Showdown in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #3)(38)

“I think something in that news story triggered a memory that’s been buried for a long time.”

“So you think that really happened?”

“Maybe,” Raissa said, “or it might be something similar, but your recall is fuzzy because you were drugged at the time.”

Jennifer crossed her arms across her chest. “I wish I knew what they did to me. The doctors said there was no…you know.” She blushed and looked down at her coffee. “But why would someone take me for no reason? And why would they need blood? And if my mind’s confused and it wasn’t blood, then what was it?”

“I can’t imagine how hard it is for you,” Raissa said. “At least I saw my attacker and can easily identify him. I know why he shot me. To have no answers has got to be hell.”

“Do you think I’ll remember more?”

“I don’t know. It’s impossible to know what triggers buried memories. You may have opened the door, and your memory will start unfolding. Or it may be another ten years before it happens again. Or…”

“Or it may never happen again,” Jennifer finished. “And I’ll never really know what happened to me.”

“There is another way,” Zach said, more determined than ever to make the kidnapping son of a bitch pay. “If we catch the people who did this, I’ll get everything out of them. I promise you.”

Jennifer gave him a small smile. “You know, Detective, I believe you’re telling the truth. I’m going to hold you to that promise.”





When they climbed back in the car, Zach handed Raissa a stack of printouts with DMV information. “You were good in there,” he said.

“Thanks,” Raissa said. “It’s hard not to feel for her. Knowing what you’re hiding from is hard enough, even for an adult. I can’t imagine living in constant fear of an enemy you don’t know and whose purpose is a mystery.” She flipped through the papers.

“Anything?”

“Yeah. There’s a corporation listed on here that owns several of the same make and model—all black. It’s one of Sonny’s companies.”

Zach blew out a breath, the desire to protect the woman beside him overriding all his other emotions. “If he tracked your car to Mudbug, he knows where you’re staying. What’s he waiting for?”

Raissa shook her head. “I don’t know, but Sonny never does anything without a reason. How much trouble did you get in over pulling the information?”

“Let’s just say that what the captain doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

“Oh, really? Mr. Anal-retentive Rule Follower was less than forthcoming with the big boss? Might cost you your job, you know?”

“Damn it, Raissa, there are things you don’t know.”

Raissa immediately lost her teasing tone.

“So tell me. We’re in this together.”

“It’s a long story,” Zach replied.

“Then give me the CliffsNotes version, and don’t worry about the ending. I’ve probably heard a lot worse.”

Zach took a breath, not sure how to condense what some considered the biggest screwup in his career. Not sure if he wanted to share something that personal with a woman he barely knew, regardless of how attracted to her he might be.

“Several years ago, I screwed up on a case. I’m still digging my way out.”

“What kind of screwup?”

“There was a guy we had our sights on for killing an eight-year-old girl, and all indications were she was hardly the first. The lab screwed up the chain of evidence and he walked.”

“Shit. That sucks, but a lab screwup is not your fault.”

“No, but I leaked who the guy was to the victim’s father.”

Raissa frowned. “But the father still had the right to file a civil suit, even if you couldn’t make a criminal one. I still don’t see the problem.”

“I didn’t give him the information for a civil suit. I knew what he would do.”

“How could you possibly know what someone would do?”

Zach looked over at her. “He was an exmarine sniper. His wife died a couple of years ago in a car accident and that little girl was the last of any family he had. He had connections in all parts of the world and the training to disappear without a trace.”

“So, what happened?”

“They both disappeared—the father and the perp. We never found bodies.”

Raissa was silent for a couple of seconds. “And you took the heat for telling him. He could have gotten the information anyway, and from the way you’ve described him, he definitely would have been the kind that went looking for it.”

“Yeah, but that’s not how Internal Affairs saw it, so they put me on notice. From that point forward, I was supposed to do everything by the book. No exceptions.”

Raissa sighed. “And then you met me. Why are you risking everything, Zach? You barely know me.”

“I know you’re a tough, strong, intelligent woman who has sacrificed a third of her life to do the right thing. I know there’s a little girl missing who might end up a recluse like the one we just left if I can’t get some answers. I know this could happen again if we don’t catch the guy now.” He paused for a minute and took a breath. “I know I have to sleep at night, and sometimes things aren’t black-and-white.”