Page 48 of Crown of Smoke

“It makes the Keans even more untouchable.”

The implications are frightening. If the police helped orchestrate this takeover, how deep does the corruption go? How many people turn a blind eye while a family wreaks havoc over the city?

“Do you know Marshall or the men who work around him?” I ask, studying Flynn's face. "Anyone else who might be involved in covering this up?"

He shrugs, picking up another document. "Lots of cops take bribes. Hard to pin down exactly who's in whose pocket."

"That's not what I asked." I snatch the paper from his hand. "You clearly know something about this detective. The way you're looking at that photo?—"

"Lucy." His voice carries a warning edge. "Drop it."

"No." I plant my hands on my hips, wondering why Flynn is being so obtuse. "You're supposed to be helping me investigate, but you’re stonewalling me."

Flynn meets my gaze, his blue eyes hard as steel. "Maybe because some leads are better left alone."

"Better for whom?" Frustration bubbles up. "The corrupt cops? The Keans? Because it's certainly not better for justice."

He turns away, but not before I catch something flicker across his face—recognition, maybe even pain—when he looks at Detective Marshall's photo again.

"You know him, don't you?" I press. "Or at least know of him. What aren't you telling me?"

"I know what I need to know." Flynn's words are measured, careful. "And right now, you need to be careful about which threads you pull."

“Back to that?”

His eyes narrow.

“I know these are dangerous people, Flynn. It’s my job to expose them.”

He shakes his head. “No, it’s not. You tell stories, Lucy.”

I’m incensed. “The free press is an important part of what makes this country run, and part of that includes exposing corruption.”

“Ifrinns were corrupt. Why are you working so hard for their justice?”

I gape, wondering what is going on with him. The only thing that comes to mind is that he’s annoying me on purpose because he’s holding back information. But why? If he's really an undercover cop trying to bring down the Keans, why wouldn't he want to expose their connection to corrupt officers?

"You're supposed to be investigating corruption in the Keans, right? So why aren't you more interested in a dirty cop who helped cover up their crimes?"

Flynn’s shoulders tense. He turns to face me, boxing me against the table. "Part of investigating is keeping cards close to the vest, especially from nosy reporters."

I push back against his intimidating stance. "If you're working on an internal investigation, other officers must be involved. Who's your superior? Which department are you with?"

His blue eyes darken. "I’m not your story, Lucy."

"No. Not this time." I point at the photo of Detective Marshall. "This man helped murder an entire family. He let the Keans walk away clean. And you're acting like…" The realization hits me hard. "Like you already knew all of this."

Flynn's silence speaks volumes.

"How long have you known about Marshall's involvement?" My voice shakes. "Were you planning to tell me, or am I just some convenient source of information for you?"

"It's complicated."

"Then uncomplicate it." I step closer, searching his face for answers. "Because right now, my investigative instincts are screaming that you're hiding something big. And I don't like being played."

The muscle in his jaw ticks. His hands clench at his sides. Everything about his body language confirms my suspicions. There's more to this story than he's telling me.

"Who are you really, Flynn?" My reporter's instincts are screaming that something isn't adding up.

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