“Were you even gonna wait for me to say ‘all clear’?” he challenged.
“No way in hell.”
Cassidy and Lily weren’t far behind, and Ace and Maverick folded their women in hugs.
“What did we miss?” Cassidy asked.
“Mack’s getting me in to see Hatch,” I said.
“That’s great,” Cassidy said, but I rolled my eyes. “It’s not great?”
“Get this...” I shook my head. “Ryan, in all his infinite wisdom, is getting me in as a munitions expert tointerrogateHatch.”
Payton snorted. “Is he?”
“High?” I interrupted. “Probably.”
“Maisie, I really think Clutch can help,” Cricket interjected.
“Fine!” I ground out. “Have him come down.”
Clutch was not only the Burning Saints Sergeant at Arms, but he was Minus’s best friend and a complete charmer. Street smart and whip smart as well as handsome as the Devil himself. I could only imagine the notches that must adorn his bedpost.
“First thing we’re gonna need is two drinks,” Clutch said with a smile before setting down two glasses and a bottle of bourbon in front of us.
“I’m not going to argue,” I said, my voice trembling from the nerves.
“Look, you’ve got nothing at all to worry about,” Clutch said in a reassuring tone as he poured. “You’ve just got to convince a police station full of cops that you’re a munitions expert with a specialty in explosives, right?”
I grabbed the glass of bourbon the moment Clutch pulled the bottle away. “That’s what they tell me,” I said before emptying the glass’s contents.
Clutch smiled. “That’s one way to drink forty-year old Scotch.”
“I’m sorry, I’m just so nervous. I didn’t mean to offend you,” I said sheepishly.
“No offense at all.” Clutch smiled. “I got the bottle from Hatch’s office.”
I laughed but was still petrified I wouldn’t be able to pull this off.
“Look, I don’t know the first thing about bombs or guns, other than what I’ve seen at the cinema in action movies,” I rasped.
“Don’t worry about any of that. If you play your part correctly, no one there is gonna suspect a thing. As long as youactlike you’re supposed to be there, those asshole cops won’t question a thing,” Clutch said.
“But what if theydoquestion me?”
“If you get backed into a corner, box your way out with a barrage of technical jargon. Tell them shit like you’re doing a thorough and complete analysis of both the chemical and mechanical properties of the explosive device, along with a psychological profile of its manufacturer to assess whether or not the two possess likely linking factors.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Not really,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve been into this bourbon for a while now. Look, more than anything, you have to throw around ‘cop attitude.’ If you can do that, you’ll be fine.”
“How do I dothat?”
“Just look at every other cop in the building with a look in your eye that says, ‘I’m a fellow badge and I’ve got your back in the line of fire, but given the opportunity I’d go over to your place while you’re at work and fuck your wife.’”
I burst out in uncontrollable laughter and gave Clutch a squeeze. “Thank you for the drink and for the laugh. I needed them both.”
“I’m puttin’ all my money on you. You’re gonna be the best expert cop that ever walked into that place.”
