Page 147 of Bossy Hero

I can’t figure that out until she explains, so I bark out, “Get to the point, Salgado. Daylight’s burning.”

She doesn’t continue right away, just a sigh-hum hybrid. My hand balls into a fist, and my jaw clicks. Judging by the body language of my team, they’re all feeling a similar sense of exasperation.

Hell, if Mia could jump through the phone and smack the point out of the detective, she’d probably do it. “Is she part snail or sloth?” Mia whispers through gritted teeth.

Tomer reaches across the table to mute the call. “She’sneverlike this. One of the reasons I respect her so much is her directness. Something is off here.”

Mia pinches the bridge of her nose. “This call is making me strongly consider sprinkling Valium in my coffee.”

Tomer releases the mute button.

“As you can probably tell, I’m conflicted about suggesting impropriety. But here goes. I need to get this out before he returns from the restroom,” Salgado finally admits, confirming Tomer’s observation. “Some of the evidence and data he forwarded to the bureau differed from what I gave him. There were names missing. Entire documents gone. Deleted phone records and bank statements. Shit like that. I’m worried about what I’m stepping into here, if you get me.”

With her suspicions finally voiced, everything crystallizes in my mind. “When was the first day Patterson missed work?”

“Two days after Viktor Lenkov was killed.”

Klein’s eyes shoot wide, bright white framing the brown. “Ah. That’s coincidental.”

Tomer asks, “Is it safe to assume you haven’t discussed this with Patterson?”

“You’re the only ones I’ve spoken to about it. I’m already a target for the bratva by working this case and partnering with you. If he’s in bed with Lenkov and I confront him about it, I’m as good as dead. If I play along like a clueless chump, I’m safer.”

“We’ll handle it,” I announce. “Sit on it for now. Anything else we need to know?”

Tasks are piling up in my head the way they tend to do when we’ve got to divide and conquer.

“Nothing with him. But I ran the list of people you gave me through the FDLE database, and the chief cleared me to share my findings with you. Expect an email in the next few minutes.”

“We appreciate that,” Mia tells her. “Any standouts?”

“A few. I highlighted them for you. Gotta run now. Good luck.”

And she’s gone.

Mind reeling, I aggressively mash the disconnect button on the phone display three times to ensure the line is dead. Then I dial Lettie.

She answers, as cheery as a freaking triple rainbow. “Howdy, conference room peeps. What can I do ya for?”

Despite my need to sling out assignments like ninja throwing stars, I remember my manners. “Lettie, can you please set up a meeting with the CPD chief for me? He usually does evenings. As soon as possible.”

“On it, Boss Dad. Is there a topic I should mention?”

“No, I want him surprised.”

“Intriguing and mysterious. I like it. Anything else?”

“Yes.” Tomer’s frame suddenly stiffens like he took ten thousand jolts to the nut sack. “Sugar, can you print out five copies of the list of seventy-two and bring them in here?”

“Anything for you, babe,” she drawls.

My finger hovers over thedisconnectbutton. “That’s all for now, Lettie.” I end the call with repeated firm taps, my frustration seeping out through the tip of my finger into the damn phone.

Sooner or later, I knew my natural tendency tohurry everyone the fuck upwould return. Maddie’s influence can only go so far when lives are on the line, and I’m chomping at the bit.

“Rapid-fire assignments. Get ready, kids,” I warn them. “Where there’s smoke, there’s a dirty fucking cop. And we’re gonna run this one into the ground.”

I face my future son-in-law. Most likely. “T, refresh the research you did on him when he was assigned to be our liaison, looking for anything you missed or new things we should consider. If he’s working with them, he might be getting paid. Look for unusual banking activity. Any large purchases or luxuries. Something to show a surge in his cash flow. Let’s also find out if he’s a gambler. If so, he might be in debt to Lenkov. If he’s not being paid, maybe he’s being blackmailed. We need to know his weaknesses.”

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