“I trust no one more. You trust me when I promise you, she’s nothing to tangle me in. Do what you need to do to put her away.”
“I will. Before you go, do you know any of those fuckers we collared tonight?”
“I do, yes, know a few of those fuckers. Know of all.”
“Then give me a quick rundown.”
When he had, she passed the information to her team.
She did her interviews, and left it to her chief and her commander to deal with the attorney general and the lawyers from the Department of Justice.
She ate some pizza, and thought longingly about a shower, a long, hot shower.
Then Summerset came into her office.
“Your change of clothes, Lieutenant. Roarke was very specific.”
“Yeah, I bet. Appreciate it.”
“Congratulations on what you accomplished. Is it appropriate to tell me if you’ve dealt with her yet?”
She figured, in this case, he had a right.
“I punched her in the face again, mainly because I wanted to, and it’ll hurt longer than a quick stun.”
“I’m pleased to hear it.”
“But her interview is later this morning. If you’re worried, don’t be. She’s going away, and she won’t take Roarke down.”
“I hope her cage is small and cold and dark.”
With that, he walked out.
She grabbed a shower, and felt human. Roarke had gone with leather—charcoal-gray trousers and jacket, slate-gray vest with some navy running through it—she supposed that explained the short-sleeved navy tee. Thick-soled, above-the-ankle charcoal boots with navy laces.
She pulled out a memo cube, listened to Summerset’s voice.
Roarke suggests dispensing with the jacket for the primary interviews, and wearing the Giant’s Tear outside your shirt.
He would, she thought, but she saw the purpose in it.
She dressed, dealt with the media conference. And as the volley of questions never stopped, gave full credit to Kyung when he stepped up and announced Lieutenant Dallas had duties.
As she left, she pulled out her comm. “Bring Barrister to Interview. I have A booked.”
Abernathy rushed after her. “Lieutenant, I need a moment, in your office.”
“Make it quick. Start now.”
“Then I’ll begin by asking if your duties include interviewing Magdelana Percell.”
“They do. Barrister, the broker, then her.”
“As she was very likely the instigator of it all, I assumed you’d take her first. I realize you have personal interests you would want to protect—”
Still on the glide, she whipped toward him.
“Don’t start that bullshit with me. Barrister is my priority because she murdered her brother in my city. And when I break her, she’ll add weight, she’ll add details I can use against the broker and the blonde. I take the broker next because when I break him, I get more.”
