“I don’t know it. My informant communicates with me through a burner phone. A new number every few days.”
“Give me the latest number.”
“Sure, but it won’t do you any good. All of a sudden this person has clammed up. Won’t return my calls, texts. It’s as if they’ve vanished into thin air.”
“But you’ve met the person. Tell me what they look like.”
“No, you’re assuming. I didn’t technically meet the person. We arranged a drop for swapping information. I staked out the place for two days before.”
“So youthinkyou saw who it was?”
“I believe so, yes.”
“Describe the person. Tell me what you know.”
“I won’t, Detective, because I’m not one-hundred percent sure that who I think it is, is it.”
“Bullshit.”
Her brow slowly cocked. She was playing me now. She’dmet with the Bandit. I knew it in my bones. But she wasn’t going to share this with me.Why?
“Is Kenzo Rees the Black Bandit?”
“I can’t confirm or deny that, Detective.”
“Well, for your sake, I hope it isn’t, Morgan, because if so, you’ve struck a deal with the devil and I’d keep one eye open if I were you.”
We stared at each other for a minute. It was like looking in the damn mirror. Briana was not going to break.
“What about Julian Griggs? Does that name ring a bell to you?”
“The victim in the Slaying in the Park? I don’t know him personally,” she said. “Just heard the gossip.”
“What about a blue four-door sedan? Ever seen one of those at your clandestine meetings with the Bandit?”
She flipped over her palm and shook her head. “Not that I’ve noticed.”
My patience cashed out. I popped my fist against the table, sending my coffee toppling over. Max skittered to the corner. Briana Morgan didn’t flinch.
“The Black Bandit is either the person who killed Lieutenant Seagrave, or is the key to finding out who did it. I also believe they’re involved in the Slaying in the Park. I’m going to ask you again, Miss Morgan, tell me what you know about the Bandit. Tell me what you know about Kenzo Rees.”
“The Black Bandit…” she tilted her head thoughtfully to the side, her voice as calm and maddening as the flippant look on her face. “Who picked that name, anyway?”
“An anonymous witnessto one of those heists, but now having meant you, and listening to the tone of the question, I’m willing to bet money it’s you. You did.”
“Interesting.” She stood, grabbed her purse and gazed down at me. “Look closer,Detective.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
She turned away and sauntered across the patio.
Look closer.
“Hey, Morgan?”
She paused at the door but didn’t grace me with a glance.
“I’ll have the warrant in your hands by this evening.”
