Captain shook his head. “Dan’s lawyer won’t let him talk without a deal on the table.”
“Then we offer him a deal. Reduced sentence in exchange for information about Shaw’s operation.” Carson was growing desperate. Whatever it took. Shaw was guilty, dammit, and Carson was going to take him down, come hell or high water.
Holloway was quiet for a long moment. “You understand what you’re asking me to do? If we go after Shaw publicly and we’re wrong, it destroys the reputation of a man who served this department for thirty-five years. It makes us look like we’re turning on our own.”
Carson stabbed the list on the desk with a determined finger. “And if we’re right and we do nothing, we’re letting a corrupt cop continue to profit from helping criminals avoid justice. We’re failing every victim whose case he sabotaged.”
“I know.” Holloway pulled out his phone. “I’ll make some calls. Get you the warrants you need. But, Carson? This stays between us, Finn, and whoever else we absolutely need to bring in. No one else. Understood?”
Carson gave a curt nod. “Yes, sir.”
“And be prepared. If Shaw finds out we’re investigating him, he’ll either run or he’ll fight back. Either way, it’s going to get ugly.”
Carson thought about the twelve women whose cases had been sabotaged. About Nora, who’d been terrorized by Eugene while Shaw’s corruption possibly enabled it. About all the potential victims they didn’t know about yet.
“I’m ready for ugly,” Carson said.
***
That evening, Carson came home late to find Nora asleep on the couch, her laptop open with business plans on the screen.
He closed the laptop gently and started to lift her to carry her to bed, but she woke up.
“Hey,” she murmured. “What time is it?”
“Almost midnight. Sorry. The investigation took longer than expected.”
She sat up, rubbing her eyes. “Did you find anything?”
“Yeah. Too much.” He sank onto the couch next to her and told her everything—the deposits, the trips, the possibility of someone in the department still helping Shaw.
Nora listened, her expression growing more concerned. “This is dangerous. If Shaw realizes you’re investigating him—”
“I know. But I have to do this. These women deserve justice.”
“I’m not saying don’t do it. I’m saying be careful. Don’t be a hero. Don’t take unnecessary risks.” She took his hand. “I just got you. I’m not ready to lose you because you’re chasing a corrupt cop.”
“You won’t lose me.”
“You can’t promise that.” He saw the fear in her eyes, and it tore at his heartstrings.
“Yes, I can.” He pulled her close. “I’m not going after Shaw alone. Captain Holloway has my back. Finn’s helping. We’re doing this by the book. Building an airtight case before we make any moves.”
“How long will that take?”
“Weeks. Maybe months. Depends on what the warrants turn up.”
Nora was quiet for a moment. “I’m scared. Not just for you. For all of this. We just got our lives back to normal. We just started building somethingreal. And now you’re diving into something that could blow up in your face.”
The muscle in his jaw flexed as he stared at the blank wall ahead. “I know. And I’m sorry. But I can’t walk away from this. Not when I know what Shaw did.”
“I’m not asking you to walk away. I’m asking you to be smart. To not let this consume you the way cases usually do.” She lifted her head from his shoulder and looked at him. “I’m asking you to remember you have someone to come home to now. Someone who needs you alive and safe and not destroyed by the job.”
Carson cupped her face. “I remember. Every second. You’re what keeps me grounded. What reminds me there’s more to life than just the work.”
“Good. Then promise me, if this gets too dangerous, if Shaw comes after you, you’ll back off. You’ll let someone else handle it.”
Her desperate gaze locked onto his. He wanted to promise. Wanted to give her that reassurance.
