Page 36 of Rescued Faith

Penny looked at her screen where she’d been digging even deeper into Emma Kemper’s past and few known associates. “I can’t find a connection to Emma with either group. If there is one, they’ve worked hard to keep it quiet.”

“And none of them look like Emma’s boyfriend?” Anthony leaned closer to her as he asked.

Penny shook her head. Not that she’d gotten a good look at the man. It still galled her that they’d gotten the jump on her. She refused to believe that niggle of doubt that said her instincts were slipping. She had just been tired after the long drive.

“I didn’t see him, but I could identify Emma’s boyfriend’s voice if I had to. It did sound like he had a slight accent.” And she couldn’t sit here and look at any more pictures. She needed to get out and start pounding some pavement and kicking up answers. “If we can’t figure out a gang relationship, any CI’s that have a pulse on the drug scene in general?”

Anthony leaned back in the office chair and propped his ankle up on his opposite knee. “I put out feelers yesterday. I’m waiting for one to contact me.”

“Why wait? Let’s go to?—”

Her phone rang. “Hey, Olivia. What’s up?”

“We need you down here at the restaurant fire. It’s connected to the case.”

Finally, a break! “Be right there.”

“I’ll text you the address.”

Penny ended the call and looked over to Anthony. “Looks like we’re wanted.” She told him what Olivia had said.

“That restaurant is owned by a Honduran family.”

“You think the Puerto Rican gang is sending a message?”

“Better go find out. Why don’t we take my service vehicle, and we’ll get there faster.”

Considering she was parked over on the next block, itwouldbe faster. “Sure.”

They pulled up to an active scene. Firefighters in full gear had to be sweltering in the afternoon sun as they directed water from their hoses to the flames still shooting out of the roof. Bystanders circled the edge of the scene, many with phones out, probably live-streaming the drama unfolding.

Penny and Tony walked over to where Olivia, Bryce, and Izan lingered in the parking lot.

“What’d you find?” Penny asked.

“Look at the casings and the gunshot pattern on the building, and tell us what you think,” Bryce said. He moved his gaze to Anthony and frowned.

What was that about?

Not that she had time to ponder that. She had a job to do. Penny looked down. Casings littered the parking lot. She studied the front of the restaurant. She could’ve painted an elaborate dot-to-dot picture with all the bullet holes piercing the stucco siding of the building under the busted-up window.

“Automatic weapons.” She bent over and picked up one of the casings. “Definitely 9mm Luger rounds. Like from a Glock 19 with a clip.”

“You think Emma and her boyfriend armed Fuentes and the Puerto Ricans with the clips?” Bryce folded his arms across his chest, his gaze direct, intense as it always was.

“With this pattern”—she pointed to the building—“it definitely looks like a possibility.”

Olivia tapped a pen on her small notebook. “They want you to take a look at the woman who died on scene too, make sure it’s not Emma Kemper.”

Anthony pulled evidence bags and gloves out. “We can test these and see if ballistics matches anything on file.” He carefully bagged some of the brass. He paused when his phone buzzed.

“Looks like my CI is up to meeting.” He stood and sealed the bag. “Would you like to join me, Penny? You’re at my mercy for a ride anyway.”

Bryce actually bristled.

“I need to make sure the deceased isn’t Emma.” Penny nodded toward the coroner’s van off to the side.

“I can wait.” Tony looked at her, voice almost husky, even with Bryce, Izan, and Olivia right here with them.

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