Page 22 of Blood Money

Alex’s forehead creased, and a look of worry spread across her delicate features. Classic features that evidenced her true Scandinavian heritage. Blue eyes, fair hair and skin. Ironically, the photo of Nicky on Alex’s desk was of a dark-haired, dark-eyed little boy. Features that must have been inherited from his father.

The thought of Alex lying with another man sent an unwanted wave of jealousy washing over him.

Keep a clear head. She’s not yours and never will be.

“Is there anything else we should know?” Gray asked, praying there wasn’t. Knowing there was.

“Yes.” Alex compressed her lips. “A few days ago, I spent some of the money.”

Shit. Gray clenched his jaw. They’d run Alex’s account a week ago, but not since. Her predicament just went from red-zone-bad to holy-Hell-bad. “How much?”

“Ten thousand dollars.”

Great. Gray rubbed the back of his neck. “You say you were worried about having received twenty thousand dollars from an anonymous source, yet you spent some of it anyway. How do you expect us to believe this money wasn’t payment for services already rendered or yet to be rendered?”

“I swear to you, I’m telling the truth,” Alex cried. “I didn’t do anything to earn that money, nor would I. Ever. I only spent some because I was desperate. My son needed treatment and I couldn’t afford it. Why won’t you believe me?”

Gray’s gut clenched at the desperation on Alex’s face. “Because there’s too much evidence against you.” And spending some of that cash is the clincher. “Is there anything else you’re not telling us?”

She averted her gaze. “No.”

Shit. Alex had just exhibited yet another textbook characteristic of someone lying. Gray looked up to catch Dom watching her, his eyes narrowed. His partner had picked up on it, too.

“Are you sure?” Gray asked. Alex nodded, but again he picked up on a subtle hesitation. “Do you have any idea how the Pyramid found you, or why they picked you for this job?”

For a moment, Alex stared at her hands in her lap. “I can only speculate that they saw me as an easy target because of my son’s medical needs and the financial debt I face every week. They must know a mother would do anything for her son.”

“How did they find out about Nicky in the first place?” Gray asked.

“You’re the detective.” Alex pierced him with an icy stare. “You tell me.”

Evasive answer.

Gray tapped his fingers on the table. “Since you’ve been working for the department, have you received any other funds from unidentified sources?”

“You’ve obviously been prying into my personal finances, so again, you tell me, Detective Yates.” She crossed her arms.

“Answer the question,” he flung back.

Alex glared at him, her eyes cold. “No, I haven’t.”

Gray couldn’t blame her for being pissed at him, but this wasn’t personal. It was business. Police business.

“For the last five years,” Simonetti interjected, “your annual income averaged thirty-four thousand dollars. With such a modest income and a child requiring costly medical care not completely covered by insurance…” He paused. “I’d say you were a prime candidate to be bribed.”

“I did not get bribed!” Alex outstretched her arms. “I never agreed to take that money. It just showed up in my account. The bank was unable to explain how it got there, and I didn’t know how to give it back. Check with the bank if you don’t believe me. I never agreed to do anything the Pyramid asked, and I did not agree to provide any files.”

“Is there anyone who can corroborate your story?” Gray asked.

“Other than the bank, no.” Alex closed her eyes, a defeated expression on her face. “What can I say or do to convince you everything I’ve told you is true, and that I never had any malicious intent?”

Simonetti shook his head. “At this point, nothing. You are suspended from duty effective immediately. Meanwhile, we’ll consider termination proceedings, while simultaneously presenting your case to the District Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution.”

No, Gray wanted to shout. The thought of Alex in jail about killed him, but the bastard was dead-on accurate. Ultimately, there was no one to back up her story.

Except my gut feeling?

Gray couldn’t allow himself to go down that road and start believing Alex’s explanation was plausible.