Page 90 of Raging Inferno

“That’s good. I don’t want to leave her.”

Dominic yanked her to him again, and this kiss was deeper, harder. She wasn’t sure she could end it. Kayne clearing his throat did the job.

“Sorry to interrupt. We should be going.”

Presley pulled back. Damn it, she was blushing like a teenager. She met Dominic’s gaze. “We’ll be back soon.”

He brushed a finger down her cheek. “We’ll be here.”

Presley stepped back and followed Kayne. She glanced over her shoulder at Dominic to see him staring after her. With a wave, she was gone.

#

“Cher, you have it bad.”

Presley glowered at Kayne as she buckled her belt. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Yes, she did.

“That how you’re going to play it with me?” Kayne shook his head, obviously disappointed with her. “Fine. My lips are sealed.”

The drive to the police station was quick. They entered and were immediately separated. Five different investigators from a plethora of ABC agencies grilled Presley. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and others were represented. She repeated the same story to each one and had to relive Gwen’s death and the attempted rape over and over. It was embarrassing and humiliating. Memories of Rayburn from Internal Affairs accusing her of drugging herself made her blood boil. He’d been a condescending jackass.

“We spoke with Helen Deets,” one of the FBI agents told her.

Great. The cop who had driven her to the hospital but wouldn’t back her up against Smith. “What did she say?”

“She corroborated your story about Captain Smith’s attempted rape.”

Presley’s jaw dropped. “She did?”

“Yes.”

“Why now? She wouldn’t before.”

“She left the department and took a job in Oregon. Said she was afraid of speaking out against Smith when he was her boss. She implied he threatened her and bribed her by promoting her.”

Well, goodie for Helen for finding a backbone. If she’d had guts before, Presley might’ve still had her job as a detective. Ah, well, it had all worked out.

When they finally let her go, she returned to the bullpen where the meat of the police department worked. She felt sorry for Kayne, who had to be enduring excruciating scrutiny since he’d pulled the trigger on a detective. It didn’t matter if he deserved it. Anyone who killed a cop would be treated as a hostile. They should go easy on him since Smith had also shot a cop.

Speaking of . . . Presley took out her phone and called the number to check on Reggie. He was still in critical condition, but he’d made it through the surgery last night. They were optimistic. That was good news.

“Ms. Parrish?”

She slid her phone into a pocket. “Yes?”

“I’m Detective Little.” He shook her hand. “I have some information on your case.”

Presley followed him to his desk and took a seat. He proceeded to give her details she already knew from Kayne and her office about Eddie Smith’s manifesto and the phone messages. She faked an interest in what he was telling her.

“It’s no jump to assume Smith killed Bill Fitzgerald because he tried to blackmail him,” Detective Little pointed out. “Also,we spoke with Smith’s father. He was adamant that his son would never perpetuate the crimes he’s been accused of committing. He said Eddie defended the law and would never break it. Even when presented with overwhelming evidence, he proclaimed his son’s innocence and stated that he planned to file charges. So be prepared.”

“Tell him to bring it on.” He would be crushed under the weight of the COBRA Securities forces. In fact, she welcomed it. She would love to face him again. All she had to do was recall the image of his precious son Eddie holding a gun to Gia’s head, and she would go nuclear on his ass.

“Have you found evidence that he, or more likely, Fitzgerald, set the fires that killed Margy Binder, Nancy Babcock, and Charmaine Dunn?”

The detective shook his head. “No, nothing. We’ve combed through Smith’s vehicle and the motel room he rented. Not so much as a matchbook. We haven’t tracked down where Fitzgerald was staying or his vehicle.”

Presley clenched her jaw. She’d planned on questioning Eddie Smith about them, had even started to ask, but then Reggie had shown up and closed her window of opportunity. Now, they might never know.

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