Jane arrived early Thursday morning at the police station to give her statement. Afterward, she asked to look in on the robber.
“Nope. Sorry,” the day shift officer answered. He looked at his computer. “We don’t have anyone of that description in custody.”
“Wait. He’s not here? That makes no sense. I broke his nose. You guys took him away in cuffs in the back of a squad car.” She paused. “He’s on a surveillance camera robbing the store.”
“I don’t know what to tell you. Hewashere, but now he’s not. And when I pull up the file, I get nothing but garbage.” He swore. “Need to get IT in again. Man, I hate this system.”
Jane tried, but the police seemed as frustrated as she felt. With no one in custody to question, she left for work.
Gina had something pressing and would be in later, but Diego and Rapp were already deep into their computers when she requested an all-hands meeting.
“What’s up?” Rapp asked, perched against the conference room desk.
Diego munched on one of the donuts Rapp had brought in as a thank you to the group. Despite being a pain to work with, he seemed to take care of his people. Not her, of course, but Gina and Diego. Jane wondered at Raine’s intel on the guy. He seemed big enough to be scary but a lot more civilized than she’d credit most black ops members.
Of course, she only had Team Ten to go by.
“While we’re young?” Rapp said caustically before eating asecondapple fritter, which likely didn’t make a dent in his appetite.
“Oh man. Those are fantastic,” Diego agreed.
Jane started to rub her eyes before her bruised cheek, now a pretty purplish-green under her makeup, reminded her not to.
Rapp’s eyes narrowed. “What’s with your face?”
“Nunya.”
He frowned in confusion, but Diego smirked and clarified, “That’s agent speak for ‘none of ya’ business,” he clarified.
“So many comedians in one tiny office,” Rapp muttered, but she’d swear he fought not to smile.
“I have a slight bruise, okay?” She hoped she hadn’t rubbed all her makeup away. A subtle glance at her thumb and finger showed a smudge of beige. “Look, I need to tell you something important. Last night, I interrupted a robbery.”
Both men stared at her.
She gave them the details, ending with, “And when I went this morning to question the guy, I find he’s not in custody. Imagine that.” She thought about her impression of the criminal. “I don’t think he was a drug addict. I think someone hired him.” Then added, “To come after me.”
“Why?” Rapp didn’t act upset, though Diego swore and promised he’d end the guy’s financial score and put him on every call list in existence.
“Diego.” Rapp shook his head. “Jane, why do you think he wanted you? That comment about the side piece? Everyone who watchesCriminal MindsorChicago PDthinks they know how the FBI and police operate. And if he’s been in the system before, he’d be familiar with it.”
“Don’t forgetReno 911,” Diego added.
Rapp and Jane ignored him, and Jane said, “But he askedmeto show him I was unarmed, not the two civilians on the floor. He knew I was law enforcement.”
“You look like a Fed,” Rapp said.
Diego shook his head. “Nah. You only think that because she works here and you’re a robot.” He flushed as soon as he said it.
Rapp stared at him.
Diego quickly added, “I mean, not knowing her, if I saw her in jeans and a jacket, I’d think attractive chick. Not federal agent.”
“Thanks,” Jane deadpanned.
Diego grinned. “You’re welcome.”
“Thepoint,” Rapp enunciated, “is that Jane might be right.”
