Mo drew in a big breath and released it.
He tried that again.
After that, he started with his toes.
They were still in boots.
He gave up after getting all the way to his scalp and fellasleep two hours later with his hand curled around the butt of his gun.
Chapter Four
Whitening Strips
Mo
The next morning, Mo sat on the couch he’d slept onwhile Lottie was in the bathroom doing whatever she did first thing in themorning.
He was on his phone with Hawk.
It was eight thirty and he was surprised she was up thatearly.
He’d been up since six.
“No on the prints.Got a sample to the DNA lab to see if wecan catch something on that, but if he’s not in the system for his prints, evenif they can pull some, he won’t be in the system for DNA,” Hawk briefed him.“FBI is still running the language.That might take some time.”
“And?”Mo asked.
“And, customers Smithie, Jorge, Joaquim and me tagged aspossibles got tails home last night.We’regoin’ intotheir places today to take a closer look.”
“I’ll take odds that he didn’t send that letter and knowsSmithie’sgonnaget it around about yesterday andhe’sgonnashow at the club.He’sgottaknow Smithie isgonnacall someone in.”
“He’s also probably expecting cops.”
“You and Jorge don’t look like titty bar regulars, Hawk.”
“You want us to work this situation or sit on our hands foracoupladays?”Hawk asked.
Mo shut his mouth.
His boss was older than him, not by much, so it wasn’t likehe was a father figure.
Mo had given up on a father figure a long time ago.
It was that he was his commanding officer, as such, and Mohad been trained not to disappoint his commanding officer.
And right then, Hawk didn’t exactly sound like he wasthrilled with Mo.
“It hasn’t been twenty-four hours, Mo,” Hawk noted.“Is shealready getting under your skin?”
She was definitely a challenge.
But she wasn’t under his skin.That couldn’t happen.And heknew it the minute she opened the door to him and took a step back like she wasgetting ready to flee.
This was not an unusual reaction people had to him.
It justkindasucked Lottie hadhad it.
“I’m good,” Mo muttered.
