Page 18 of Deliverance

“That was fast,” he commented.

“You were very convincing,” I teased. “I’ll send it to Liam so he can get on monitoring it.”

Hopefully, we would find something soon. Before anyone else got hurt.

CHAPTER 9

DOMINIC

“What do you want, Dom?” Ethan Mercer answered the phone gruffly.

“Is that any way to talk to someone who led you to the biggest bust of your career?” I asked, only half kidding.

I was getting a little tired of Ethan’s attitude. Yes, I had gone against his orders at the rail yard, but it all worked out. Director Keller was arrested, Judge Jefferson was under investigation and pending an arrest, and the SID was up to their eyeballs in evidence. Ethan could cut me some slack and show a little gratitude.

“What can I do for you?” Ethan said, his voice a little less gruff.

I moved on. It was the only concession I was going to get from him.

“I’m calling to see how the case is going.” I had been trying to get ahold of Ethan for the last few days, but he had been ducking my calls.

“You know I can’t discuss an active investigation,” Ethan said. “And technically you’re suspended from the FIA.”

“And technically I’m suspended because I helped you take down my department, so again, how is the investigation going? Is Director Keller talking?”

Ethan sighed. “No, he’s clammed up. It doesn’t really matter, though. The evidence is overwhelming. Every agency is jostling for their piece of the pie. It’s a huge clusterfuck. How the fuck did no one notice the director of the FIA was the Kingfisher?”

“Because he shut up anyone who found out,” I said, thinking of Mike Holden’s former partner.

“True,” Ethan said.

“Speaking of the Kingfisher, though,” I said. “I don’t think Director Keller is the Kingfisher.”

There was a heavy pause on the line.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Ethan demanded. “Of course he is.”

I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me. “I don’t think he is. The way he was talking when we took him down… He said, ‘He won’t abandon me’ and ‘He’ll be pissed.’ That doesn’t sound like he’s the Kingfisher; he’s referring to someone else.”

“I didn’t hear that,” Ethan said slowly.

“It’s captured on our body cameras,” I reminded him. “I’m just asking you to keep an open mind.”

“I have to look at the evidence, Dom,” Ethan said. “And the evidence points to Director Keller as the Kingfisher.”

“What if the evidence is wrong?” I argued. “You’ll be convicting the wrong man.”

“The director has done plenty wrong,” Ethan said. “He’ll serve his time for that.”

“And the person pulling his strings will get away,” I said fiercely. “You have to keep the Kingfisher investigation open.”

“I don’t have to do anything,” Ethan shot back, his temper flaring. “I’m doing you a favor even taking this call. Besides, it’s not up to just me. Like I said, every federal agency is in this,and everyone agrees with the evidence. I’m not shaking things up because you say we have the wrong man. Bring me evidence. Proof. And then we can talk. But until then, keep your head down and stay out of trouble.”

I laughed, but there was no humor behind it. “So you’re just going to let Kingfisher continue his operations?”

“Right now, we have the Kingfisher in custody, and we will continue to have him in custody until theevidenceproves otherwise,” Ethan said firmly. “I’ve already said too much, so I’m hanging up now. Donotdo anything stupid, Dom.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t worry. I’ll just fulfill my oath to protect and serve and do your job instead.”