Page 19 of Hidden Falls

Marcella dug for another Tums in her bag. She finished her water bottle, and then got up and refilled it at the cooler.

Lei came toward her carrying a file, curls escaping her messy bun. “We both have a lot to do, but we should put our heads together first.”

“That’s why I called you.” Marcella gestured to the large water dispenser. “Marcus is always after me to hydrate. You probably should, too.”

Lei smiled. “Once an Italian mama, always an Italian mama.” She grabbed a plastic glass from a storage cupboard and filled it. “Satisfied? Now let’s talk.”

They went into Marcella’s cubicle and closed the doors. Lei took one of the chairs and leaned toward Marcella. “We have to keep our voices down.”

“You don’t have to tell me.”

“I’m worried about Harry. She was—borderline inappropriate with the air traffic guy.”

“Nothing borderline about it.”

“I’m glad she’s off the case.”

“Me too.”

They held each other’s gaze for a beat.

“I told the captain and SAC about what happened with the traffickers in Mexico,” Marcella said.

Lei shut her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I was hoping you wouldn’t.”

“I had to. It could have a bearing on who took Malia.”

“This is going to bite Harry on the ass big-time.”

“She had to have known that could happen.”

Another long pause.

“I think you’ll be okay,” Marcella said. “It was a long time ago, there’s no proof, and it was a foreign country. But you should refuse to answer any questions about it and call for your union rep if Internal Affairs gets involved.”

“I’m familiar with IA.” Lei’s tone was dry. “I know the drill.”

“Just saying.”

“Okay.” Lei was clearly trying to stay calm. She blew a curl off her forehead. “You going to tell Harry the cat’s out of the bag, or should I?”

Marcella firmed her jaw. “I let the cat out, so I’ll do it.”

“Okay.” Lei sat back and slapped her thighs. “What are you doing next?”

“Reaching out to the Bureau’s CIA contact in Mexico. Seeing where that leads me.”

“You going to go over there? To Mexico?”

“I doubt that would be sanctioned.” Marcella met Lei’s brown eyes with worry in her own. “Not our jurisdiction. And if there’s any hint that Malia was nabbed by her birth parents, Harry doesn’t have a case.”

“I know.” Lei shook her head. “There are plenty of leads to run down that our junior amateur detective stirred up. I should, actually, punt them to Vice and see about getting off this case entirely—I’m a homicide detective, after all. But I feel responsible. I recruited Malia to be a CI.” Lei pinched the bridge of her nose again. “This is giving me a headache.”

“Drink your water.”

Lei snorted but picked up the full glass and drank it down. “Okay.” She dashed moisture off of her lips with the back of a hand and set the glass aside. “Text me if you need anything, or if there’s anything I should know. Dinner’s at six at my house, so be ready to go by five-thirty.”

“Got it. One more thing, though.” Marcella waggled her phone. “You said Harry was training down in Mexico with some special ops guy when you met her? I overheard Harry call someone from your truck on the way to the airport. She asked a favor, gave a cell number to someone. I have a feeling it might have been that guy.”

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