PD chuckled and pulled out his phone. I watched over his shoulder as he found River’s name and requested a video call. The phone vibrated as it rang, and it didn’t take River long to answer.
River’s handsome face filled the screen, mouth pursed seriously. He pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up his nose. “Hello, PD. Is everything okay?”
“Mostly. We’ve got an issue, though. It’s a long story and I don’t want to tell you over the phone.”
River huffed and waved his hand. “But you will eventually tell me if it becomes a legal problem.”
“Of course,” PD said.
“Right. Continue.” He rolled his eyes.
Dallas leaned close to King and murmured something to him, and King grunted before downing the rest of his beer. I let them talk with each other as I focused on River’s face on PD’s screen.
“Wethinkwe’re dealing with cops. I won’t get into the details, but could you take a look at a sketch I did and tell me if the guy is familiar?”
River nodded sharply. “Show me.”
PD sent River the same photos he’d sent out to the club earlier. I leaned my shoulder against PD’s, offering him support. I took in his bruised face. The discoloration and swelling under his left eye had spread, the creaminess of his skin warping intosomething vicious. Anger surged in my chest, squeezing my lungs as I resisted the urge to go back to Uhlig and smash his face in. King was as pissed as me, but he’d made it clear—we couldn’t touch Uhlig. This money outweighed retribution.
For now. Things wouldn’t stay that way forever.
River frowned down at us, but I suspected he was studying the pictures PD had sent. “He doesn’t look familiar, but that isn’t saying much. There are a lot of stations in New Gothenburg. I mostly interact with higher-ups and the DA.”
“Could Jayce take a look?” PD asked.
River’s frown deepened into disapproval. “You know the answer to that. Jayce and I have an agreement. We don’t bring work home with us, and we don’t ask each other questions. It’s the only way our relationship works.”
King stumbled to his feet and made his way behind us, glancing at River over PD’s shoulder. “We think this guy could be a motorcycle cop. They stole money from Uhlig, but he accused us of it.” He was still in the frame of mind to whisper so no one else could hear us. We didn’t want the wrong people knowing our business.
There was a deep English voice on the other end of the call, and River turned his head, muttering back to someone who was obviously Jayce. We let him and Jayce talk it out before Jayce appeared beside River, sitting on their couch. His bulky muscles made it difficult to get them both in the picture. “Let me see what you’ve got.”
My eyebrows shot up. “I thought you stayed away from our business?”
Any other time we’d asked for Jayce’s opinion, he’d kept his mouth shut, even when his brother had asked. He was adamant about staying away from the Kings when it came to this kind of shit.
“Yeah, but the bloody motorbike cops are a completely different breed, and not in a good way. There’s a few of them who are trouble, and if they’re part of a robbery, then I want to know.” Jayce shrugged and his blond hair glinted as he shifted in his seat. “Bare minimum, I need to know who to stay away from.”
“You’re not going to keep it to yourself if you recognize him, are you?” Suspicion thickened King’s tone as he eyed Jayce carefully.
Jayce sighed. “No, but if anyone asks, this conversation never happened.” He nodded at River. “Show me, Lamb.”
River waited for another nod from King before he messed around with his phone. We couldn’t see what he was doing because we were still on the video call, but the moment Jayce’s face shifted from curiosity to a furrowed brow and irritation, I knew he’d recognized someone in the sketches.
“The big guy. His name is Martin Loubeck. You’re right, he’s a motorbike cop, all right.” Jayce scratched his chin in obvious annoyance. “He’s got those shoulders from pumping iron. He’s a troublemaker over at Lakeside. He’s been reported more than once for how he treats people on the street. He thinks the badge gives him the right to be judge, jury, and executioner.”
King pumped his fist. “Fuck yeah!”
Dallas’s mouth flicked up into a smile and he shook his head lovingly. The look in his eyes when he focused on King could’ve melted butter.
“Do you know where we could find him and guys in his crew?” PD sat up straighter, his mouth twitching, trying to hold off a grin.
“I can’t tell you who was in his crew, obviously, but I can tell you where he and his buddies drink. Once they’re finished on shift, they go to a cop bar. It’s called the Precinct. It belongs to a former cop and he mans the bar. He’s also old school, so if you’relooking at walking in there, I’d take backup. He doesn’t likegangs, as he calls your lot.” Jayce glanced at River in concern. “If they’re part of the robbery, which wouldn’t surprise me, they’re not going to let you rat them out.”
King chuffed out a loud laugh, earning a few glances from the patrons at the bar. “You know we’re not rats, Paxton. We’re exterminators.”
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” Jayce grumbled. “I’m done with this conversation, and I’m going to have a shower now. King,don’t get my brother killed. You’ll deal with meandDestiny, and you won’t appreciate what we do to you.”
King laughed again and gave him a salute. “Sure thing, Officer.”
