Page 52 of Cooper's Command

He scanned the area again, tilting his head for a moment as if listening to someone talk in his ear. Which, he was. No doubt the guy was wired, just like her.

Simmons nodded, then covered the short distance to the ledger, flipping through the pages once he’d retrieved it. “It’s coded.”

“Paulin might have been subpar, but he wasn’t an idiot.”

“Which means, you’ve got nothing.”

Nova braced herself. This was it. Either Bellamy and Waylen had decoded enough of the material that her theories were pretty accurate and she could bluff her way through, or she was about to go up in flames. “June seventh. That’s when your official partnership with Paulin began.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Go to the first page. That column on the left represents all the dates when he met with everyone involved in this scheme. And those initials beside it are shorthand for you, Simmons.” Which made sense because Paulin had needed the Russo family’s last connection to have even a hope of pulling his scheme off.

Simmons flipped to the front, scowling. “It’s barely legible. Hell, most of it’s stained.”

“Well, you did shoot me.”

“There’s no way you cracked it.”

“I didn’t. But I have friends who can do that in their sleep. Do you want to hear my theory?”

Simmons smirked. “Please, enlighten me.”

“This all started after those assholes who thought they could double cross the Russo cartel were arrested by Detective McClane. When all the other loyalists inside your department were exposed… Except you. The problem was, the Marshal Service was putting a lot of pressure on the Russos, and Paulin knew, if he kept working with them, it was only a matter of time before his involvement surfaced. So, he contacted the only other person who had just as much to lose as him and outlined aplan where the two of you become the ruling drug cartel on the islands.”

“You’re insane, Martin.”

“Maybe, but I’m also right.”

Simmons held up the book. “Let’s say you really did crack Paulin’s code. All this would prove is that we met. That’s not illegal.”

“No, but the other ledger…” She whistled, banking that she’d nailed it because the guy was sweating. Not a lot but the right side of his forehead gleamed in that glaring light and his left eye occasionally twitched. “That one details every deal you made from where Paulin acquired the drugs to how much fentanyl you added. You know, so you could ensure every dealer between here and the mainland lost confidence in the current supplier. And it was working until Paulin was stupid enough to steal the drugs I’d collected. As soon as you saw me find that tape, you knew I was on to you.”

Simmons glared at her, shifting his weight from foot to foot. Looking as if he wanted to crawl out of his own skin. “You’re guessing.”

“Am I? Because you don’t look like someone who thinks I’m jerking them around.”

“Show me the other ledger.”

She chuckled. “Do you really think I’m stupid enough to bring them both here? I told you. I’m nothing like Paulin.”

“How do I know you even have it. That you’re not making all that shit up?”

“Because I know you tore Paulin’s office apart and didn’t find it. And if you thought there was only one, you would have blown up that cabin instead of sending in all those men.” She grinned. “And because I knew Paulin and the guy was an overconfident, arrogant bastard who likely flaunted it in your face in the hopes of keeping you in check. But if you think I’m bluffing… Go aheadand draw. Though, that might not work out in your favor since I’m not preoccupied this time. And seeing as I’m already wanted for murder…”

Simmons muttered a few obscenities under his breath, taking a couple heavy steps away. He mumbled something that sounded like him asking if everyone was in position before he turned — met her gaze. “Where is it?”

“Safe. And once I know you’re going to uphold your end of the bargain, I’ll text you where to find it.”

“That’s not part of the agreement.”

“We don’t have an agreement… yet. That first book was to show you I’m not lying. The second is to ensure you’re not. Which brings me to my demands. I want safe passage off this island to the Philippines.” She held up her hand. “For two.”

Cooper mumbled something in her ear. Though she wasn’t sure if it was meant for her or his team because she’d distinctively altered her tone enough he’d realize she was only a couple of minutes away from ending this meeting, one way or another.

“Two? You got a partner?”

“Something like that.”

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