“Mr. Barinov,” he says. “You wanted an update.”
“Yes.”
He swallows hard as his eyes flick to Andrei, then back to me. “I did a little snooping around. My access level isn’t the highest, but it’s enough to get into the system.”
“On with it.”
“Yes. Right. Sorry. Anyway, I wasn’t able to find anything suggesting an active investigation on you. Nothing official, at least.”
I narrow my eyes. “Nothing official. What does that mean, exactly? Be very precise with your words, officer.”
He shifts his weight from one foot to the other. “Meaning the department isn’t moving on you. Not right now, at least. Couldn’t find any warrants in progress, not even a surveillance order.”
Good news. So far.
“Andunofficially?”
His lips form a thin line. He has something to tell me but isn’t looking forward to how I’m going to react.
“There’s been talk. Pressure.”
I say nothing, guiding him without words to continue, to fill in the blanks.
He lets out a worried rush of breath. “It’s Garin. One of his guys works as some kind of civilian consultant for the PD. Not really sure what he does, but rumor has it he’s around to guide interest.”
Meaning, to keep police attention away from where he doesn’t want it and on where he does. Like on me.
“He doesn’t wear a badge, like I said. But he’s very cozy with some of us who do. I heard he’s been asking questions, trying to get a unit to take a closer look at Barinov Holdings and that business plan you have going on.”
Of course he is. Outright killing me would be too risky, too destabilizing. But if he could kill me in the boardroom, his goal would still be accomplished.
“Which unit?”
“Sorry, but I’m really not sure. If something’s official, that means any low-level beat cop like me can access information. But you don’t need me to tell you that the CPD has other operations going on. Off-the-books stuff.”
“What about the intelligence division?”
He shrugs. “They’re involved in heavier shit. They could be planning an invasion of Canada and I wouldn’t know a damn thing about it.”
So, there may or may not be off-the-books operations into my affairs. Just because Garin’s pushing through his consultant doesn’t mean he’s managed to get the CPD’s interest.
On the other hand, the entire Intelligence Division could be investigating me and I wouldn’t know about it. I wish I had a man inside that department. I’ve tried, but it’s damn near impossible. They don’t let just anyone into Intelligence. Affiliations with criminal empires like mine are the first thing they sniff out.
The officer’s eyes light up as something else occurs to him.
“Wait! There’s a Detective Russo.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Max Russo?”
“Yeah, that’s the one. I heard rumors he’s taken a personal interest in your operations.”
This is useful.
“What else?”
He shakes his head. “That’s it. I swear. I wouldn’t hide anything else from?—”
“Good.” I cut him off. “If you did, you’d be useless. For now, this is fine.”
