“Carla!”
“—Screwingup, Cookie, jeeze.” She smirked.
“Look, I know he’s the most obvious choice. But, Frank and I have been friends for years. He mentored me. We respect each other. Even if he wanted me off the Unit at all costs, he wouldn’t do it likethis.” She slapped her purse.
“So let’s widen the circle. Does someone on the K9 Unit favor Frank over you? Enough to dothat?” She pointed at the purse.
Sylvie shook her head. “No, again, not that I know of. I’ve only gotten to know the team recently between classes and they’re all amazing. They’ve been friendly, giving me pointers when I’ve asked. It’s an honor to be in the Unit. I can’t imagine any of them writing that word.”
Carla sucked her lower lip in and popped it back out with a smacking sound. “Can’t be Stan. He would just reprimand you, like he did today; no need to be nasty.”
“And not his style.”
“Nope, not his style, either.”
Carla tapped her chin. “Maybe we’re thinking the wrong way. Maybe it isn’t about keeping you off the Unit, and that’s just the sad fallout.” She glanced at Sylvie’s purse. “That’s some serious stalker action. Sicko secret admirer who’s pissed you’re out with someone else?”
Sylvie shivered. “Well, if my skin wasn’t crawling before that thought, it sure is now.”
“So, with no other obvious suspects, it’s gotta be Tom Hicks,” Carla said. “He’s a scumbag and he’s Frank’s partner. Maybe he thinks he’s doing his buddy a solid by sabotaging you, and being a creeper’s just the bonus. Like I said, I caught him watching you the past couple days. I shoulda said something, but he didn’t approach you.” She tapped her belly. “I shoulda listened to my own gut.”
“It’s okay, you’re not my babysitter.”
Carla scowled. “No, but we’ve gotta have each other’s backs, am I right?”
“And you do.” Sylvie smiled at her friend and partner.
Carla pointed at Sylvie’s bag with her chin. “Let me dust that for prints. It’ll make up for it.”
Sylvie frowned. “You don’t need to make up for anything.”
“I do and I am.” She held out her hand for the evidence bag. Sylvie turned it back over to her. “No one is gonna see this who shouldn’t, I promise. I’ll get an answer back to you ASAP.”
“Thanks, Carla. I owe you.”
Carla waved her off. “Naw. Unless you wanna hook me up for a hot night with a Watchdog.” She winked.
Unbelievably, Sylvie laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“One of them has to love cougars, right?”
“Forty isnotold and anyway, you look twenty-nine and gorgeous.” Sylvie grew serious. “Thank you again.”
“Anytime, Cookie.”
Trust your partner. “There’s something else. About Tom. And maybe…Frank too. I did some digging after we talked to George.” Sylvie quickly told Carla what she’d found. Her partner’s face turned redder as she spoke, then she went pale when Sylvie mentioned the random mugging that might not have been so random.
“Okay, that’s…heavy.”
“You see why I hesitate? That’snotFrank.”
“It isn’t. But.” She shook her head. “To have a crooked cop on the K9 Unit? That’s some damn good placement for a drug cartel. I can hear it now—Nope, my dog didn’t smell a thing, go on through, have a nice day.”
“I just can’t see Frank doing that.”
“I know you can’t, Cookie, and it’s a testament to your loyalty. But people get crazy around big money. And, there’s a lot of big money around here these days.”
“You’re thinking about Watchdog again, aren’t you? That’s why I hesitated to tell you.”
