Changing the Rules (Richter Book 1)(87)

“I can give him a call—”

“No!” She cleared her throat, spoke softer. The last thing she needed was Levine to get wind of anything. “That would totally undermine Mr. Dunnan, and you see him every day. Completely unprofessional.”

Bennett nodded. “You have a point.”

“Tell you what, I’ll go over a strategy plan to approach Levine, Coach Levine,” she corrected herself. “No outside help. I’ll run it past you before I go over there. Maybe bring a bottle of his favorite whiskey?”

“That would be inappropriate.”

This information needed to get out before the feds rolled. At least get the local authorities to pick the man up.

“Right. You have to promise me, no outside help. Not even a phone call.”

Coach Bennett held back. “Fill out a college application.”

Claire smiled. “I’ll fill out three.”

Bennett stretched his arms over his head and leaned back with a huge smile.

Claire grabbed her backpack and ran out the door, her phone to her ear.

“Yeah?” Lars answered.

“Did you know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away?”

“We’re clear.”

“Put Neil on speaker.”





CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX


Jax had never witnessed anyone control stone-cold rage the way Neil MacBain did.

When Claire had spelled out her discovery, the entire team turned to their boss. The link to some of the kids on that wall was right in his front yard. The set of his jaw and the tension in his shoulders said everything while he didn’t speak a word. His daughter went to that school.

Jax didn’t think that would last much longer.

It was then she realized why parents tucked their kids away in places like Richter. Although for many, that backfired. But if there is a magical school of safety, she’d bet her next paycheck Emma would be enrolled by fall.

Neil hung up with Claire and dialed another number.

“Detective Warren . . . Interrupt his meeting, tell him it’s MacBain.”

Neil put the call on speaker. Lifted a hand to indicate that no one was to speak other than him.

“Neil?”

“I need you to do something for me, no questions asked.”

“As long as it’s legal,” Warren replied.

“I need you to take Coach Dale Levine at Bremerton into custody at exactly three this afternoon.”

“You found something.”

“Three o’clock. Not a minute before or after.”

“What the fuck, Neil?”

“Do not use your men on this case. Take him in yourself if you have to. Keep it quiet.”

“Shit’s going down,” Warren concluded.

“Three o’clock.”

“Consider it done.”

Neil disconnected the call, pointed a finger at Jax. “Call Ally and Elsie, find out what role Levine had.”

He directed the next demand to Lars. “Everything on Levine. Bank accounts, cars, where he had lunch on Saturday.”

“On it.”

Neil was back on the phone. “Manuel. Find Emma, take her home. Call me when you get there.”



The doors to the shop were rolled up, the sun beamed into the space. Cooper took his lunch with a few students that needed extra time.

He watched the time ticking away, knowing everyone was geared up and ready to claim victory on the arrests.

“How did I know I’d find you in here at lunch?”

Cooper turned to see Leo Eastman standing in the doorway, a smile on the man’s face.

Cooper left the side of his students and offered Leo a handshake. “Dedication to the job, I guess. What brings you here?”

Leo’s eyes drifted to Tony’s car, then back again. “Couple buddies of mine are headed out this weekend, do some fishing. Wondered if you’d like to come along.”

Cooper planned on spending the weekend in the Bahamas with Claire tucked into the hammock with him.

“I have plans this weekend. Besides, is it even fishing season?”

Leo shrugged. “Nothing illegal about sitting in a boat with beer.”

Cooper laughed. “Fish jumping in the boat is just the icing.”

“Next time, then.”

“That would be great,” Cooper said.

Leo turned, indicated Tony’s car. “Is that your car?”

“No. Belongs to a kid that went here last year. He still comes in to use the shop.”

Leo peered in through the windows. “I wouldn’t let my car out of my sight when I was a kid. Did all the work myself.”

Cooper couldn’t help but wonder if there was a hidden message in there somewhere. “Tony is in here all the time. Helps a lot of kids.”

Leo nodded, continued to look around the car.

“Funny, the first time I saw Tony I thought he was a teacher or something. Looks a lot older than nineteen,” Cooper said, hoping for a reaction.

“A lot of these kids look like they could be in college. It’s a curse, if you ask me. Their bodies grow up before their brains. Gets them in trouble sometimes.” Leo stopped poking around, met Cooper’s gaze. “It’s important to keep an eye on the ones that are older than their years.”