“I think we do.” She managed to catch up to us just before we’d walked outside. As soon as she yanked his arm, he snarled, the harsh sound full of unreleased rage.
Without hesitating, he swung around to face her. He was an intimidating man to every other male he’d encountered, but to Jackie’s five-foot-nothing frame, I could only imagine how menacing he seemed.
“Kendrick. Calm down.” My suggestion was met with a deep, throaty laugh. “She’s only trying to help.” Unlike him, I didn’t believe she was working for the monsters. She was genuinely concerned, as horrified with the circumstances as I was.
Jackie wasn’t backing down, hands on her hips as she faced him. “He’s a tough old bird, Ms. Murphy. He doesn’t know when to stop sticking his nose into business where he doesn’t belong.”
“You asked him for help and thank God you did. He’s stubborn for good reason, Detective,” I shot back. “He’s trying to ensure additional girls aren’t kidnapped off the street and found in a goddamn morgue. That’s not my sister, but I could get another call tomorrow and it will be. Kendrick is doing something, which is more than I can say for the police.”
Maybe my voice was a little loud. I didn’t care.
“I understand,” she said far too quietly. In turn, I hissed and looked away, suddenly feeling the same rage at the machine I’d seen from Kendrick. Maybe there was no such thing as formal justice any longer. Money and power did buy everything. Didn’t it?
“She’s right, Jackie, but my sweet Reese, I have no intention of calming down. And do you want to know why? Because Jackie has been doing the bidding for her master in bringing me the case. Weren’t you, Jackie?”
“What in the hell are you talking about?” Jackie spat back, a look of horror on her face as if she’d been slapped.
Kendrick crowded her space. “Don’t lie to me, Jackie. You were told to drop the case into my lap, which I find fascinating.”
She was befuddled, darting me a glance as if I could help. “I don’t have a clue what you’re trying to say to me.”
“That your boss, the chief of police Darren Ewing is in bed with the Rinaldi Crime Syndicate. Ring a bell to you?”
Instantly, she was flustered, immediately glancing over her shoulder. “Let’s talk about this outside.”
“We talk about it right here.”
“Please.” She was begging him.
“What is going on, Kendrick?” I kept my tone as even and calming as what he’d offered me. This I hadn’t heard, although I’d been busy with Maverick’s story façade right up until hearing about the girl in the morgue. “You need to explain to both of us.”
Very slowly, the tension began to fade and he scrubbed his jaw as he always did when frustrated. “Fine. Outside. But you will tell me the truth.” He slammed his hand on the door with enough force I was certain he’d injured his hand.
He paced the parking lot, glaring at her every few seconds. “How did he convince you to lure me in?”
“You need to trust me. I don’t know what you’re talking about. But you’re obviously in deep with this case, much more so than you should be. Why didn’t you listen to me? How deep does this go, Kendrick? Somehow, you managed to free Ms. Murphy, who was supposedly enslaved by a dangerous organization that no one within any law enforcement agency has managed to undermine or infiltrate. Yet within two weeks of me bringing you what I hoped would be enough of a case to bring it in front of a judge with another potential witness to any number of horrific crimes, you’re accusing me. Of what? Doing my job?”
“Dante Rinaldi was the first man I put behind bars after moving to this godforsaken town. Remember him? The killer of killers, his acts so heinous that there’s supposedly blood flowing through the sewers. He’s free, serving his time after good behavior, now the leader of the so-called Privileged. My guess is he took that over from his father. He goes by the name of Lucifer. Fitting, eh? I find it fascinating that suddenly, I’m standing in a club opposite him and he’s asking me to join his illustrious operation. Now, what I can tell you about the men and their intentions are that they are using blackmail against several of their members and killing them if they don’t comply.”
“How do you know all this?” she demanded.
His grin was sly. “I have my sources. What about you?”
The exchange they shared was weighing heavily on her. She was also terrified.
“Jesus. I wasn’t sent to you by anyone, Kendrick. I came to you of my own free will because I knew you were the only person who might break this wide open.”
Why did I have a feeling she knew more about what Kendrick was involved in?
He studied her intently, taking several deep breaths. “Why would you come to me specifically?”
“I’m no fool. Justice served? All the interesting situations where criminals who found themselves free men suddenly ending up dead or caught yet in another reprehensible crime that no one could get them out of. Hell, it’s been all over the news and has your markings all over it. Maybe other people don’t know what you’re involved with, but you and I have worked closely enough together I know all the earmarks of your work.”
“Now is when I’ll say that I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said with amusement in his tone.
“You’re the most infuriating man I know. However you want to play this, what I’m telling you is no different than what I said before. This is much bigger than you believe.”
“No, Jackie. I’m pretty clear on how far reaching the situation is. Unfortunately, I just can’t trust you. But out of courtesy, I’ll give you the same warning that you gave me. Back off.”
