“True.” Because at this point, I was pretty sure at least four Little Rock detectives were dirty … and I suspected there were more. Natalie had estimated Simmons had five to ten percent in his pocket.
“Makes me wonder what you did that made them so desperate to get you off the force,” he said.
I grimaced. “We’re gonna Scarlett O’Hara that one and worry about it tomorrow.” Because I’d drive myself crazy thinking about it right now.
He grinned, then tipped his chin toward the laptop. “How close are you to having it all transferred?”
I checked the progress bar. “Transferring to both at the same time slowed it down some, but I’d say five minutes.”
“Did you transfer the files from your mother’s folder?”
“Not yet.”
“If you’re still open to it, transfer them too.”
“Okay.”
He gave a small nod and stood. “I’m gonna call my handler.”
“Sounds good.”
He started across the room. “I’ll be right back.”
He was out the door before I could respond, but I couldn’t help wondering how the hallway was more private than our room.
It wasn’t.
He didn’t want me to hear his conversation, and I wasn’t sure what to make of that.
Fear and distrust rose up, twisting together and then burrowing under my skin. James Malcolm used to be a crime boss. He hadn’t gotten where he was by being honest.
Was he tricking me now?
But I thought about the way he held me. The way he’d tried to make me feel better about my mother’s file. The way he hadn’t brushed off my fruity-drink comment—he’d stopped and made sure I was okay. The way he’d freaked out when he realized I hadn’t come back to the hotel after taking Emily to her parents.
He’d been scared.
He wouldn’t double-cross someone he cared about that deeply.
Would he?
He came back in about ten minutes later, his expression grim enough that my stomach dropped.
“That bad?” I asked, my heart in my throat.
He crossed the room and pulled me into a hug.
“You’re scaring me, James.”
He kissed my forehead and leaned back to look me in the eyes. “It’s fine. My handler’s an asshole.”
“What’d they say?”
“I’m meetin’ them in a half hour.”
“That quickly?” I stared at them. “Are they based in Little Rock?”
“Yeah.” He pulled me in again, resting his chin on top of my head.
