Page 14 of Cooper's Command

God, she hated being right. “Dick. Or do you prefer Richard these days?”

Paulin snorted. “Guess I don’t need to ask if you’ve changed.”

“From what I’ve heard, me either. I thought you were busy closing a case with ATF?”

“We finished early, and I got a lift back. Which is why I’m calling. Detective Simmons rang and said you were messing with my crime scene.”

“If by messing with you mean investigating, then yes. I assume Cartwright called you.”

“He did.” Paulin paused, and Nova knew the bastard was enjoying the payback. Probably smiling and checking his look in the mirror as he kept her waiting. “He seems to think you might have lost your edge since Tate was killed. Any truth to that?”

Nova snorted. “None. Which I suspect is the real reason Simmons called you and why you’re calling me now, while I’m still on scene.”

“And why would it matter that you’re still on scene?”

“It wouldn’t… Unless you were concerned I might have found something I shouldn’t have. Something that suggests this isn’t a local gang trying to bust into the cocaine business.”

“Like what?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe something innocuous like a piece of tape.”

Paulin sighed, nothing but his heavy breathing sounding over the phone for several moments before he cleared his throat. “This has all gone too far. I can’t do it anymore.”

Nova froze, pulling her cell away and glancing at it in case she’d imagined getting the call. “What’s gone too far?”

“Everything. The drugs. The orders… Tate’s death.”

“Tate’s death? What has this got to do with Tate’s death?”

“You know I can’t discuss actual details over an open line. Jesus, Nova. We need to do this in person… shit…” The soundchanged as if he’d placed the cell against his chest for a second. Maybe gathered his nerve. “I can’t believe it’s come to this. But once Tate was murdered, I knew it was only a matter of time before I was next in line.”

“How can you be the next in line if Moody’s… Damn. Are you saying Eric Moody took the fall for Tate’s death? That someone else actually killed him?”

“I’m saying there’re questions you’re not asking. Connections you’re not making. And they’re the kind that will come back and bite you in the ass if you don’t figure it out. Quickly. Because if my hunch is right, I’m not the only loose end.”

Nova shook her head, scanning the hallway before edging closer to the door. “Look, Richard, whatever you’ve gotten yourself into, I can help.”

Paulin grunted. “Why the hell do you think I’m calling? It’s not because of your scintillating conversation. I need an out.”

“Okay, tell me when and where, and I’ll bring Emery and?—”

“No. No police. No Brotherhood Protectors. Hell, no boyfriends. Just my shit luck you’re the only one I can trust, seeing as you were always too much of a tight ass to be bought.”

Nova ignored the dig, scanning the hallway, again. “You can trust Emery, she’s?—”

“A cop. And I know, for a fact, they’re not all clean.”

He knew they weren’t all clean?Was that his way of suggesting Simmons was dirty? Or was it someone higher up? Maybe Simmons’ boss?

Paulin breathed into the phone. “Look, I know what you’re thinking. That maybe this is just a ruse to set you up. And I get it. But… I’d also like to think you’re a good judge of character, and you know I’d have to be pretty fucking desperate in order to ask for your help. But it’s your choice. You can either agree to meet me — alone — and I’ll show you exactly what you’re up against. Files I only have access to on this laptop. Connections that werelikely the reason Tate was killed. Or I deep six everything and disappear. Because I’m out. You decide whether that’s with you helping me get official protection, or in a damn cargo ship. But I’m gone by sunrise.”

Nova paused when Cooper walked into the room, stopping short when he realized she was on the phone. She held up one finger, distancing herself a bit more. “When and where?”

He exhaled, sounding more than a bit relieved. “The office. Thirty minutes.”

“I’ll be there.”

Nova lowered her cell as the line cut off, rerunning everything Richard had said. While she knew there was a chance the man was conning her, she just didn’t buy it. Not with how his voice had been slightly higher than she remembered. Or how he’d talked a bit too fast at times. As if he was worried he’d lose his nerve before he’d gotten all the words out.

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