Page 133 of Dancing in the Dark

“I appreciate you looking out. Do you, uh…” He doesn’t want you to know, Archer! He’s not telling. “Do you know who he’s working for? Since you can see the deposits.”

“Yes.”

That’s it. That’s all she’s willing to share.

“Will you tell me?”

“No.”

Figures.

“Is he safe? Will this haunt him?”

“Yes, he’s safe. No, it won’t haunt him. He’s doing favors for someone with disposable income, and the only law he technically broke was his failure to communicate a sudden influx in his income to the IRS. I fixed it so he won’t have to.”

“Is this person with disposable income you?”

She snickers. “No. Though I’d be willing to toss a bone his way if the opportunity arose. I steal every dollar I have from crooked motherfuckers just like your daddy, so I see no issue sharing my good fortune with a dude who dedicates himself to finding justice in the day, and to raising his little girl at night. I like him.” She audibly shrugs. “I think he’s one of the good guys, and you already know adorable ballerinas are my kryptonite. Besides, the shit he’s doing for this other guy is embarrassing.”

“It’s…” I sit taller and glance toward the door. “What?”

She giggles and taps away at her computer keyboard. “Don’t worry about it. I’d say that about covers everything.”

“As in, IA’s about to come down on our asses again, because Markum’s an irritating prick who never got over losing the girl, and Bower can’t not follow procedure, even though I’ve done a damn good job and closed a shit ton of cases under his command?”

“You haven’t closed the vigilante killer case,” she teases.

“Funny,” I drawl. “How much would it cost to have you plant certain weapons and evidence inside Markum’s asshole? Once you give me the go-ahead, I’ll send myself an anonymous tip via registered mail claiming he’s the vigilante. Two birds, one lube-less party he’ll wish he was never invited to. It’ll get him out of Fletch’s hair, too.”

“Inside his ass, specifically?” She taunts. “That’s gonna cost you more. Also, make up with Fletch before he stresses himself to death. Especially now that Bower’s about to pull you both aside and tell you about the new investigation.”

“Soon. He can sweat a minute longer.”

“Because he was mean to you?”

“Because even after everything we’ve been through, he didn’t trust me enough to tell me who he’s working with on the side.”

“Hurt your feelings.”

“Yep! And I’m still pretty raw since my last breakup.” I drag my hand over my face and exhale a tired groan. “I guess that means you’ve folded Fifi into your web of deceit and bugged her phone, too, huh?”

“You’re so nineteen-nineties. I don’t need to bug phones, Malone. I simply hack them and listen using their own tech. Also, remember how I said Lawrence stood up for Mayet, and Bower took up for you?”

“Mm? Was that a lie?”

“No. It was the first course of an exceptionally delicious meal. Lawrence and Bower primed the situation, but it ought to make your cynical heart happy to know Seraphina struck the final blow. That woman everyone swears is prim and proper and accustomed to the finer things in life is actually a trailer park girl adjacent, and she doesn’t mind a street confrontation when the need arises.” She draws a contented breath I know ends with a smile. “He chose well. Now he’s just gotta put a ring on it before she wakes up and realizes his side job isn’t the problem. Being a cop is. Do you even know the divorce rates amongst homicide detectives, Detective? It’s pretty bad.”

“Can’t be, because I’ve been married twice, and divorce isn’t a word in our vocabulary. Have they studied the divorce rates between big-mouthed ballerinas and hired muscle with weird scars and shitty senses of humor? I’m curious.”

“Eh. It’s looking good from my pedestal. Now go dance for the brass. Film it so I can watch.”

“No, fuck you.” I slump back in my chair and study the door. “And, Soph?”

“Mm.”

“Thanks for the heads up. And for taking care of this. I really appreciate it.”

“I protect family. Don’t overthink it.”