“Cute dog.” She kneeled down and pet Max’s head. He groaned in satisfaction. This guard dog didn’t care about my safety. Sunny was his only master. Got it.
I motioned to the chair across from me. “Please. Sit.” As she did, I said, “Sorry about the choice of seating, but?—”
“Discretion. I get it.” She set her designer purse on the chair next to her. Business must be good.
“Would you like some coffee?” I asked, already knowing the answer. Briana had learned long ago that the best way to work with her male counterparts was to keep meetings short, sweet and direct. No coffee. No drinks.
“No, thank you,” she politely responded.
“You’re a tough gal to get ahold of.”
“I’m busy.”
And important, I get it.
“Well, thanks for squeezing me in. As I said when we spoke earlier, I wanted to talk to you about the Cedonia Scrolls your company insured and your investigation surrounding the heist of the pieces.”
“You want to talk about Lieutenant Jack Seagrave’s murder.”
Briana came to play.
Good.
I leaned forward. “Miss Morgan, the piece you’re investigating is currently tied to a local homicide. Your cooperation here is not only appreciated but expected.”
“Do you have a warrant for my notes on the case?”
“Alright,” I narrowed my eyes. “Let’s just cut through thebullshit here, then. I want you to help me find the Black Bandit.”
“And what do I get in return?”
“Not to be charged with obstruction of justice.”
Her perfectly plucked brow arched.“Or,I could turn you in for threatening a potential informant. I believe they call that police misconduct. I’m sure your boss and Chief McCord would love to hear about this little meeting.”
Apparently the Cedonia Scrolls weren’t the only things Briana had investigated before calling me back.
“Have you ever lost a loved one, Briana?”
The flicker in her blue eyes told me yes.
“Me, too.” I said. “Most whose cases have gone cold. And you’re right. I technically need a warrant for information you might have to help me solve a murder. And I’ll get it, you can bet those diamond studs you’ve got in your ears on that. But I’d rather not spend the rest of the day cutting through red tape. So, Miss Morgan, to answer your question—what do you get if you help me out right now? A solid night’s sleep after knowing you did everything you could to bring a slain officer justice.”
Her stare was loaded with calculated calmness.
“How did you know I was the one working the Cedonia Scroll case?”
“How did you know Chief McCord wants my badge?”
A moment ticked by before she finally nodded. “I’ll help you. Under one circumstance.”
“Name it.”
“I want to be credited for helping find the Lieutenant’s murderer.”
It shouldn’t have surprised me. This woman wore her career goals as blatantly as the label on her purse.
“Done.”
