“You’re off the case.”
I pushed to my feet and hurried out the door without looking back.
Three days later, I sat hunched over my desk in the middle of the night.
I’d been given a murder case from a decade ago, and working late had become my refuge.
The precinct was quieter after hours, and the judgmental looks stopped fazing me.
The punishment of being relegated to cold cases didn’t faze me either.
Maybe I could do some good here where others had failed.
A low voice drifted through the department.
The hair on the back of my neck lifted, and I peeked beneath my computer screen toward Delaney’s office.
“The Christmas Eve operation will be the perfect time.” My vision swam with the rush of understanding that sent my heart flying into my throat.
I knew that voice.
The leader of the gang that had tried to shoot me stood in Captain Delaney’s office.
“They’ll be out in the open and vulnerable. My boys can hit them where it hurts.”
“I want your guarantee the Steel Vipers will be done.” Captain Delaney’s tone held a dangerous edge I’d never heard before.
Christmas Eve. Steel Vipers. A chill ran down my spine.
They were talking about the toy run.
“The detective served her purpose when she confirmed their operation schedule.”
My stomach dropped.
My purpose?
Oh, God. I’d been a pawn.
All the nonsense I’d endured and it was all for nothing.
He’d made me a pawn in their game between law enforcement and the rival clubs.
“Too bad she went soft on them. Could have saved us some trouble.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
I stopped listening, grabbed my coat, and crept from the room.
My legs trembled, and I almost second-guessed what I’d heard.
Captain Delaney conspired with another club to destroy the Steel Vipers.
Did he hate them that much or did this go deeper?
Was the captain dirty?
The thought made me sick, and I pressed a hand over my stomach to ease the nauseating whirl.
