Page 35 of Tough Justice

“I don’t know their names. Chuck never took us with him.”

“Then you’ve got nothing to bargain with.” And all they’d get from tonight was a dead body. Again, Deck turned to start interrogating the other prisoner now proned-out on the pavement behind the tailgate.

“Hey, wait a minute. I’m trying to give you information.”

“You’re wasting my time,” Deck snapped. He was sure the guy had something more to say. Apparently, he needed more motivation. “I’ll see if your friend wants any of my brownies.”

“Wait, I remembered something else.” His eyes lit with eagerness. “One night, Chuck canceled on us. He said the Big D had to make a new batch and it wasn’t ready.”

Deck mentally ran through everything he knew about all the players in this investigation and came up empty. “What do you mean, ‘the Big D’?”

The man shrugged. “That’s what he called him.”

“What does the D stand for?” Deck asked.

“I don’t know.”

“What else do you know?” He leaned down, getting in the guy’s face.

“Nothing, I swear it. Except Chuck said the Big D drives a fancy black sports car and has a thing for watches.”

“Watches?”

“Yeah, you know. Rolexes, Tags. Stuff like that.”

Now, we’re getting somewhere.

Deck and Evan repeated the process with the other prisoner, who pretty much confirmed the same information.

Chuck’s two customers were put in the backseats of a patrol vehicle. When they were driven away, Deck and Evan exchanged looks.

“You heard of the Big D?” Evan asked. Deck shook his head. “Think they’re lying?”

“Doubt it.” Separating suspects during questioning usually weeded out the crap. Usually. “I’ll have Sammie run that nickname through all the databases. Maybe we’ll get lucky and get a hit.” If anyone could find the Big D, it would be Sammie.

“At least she stayed in the truck this time.” Evan nodded to Deck’s SUV.

“This time.” Although it was hard not to admire how she’d sprung into action at the first warrant he’d taken her on. The woman took her Hippocratic oath seriously, even at the risk of her own personal safety. “I’d better check in with her before she gets antsy.”

“Smart man.” Evan chuckled under his breath as Deck and Thor walked over to the passenger side of Deck’s SUV.

One of the patrol car’s spotlights reflected off the window, so he couldn’t quite see Tori inside. He reached for the door handle and froze. Fear—the likes of which he’d never experienced—exploded up his spine.

Just above the handle where the window met the door, a bullet hole pierced the metal.

Chapter Twelve

Deck ripped open the passenger door. He’d removed his head covering and mask, and his dark hair was completely askew in different directions. “Tori! Are you okay?”

His eyes radiated an odd mix of fear, shock, and anger as it traveled from her face down her body. Thor stood by his side, his body quivering.

“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” Despite hearing several loud pops that she swore could have been gunshots.

“You’re sure?”

“Yes, I—”

He hauled her from the truck, cupping her face with both hands, then massaging her neck, which felt rather nice, but it wasn’t really a massage. His movements were jerky, frantic, even.