He gulps, clearly uncomfortable. It’s a good thing patience is a part of my job. Connor is already fidgeting; I might just have to threaten the guy with murder to make him speak faster. If this is the best speaker of the cop house, no wonder four people had to come to do the job of one.
“We fear the fingerprint might implicate your fiancée.” He looks up to where I assume Dina is standing on the terrace.
Connor waves her down, and she arrives wearing a tight little red dress and low-heeled black sandals. Her hair is up in a messy bun, and she put on eyeliner and mascara. Dina is a sexy woman. Every man looks and then immediately shifts their eyes away.
I’m pleased to see them all even more uncomfortable now that she’s arrived.
“Where is the rifle?” The table is full, so I stand for Dina to sit. She’s reluctant and maybe even scared to sit next to the corrupt cops, but it’s important that she reclaim her space. Like I said, if they think she’s under my protection, they won’t come near her. The only one who would dare would be Ivan and their chief.
“Where?” the detective repeats, seemingly confused.
“Yes, where is it?”
“In the evidence locker.”
“Why didn’t you bring it?”
The detective looks around the table. When everyone stares at it, I stand beside him. Instantly, he reaches for his weapon.
“Don’t,” I command. “You should’ve brought me the rifle. As a gift. A peace offering.”
“The chief has it locked up.”
“That seems like a problem you might want to handle, Connor,” I say, and walk over to the man standing by the pool.
“I’ve a feeling you want to talk to me alone.” I stretch out my hand.
He shakes my hand. “Hartley Glass.”
“You a cop, Hartley?”
He shows me his badge. He’s from the International Security Command. ISC. These guys are ghosts. I trained with one of them, and the only reason I knew he was in ISC was because we formed a friendship during our training. This guy is bad news.
“I assure you I have no interest in the arms trade.” That’s my uncle’s business. If I need weapons, I’ll call him. In fact, I have a pick up today. Is that what this is about? Did they find out about the container Endo sent me? Pfft. They can have it.
The man smiles.
If I had hackles, they’d rise now.
“I’m sure you don’t. Why would you when you could just make a call and have anything delivered to your port?” He points at the sea.
“That’s not my port yet, but I appreciate the vote of confidence. What can I do for you?”
We move farther away from the table. This can’t be good. I’m already having trouble with Ivan and the chief. I don’t need ISC breathing down my neck.
“Mr. Crossbow, is this not one of your uncle’s staff members?” He shows me a video of Slada. Black sunglasses on, she chews gum and drags the detective who beat up Dina out of the police station. By her hair. She shoves the detective into the SUV by the back of her neck and a kick in the ass, then gets in the vehicle and peels off. In broad daylight. With the press taking pictures.
I chuckle. “I’m going to give her a Christmas bonus.”
“That detective was found dead this morning.”
Ah. “And?”
“It looks bad on you.”
I shrug. “It’s not on me. The video you have proves nothing. The woman in the video is alive.”
“The detective was Ivan’s informant and the chief’s sidepiece of ass. You can see how this won’t win over the chief of police. You can’t control Selnoa without the police.”
