Dom brings his laptop and sits beside me on the bed, close enough that I can feel his warmth but not quite touching.
He opens files containing surveillance photos and timelines that make my stomach sink.
“Are you willing to consider someone you work with is dirty?”
It’s difficult to admit, but I nod. “Yes. I’ve come across several things that have concerned me.”
“Any ideas who?”
I shake my head. “Could be anyone?—”
“No. The only person who threads this needle is Blackwood.” He watches me, I assume to see my response.
I work to keep my expression neutral. “Show me.”
“Ernie Abruzzo was his informant, who was the go-between for Mrs. Ferraza who was to give information in exchange for Isabella’s freedom. But when Mrs. Ferraza learned something she planned to tell her husband about, Ernie killed her. Then Ernie turns up dead, a drug overdose.”
“Don Ferraza’s MO.”
“Yes, except he had no clue Ernie killed his wife. Ernie wasn’t made, but he was the brother of a Calabresi captain. We have laws in La Corona, too, and one is you can’t go around killing each other's men without prior permission.”
My gaze jerks to his wondering if he realizes he’s nearly admitting to murder.
His dark gaze holds mine, as if he’s waiting to see if I’m going to cuff him. When I don’t he says, “Isabella wants answers and Blackwood appears willing to help in exchange for information. You helped with that.”
“I was doing my job.” I hate feeling like I have to defend myself for trying to put criminals away.
“Sal Abruzzo was working with his brother and Blackwood to bring down La Corona.”
“He’s missing. I don’t suppose you know what happened to him?”
He shrugs. “I have no idea.”
He’s lying, but I let it pass. “It’s plausible that Blackwood is doing his job and it’s La Corona’s reaction that is causing all this discord.”
“I suppose you’ll say it’s okay that Blackwood lied to everyone he said he’d help. Like Isabella. He had no intention of extracting her. Or Gabriella Monti. That info he tried to pawn on her were lies.”
I shift uncomfortably. “It’s not against the rules to mislead people in an investigation.”
He shakes his head. “Another one of those rules that’s okay for some but not for others.”
He’s not wrong, and it bothers me. “What else?”
“An FBI vehicle took Rocco and one brought him back.”
“I explained that.”
“Explain this.” He shows me the photos that appear to be taken from traffic cameras. “Same license plate.”
“Someone must have taken mine. The GPS reports say that’s not my vehicle.” I glance at him, wondering if he believes me.
“Maybe the report is doctored.”
“It would be easier to steal the plate.” I pull his laptop toward me, looking more closely at the pictures. “They’re not the same car. Look. This one has a scratch on the back bumper. That one is mine. An old lady backed into me.”
He leans in studying the photos. “Okay, so someone is setting you up. Blackwood is still the most likely culprit.”
"It could be anyone. Even someone in La Corona.” I have to play devil's advocate here.
