Page 60 of Lion & Lamb

Veena narrowed her eyes. “What makes you think that?”

“People keep warning me away. Even Victor is telling me to watch my step, which is an astounding display of emotion for him.”

“Since when does Cooper Lamb listen to warnings?”

“Since the warnings are coming from witnesses and suspects involved in this case. Even Maya the nanny told me to watch my back. And when a childcare provider is telling you to be careful…”

“So do you want to stop?” Veena traced a thumb along Cooper’s jawline.

“Hell no. I just wanted to let you know that I would still respect you ifyoudecided to stop.”

“Well, I’m not stopping until we find the truth.”

“Even if it kills us?”

Veena removed her hand from Cooper’s face. She extended her pinkie and waited until Cooper got the hint and wrapped his pinkie finger around hers.

“Pinkie-swear that if one of us gets killed,” Veena said, “the other won’t rest until the killer is brought to justice.”

“Pinkie-swear,” Cooper said, gently shaking her pinkie twice. “But what if they get both of us?”

Chapter61

Transcript of encrypted message exchange between Victor Suarez and Cooper Lamb

VICTOR SUAREZ: Sorry for the early wake-up text but I’ve got three important items for you, boss.

COOPER LAMB: New phone, who dis?

SUAREZ: [No response]

LAMB: You’re no fun, Victor. Go ahead, what do you have for me?

SUAREZ: Item one: Just received confirmation Detective Mickey Bernstein was already en route to Eakins Oval *before* Archie Hughes’s body was discovered by the P/Os who called it in.

LAMB: WHAT? That means…you have this absolutely nailed down?

SUAREZ: [No response]

LAMB: Okay, okay, dumb question. But how do you know? I need to be sure this is rock solid before I go gunning for Dick Mickey. If I’m going to have the entire homicide department wedged sideways up my ass, it has to be for a good reason.

SUAREZ: I traced Bernstein’s complete movements starting twelve hours before the crime. Confirmed by his personal phone’s own GPS, backed up by traffic cams both here and in New Jersey.

LAMB: Tell me about Jersey.

SUAREZ: That’s item two. Bernstein was in AC earlier in the evening.

LAMB: Blackjack? Baccarat?

SUAREZ: Poker. High rollers’ table. I’ve got house footage detailing how much he lost and exactly how he lost it. He only left because of a phone call, at approximately 7:18 p.m.

LAMB: Who?

SUAREZ: That would be item three. The call came from the Eagles’ business office.

LAMB: From Papa Sable or Younger, Fatter Sable?

SUAREZ: Still running down a record for that call…if it hasn’t been scrubbed.

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