Page 26 of Cooper's Command

“We take care of our own. And that includes Nova.” He turned to Bellamy. “I left something in the front seat of my truck. Can you grab it for me?”

Bellamy arched a brow. “I assume I’ll know what it is when I see it?”

“Shouldn’t be too hard. It’s covered in Nova’s blood.”

Bellamy mumbled something under his breath then darted out, leaving Cooper and Emery standing in an awkward silence. The combined strain of their expectations weighing down the air until it was hard to breathe.

Emery glanced inside the room, again, then back to Cooper. “How about we forget about the shit show you just left behind. There’s nothing we can do about it now, anyway. What I need to know is if Nova said anything important before she passed out.”

“Not much, which we’ll get to in a second. But first… Do you have any more details about what Simmons said happened?”

Emery cocked her head to the side, looking as if she was deciding how much to tell him. Maybe what she could tell him without feeling as if she was betraying the cop side of her. “I couldn’t exactly go to the DEA office and investigate when I was supposed to be searching the ranch. Even Simmons would have picked up on that. But I did call my boss.”

Emery snorted. “Milligan still owes me for all that crap that went down several months ago. He told me, off-the-record, that Simmons stated he arrived at the office for a meeting but heard Nova and Paulin arguing over something to do with a supplier. He was apparently in the hallway just outside the room when Nova drew her weapon and shot Paulin twice in the chest. She turned on him but he managed to retreat into a storage room, then shot his way outside through a window. He was making for his vehicle when a bunch of cartel showed up. Being outnumbered and outgunned, he maintained his cover until they all left after some massive gunfight. Milligan said there was at least one mercenary dead at the scene from a head shot, and a lot more blood.”

Cooper nodded. “And Simmons claims Nova fired on him.”

“That’s what I was told.”

“So, one of the DEA’s best agents, who has spent the past ten years entrenched with cartel and mercenaries, pegs some tango in the head amidst heavy resistance, but she missed Simmons when he couldn’t have been standing more than several feet away?” Cooper arched a brow. “When she already had her weapon drawn and the drop on him.”

“I know. It’s not sitting well with me or Milligan, either. But until Nova can give her side of the story…”

Emery paused when Bellamy returned, the blood-soaked book in his hand. She frowned when Cooper motioned for Bellamy to give it to her.

Cooper nodded. “I’m not an accountant, but I know a coded ledger when I see it. Nova made me promise not to lose it, so you can take photos, but it stays with me until she can shed some light on what went down.”

Emery flipped through some pages. “Is this Paulin’s?”

“She didn’t elaborate. In fact, all she said was that Simmons shot her.”

Emery fumbled the book, nearly dropping it before she glanced into the room then back. “Simmons did what?”

“Nova said she was giving Paulin CPR when Simmons came through the door, guns blazing.”

“And she’s sure?” Emery pointed toward Nova. “That it was Simmons?”

“She was pretty clear.” Cooper crossed his arms over his chest. “I guess he neglected to mention that part in his statement.”

“I’m starting to think he’s neglected to mention a lot of details.”

Cooper shuffled closer when Emery pursed her lips. “I understand how hard this must be for you. That ultimately, you’re a cop, and Nova’s technically a fugitive. And I know I’m asking you to put your career — hell your ass — on the line. Just give me and my team forty-eight hours to gather some intel. Determine if that ledger is why those mercenaries were hellbent on killing her and if Paulin was dirty or just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

He rolled his shoulders, shoving down the jumpy feeling in the pit of his stomach. “Assuming Nova doesn’t die on that couch.”

Emery huffed out a breath, pacing away for a few moments before turning and shaking her head. “You’ll have to move her someplace far more remote. If Simmons is part of this, it’s only a matter of time before he’ll come knocking, regardless of whatever I report. And you’ll all need to use burner phones and stay the hell off the grid as much as possible. I can run some interference but unless we want to bring my boss in on this…”

“That might be an option once we have more intel. But right now, all we have is her word and a book full of code.”

“Then, I suggest you start hunting. I’ll call in a few favors — try to get some advanced warning before more officers come calling. But you need to be prepared to bug out on a moment’s notice. And don’t tell me where you’re going. It’s easier to lie if half of it’s the truth.”

Cooper snagged her arm when she went to dart past. “Thank you. I know I’m not wrong about her, and I promise I won’t let you down.”

Emery snorted. “We take care of our own, right? Besides, I’ve never trusted Simmons. The guy’s an ass. Text me your burner number. I’ll be in touch.”

Bellamy moved in beside Cooper as Emery left, passing Rusty and Ethan at the entrance. “Call me crazy, but I have a feeling Emery knows more than she’s letting on.”

“Of course, she does. Though, I’m surprised she shared that much.”

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