain cells to rub together. The only thing he caresabout is coming out on top, and he thinks his deal with us will provide him with that. I can’t wait for reality to slap him over the head.

“There he is.” Montoya pointed to the lone figure sitting under the large weeping willow on a partially hidden park bench. “Should we bring him in after this, give him just enough to think he’s safe, then book him?”

“I love the way your mind works.” She turned a beaming smile my way. I was grateful for this moment of levity and prayed that whatever Marco was about to divulge, along with that goddamn USB drive River risked his life for, gives us enough to lock this case down. Then I can hand in my badge and start over somewhere with River.

“Marco.” Montoya leaned against the back of the bench, facing me. To the casual observer, it looked like we were just chatting and had nothing to do with the guy in a puffer coat with his hood pulled up.

She was more than capable of handling this meeting on her own, but we were partners, and I’d never put her in a position of going out without backup. You could never be too careful in our line of work, especially when it came to informants and turncoats. If they were willing to betray the people they were meant to be loyal to, then they wouldn’t have any qualms fucking us over either.

“What have you got for us?”

Marco shuffled on his seat and stuck his hand in his jacket pocket. I tensed, my hand circling my gun, poised to draw it at a moment’s notice if it was required. “I know where she is and why you haven’t been able to find her.”

“How?” I bit out, tension rolling through the muscles in my arms.

“You’ve got a leak, a big one. The guy has been on her payroll for years. And there are others that will surprise you.” He pulleda rolled-up magazine out of his pocket, opened it, then dropped it in the trash can next to him. “Names and locations are in there.”

Montoya pulled some gum from her pocket, popped it in her mouth, and stepped over the bin. After casting a covert glance around, she lifted the magazine and tucked it under her arm before sauntering over to the edge of the lake bordering the park.

“If this comes through, we’ll get things sorted for you. Until then, sit tight.”

Marco scoffed and muttered under his breath before stalking off in the opposite direction. I stayed where I was and kept an eye on the few people walking around the park this early in the morning. When I didn’t spot any suspicious activity, I whistled the tune to I Ain’t Worried by OneRepublic and strolled back to the station, knowing Montoya was hot on my heels.

Once we made it back to the lot, I pulled the squad keys out and unlocked it. Once we were inside, I turned to Montoya. “So?”

She tipped her head back on her shoulders and looked at the roof, her fingers playing with the pages of the magazine. “He knows Davis is our leak.” My eyes bugged out of my head in shock. A small smile flickered at the corners of her lips. “He also knows where Dahlia is, and you’re not going to like it. If we take this to Bower, he’s going to blow up.”

“Why?”

“Because this goes all the way to the top. It’s the perfect cover. She’s a genius, really.”

I shook my head. “Where is she?”

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