“Yes. I believe DEA was instrumental in closing their doors.” Walter’s jowls shivered with the pursing of his lips. The boss had trusted the accuracy of Lucky’s clean report, and look what happened. He’d been sent to the hospital before the Board of Pharmacy shut Chastain down, so he’d been getting information from somewhere.
Lucky nodded. “Yeah, and you were looking into things. Had a folder when you called me into your office. You showed me the report, saying they took possession of a shipment from an unregistered vendor.”
“That much I remember.” If rubbing his temples could squish the memories out, Walter would remember everything back to World War I.
“There was more in the folder you didn’t show me.” Stupid fucking good guy traits. Lucky should have snagged that folder. Even if his entire attention was on the man hitting the floor. Victor had trained him better than that. Or worse, maybe. Compassion and concern were over-rated. Well, maybe not, but a firm hand on the evidence was underrated.
Walter switched his friction attack to his chin, staring off into space. “I’m afraid I don’t remember. Do you have the file? May I see it?”
Lucky shared a look with Bo. “It’s gone. I don’t wanna go into too much detail, but after your… episode… someone came in and took the file.” There, he’d explained the situation without throwing his own speculations in. A smart man like the boss wanted evidence untainted with opinion.
“Was anything else taken?” Walter stiffened and sat up in his chair.
“The coffee cup you drank from.”
Walter stayed silent for a long moment. “Nothing else?”
“Not that we found. Someone tried to cover that much up. The cup was there when you came in. Any idea who brought you coffee?”
The lines on Walter’s forehead deepened. “I’m afraid I don’t.”
Bo stood. “Why don’t I go get the video?”
“Video?” Walter’s bushy brows shot towards his hairline.
“I’ll explain later, but we have video of the whole thing.” He’d already shocked the boss enough. Telling him about cooperating with Keith might send him back to the hospital.
“Well, then, yes, please do, Bo.”
“You need to see it. I’ll be right back.” Bo gave Lucky’s hand a squeeze, whispered, “Don’t let him get too tired,” and whisked out the door.
Lucky eyed the man so like a father to him. “Boss, I…” Words wouldn’t come. Maybe it was just as well. With his mind on the surveillance tape, Walter might miss Lucky going from hard as nails and twice as pointy to sniffling mess.
Like Walter ever missed much. Even if it was one little sniffle. Disguised in “Glad you’re—”
“I know.” Walter opened his arms.
Lucky shot across the floor and flung himself into Walter’s hug. Judging by the bone-crushing embrace, the boss definitely had regained some strength. Good. Lucky’d take getting his face smushed into wool lapels any day if it meant Walter was on the mend. He had to be. Too much near-loss unhinged a man. First his dad, now Walter. They were both on their feet now, and getting stronger by the day, and maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay. If Lucky’d give half a liver to the man who’d cast him out of the family, he’d give Walter twice as much for making Lucky one of his own. If only Lucky had anything to give that would heal Walter faster…
He had nothing but time. And Lucklighter stubbornness. He’d turn that into information. He’d get Walter anything. So would Bo. Walter patted Lucky’s shoulder and gently disengaged.
Lucky sniffed, swiped at his eyes, and sat on a nearby ottoman. “God, I was so worried about you.”
Walter gave a hearty laugh, but his voice didn’t have its normal booming quality. “To tell you the truth, so was I. I’m better now.”
“Things haven’t been the same at work.” A gross understatement. Any happiness in the building left when Walter did.
“I can guess. Fill in the details for me, why don’t you?” Walter put on his favorite uncle act like he’d done so many times, the persona guaranteed to get even the most hardcore cons to spill their guts.
The effect wasn’t lost on Lucky. “O’Donoghue’s taken over the department. Landry, Rogers, and Eustace act like they own the place.” He lowered his voice. “I’ve been put on desk duty.”
The furry gray masses above Walter’s eyes jolted upward. “You believe you’re unfairly targeted?”
Lucky shrugged. “Yeah. It’s like O’Donoghue’s trying to get me out of the way.”
“How about the rest of the team?”
The team. The one Lucky never felt a part of until recently. “Lisa’s been a crying mess since you left, no one’s watching the newbies, O’Donoghue makes sure to keep me, Bo, and Johnson apart.”
