“Do you think Liv is involved?” Dane’s voice was cautious.
Thinking of the flash drive Ryan had in her desk, she swiveled to look at him. “Why would you ask that?”
“She’s been really interested in that case,” Dane said pragmatically. “If she was part of the ring, wouldn’t it make sense to have someone monitoring it?”
Ryan’s heart fell into her stomach, especially when she thought of the things that had happened the night before. “She’s not,” Ryan said, more firmly than she felt. She couldn’t be.
“You hesitated.” Dane’s voice was gentle.
“She’s not.” Ryan made herself sound more confident than she felt. But inside her gut was churning. Could that explain the break-ins that Liv hadn’t been particularly concerned about investigating? Was that why Liv had the flash drive?
Three hours later, Ryan was sitting at her desk, mentally turning the flash drive over in her mind. She couldn’t get Dane’s words out of her head. Her phone rang. Grateful for the distraction, she tucked it to her ear. “Detective Olsen.”
“We found a DOA teenage boy with your business card?” It was one of the operators.
Ryan froze. “Description, please?”
The operator then described the boy she had met with earlier that day, Tanner. Ryan’s blood went cold. Had the killer been lurking when she was there? Had they burst her tires? Had he been the intended victim?
Why was this case bringing more questions than answers?
27
Thursday 27th October; 11pm
He looked at Teep, who was drinking a scotch, then at the ice-goddess Veronica, who had her legs crossed as she glared at him. He didn’t care. She would get what was coming to her soon enough, and they would deal with it then. There was a lot she had to pay for.
“Where are we at?” He asked, his voice languid.
“The donkeys are gone, except for one.” Teep smiled. His teeth were slightly crooked, almost hidden behind his bushy beard, but there was no mistaking his pleasure at the thought.
Less for him to do to get his hands dirty. It worked.
“Here’s your new identity.” Veronica’s voice was more restrained as she handed him an envelope. “Passport, plane ticket, the works.”
“And the cash?” He was quick to fix her with his gaze.
She looked away before he did. “It’ll be in the usual drop spot.”
He nodded, satisfied, then put the envelope on his lap. “Are the routes shifted?”
Teep nodded. “Boren is now the hub. We’ll re-route things as you get established somewhere else.”
He nodded, pleased with himself. He had no intention of telling them what he was actually going to do, but as a back-up plan, it wasn’t bad.
“Any luck on finding it?” His voice was cool as he looked back at Veronica.
She flushed, then shook her head.
He sighed. “Disappointing.”
“I’ve tried Cairo’s house, Steven’s, anywhere she would have gone.” Veronica sounded as frustrated as he did.
“Well, you know what’s at risk if you don’t find it.” He tsked. “I’d search harder if I were you.” There was a reason he’d installed a key logger virus on his computer. It’d told him Cairo had made a copy, just not where she had stashed it.
Veronica stood, her hands fists at her sides. Then she pushed out of the hidden room, heading into the main area before leaving.
“Such a temper,” he remarked.
Teep laughed, but didn’t speak.
He swirled his alcohol, staring at it. Veronica was targeting the cop. Why? Was there something special about her? Maybe Cairo was bluffing and the flash drive didn’t exist.
Maybe she wasn’t. He was in too much potential danger to ignore it. But the option ‘kill everyone and run’ was looking more and more tempting.
Starting with the nosy coffee shop owner.
28
Monday 7th November; 6pm
Liv stifled a yawn as she headed home from the hospital. Gram’s surgery had been a success and she would be coming home soon. Liv had parked her car back behind another building, to keep from cluttering up the main street. Mocha was by her side as they walked the couple blocks to the cafe.
The air was brisk around her, and she tilted her head up with a smile, looking at the stars starting to twinkle in the sky. Everything had gone well, and Gram would be home soon. What would things be like? How much help would she need? Even as the anxiety threatened to surround her, she remembered Ryan’s words.
No matter what happened, they would be okay.
It was strange, how so few words could make her feel that much better. But they did. Especially since she had seen Ryan almost every day since Gram’s fall. She sometimes even stayed over. They were officially dating now. It was such a strange concept to Liv after ten years, but it felt so familiar at the same time.
“Hey.”
Liv didn’t recognize the voice at first, until she half-turned and saw Veronica. Cairo’s cousin. Liv’s brow furrowed. There was anxiety in Veronica’s face, an apprehension she didn’t like. “Do you need something?”
Veronica came closer, her gaze shifting. Liv gripped Mocha’s leash tighter, preparing to run.
“I wouldn’t do that.” The blade of a knife tickled Liv’s throat. Mocha was starting to growl now. “I’d shut the dog up.”
Liv would have much rather let Mocha chew the shit out of Veronica, but she didn’t know exactly how dangerous she was. “Shh, Mocha.” Mocha quieted, but it was reluctantly.
“Where is it?” Veronica asked, the knife wavering against her neck.
“Where’s what?” Liv sounded puzzled, but then the pieces clicked in her head.
“I know she gave it to you.” Veronica started them walking, the knife going behind Liv’s back to keep as a silent threat without being noticed. “We’re just two friends, going on a nice walk.”
Liv wanted to snort, but she didn’t. It didn’t take her long to realize they were heading towards her cafe. She was looking for the flash drive, the one Liv had found.
Had Cairo
