“When I joined BLACK OPS, Dakota gave it to me.”
Her eyebrows jutted up.
Fuck, fuck.He could not keep his damn mouth shut around her.
Her expression softened and the corners of her lips lifted. “Tell me about his case.”
“Not gonna ask about BLACK OPS?”
She shook her head.
That’s ‘cause I just told her.
Pushing past his mistake, he said, “My dad was working a fentanyl case, going after a drug lord known as Candyman. He’d made inroads with the gang, then got tight with the leader’s most trusted men. He’d agreed to drive a mega shipment to a drop-off point in New Jersey.”
“How’d they move the money?”
“Hidden inside large, stuffed teddy bears.” Rebel forked green beans into his mouth.
“When did this happen?” she asked.
“Twelve years ago.”
“Can I read the case?”
He slid over the laptop. She pulled her barstool close to his. He loved having her there with him, loved being able to sharethis case with her. Together, they read through it. For the first time since his dad had been murdered, he felt like he had a trusted partner who could offer him valuable guidance.
After she finished reading through it, she said, “Candyman ran a successful drug ring, then vanished. The warehouse was cleaned out, his guys didn’t rat him out. Days later, your dad gets killed. I don’t think your dad’s murder was random either.”
He turned to face her. “You’re the only law enforcement agent who agrees with me.”
Her eyes grew large. “Seriously?”
“The night my dad was killed, there were no eyewitnesses, no surveillance. I think he was lured to that store.”
“Why?”
“He never stopped at convenience stores.”
“Ever?”
“No. He’d swing by the grocery store near our house. He didn’t grab coffee to go. The mini-mart where he was killed was thirty minutes from our house.”
“Why did the case go cold?”
“No leads, no evidence.”
“I’ll help you any way I can.”
She’d breathed life into him. “Thank you.”
“Going forward. I think we shouldjustbe partners. To be clear, no sex.”
“I’m not gonna hurt you,” he said.
“You already have,” she replied.
Pain slashed his chest. “Why would you say that?”