Mine To Protect (Mine #6)(40)
She’d known that.
“But he also wants you happy. And finding out more about Michelle Lane, talking to some cop named Roy Duncan, well, Victor said he had to do it. For you.”
Her breath heaved out. “He should have taken me with him!”
“Vic said there was already one bad cop in the mix. With that two million dollar bounty on your head, he couldn’t risk others taking aim at you.” Drake rocked back on his heels. “I’ve been ordered to stay with you until he gets back. And he will be back. Hopefully with some answers for you.”
And she got to play the waiting game. Lovely. “That security team you sent out last night…did they discover anything?”
“Only that Michelle Lane disappeared from sight about a month after she started working at the Vine Casino.”
“The Vine? I don’t know that place.”
“It’s new. Started up by some corporation from back East. My men are digging up dirt on the place now.”
Everyone seemed to be doing something. Everyone but her.
“I’ve got new clothes coming up for you,” Drake said. “The delivery should be here any moment.”
New clothes would be better than just hanging around in the robe all day. “Thanks.” Zoe turned away from Drake.
“Don’t trust him.”
She stilled.
“I’m not supposed to say that, but I do know Victor. And even though the guy wants you, even though he seems to f*cking need you, I’ve seen what he can do. The shit that happened to him when he was a kid messed him up. That need for justice that he has? I’d call it fanatical. And with your past…”
She looked back at him. “You mean my father.”
Drake nodded. “Victor has been working on your father’s case for a very long time. I know how much it means to him.”
It means more to him than I do. She understood exactly what Drake was saying. And what he wasn’t.
“Watch yourself with him,” Drake added. “What you see…it’s just not always what he really feels.”
“Thanks for the warning.” She made sure to keep any sadness or pain out of her voice. “But I already knew that if it came down to a choice…me or the case…” Zoe laughed. “Well, I knew there wouldn’t be a choice, not for Victor.”
***
“Tell me what’s happening.” Victor slapped his hands down on Cain Blair’s desk and glowered at the guy. “I just got some bullshit story from your captain about no one having access to Roy Duncan. He said Internal Affairs was coming in to talk with the guy, and that no one else would have access until they were done.”
Cain looked up from his computer. A line of stubble coated the guy’s jaw. Hell, I bet I have the same shit on mine. He was running on pure adrenaline and rage, and Victor got that he was long past the point of any kind of control.
“I don’t think the FBI has jurisdiction here,” Cain murmured carefully. “Though I am glad you hauled your butt in here. I need statements from you. And Zoe.” He rose, looking over Victor’s shoulder. “Where is she?”
“Like I’d tell you—or any cop in this place.”
Cain’s jaw hardened. “I didn’t know I was working with a traitor. Get that shit straight.”
“I want to talk to him.”
“The captain is calling the shots, not me. I wish I could help you, but I can’t.”
Not what Victor wanted to hear. “Roy told Zoe that he was going to trade her for Michelle.”
Cain’s eyelids flickered.
“You said she went dark. Roy was willing to kidnap and kill because he thought Michelle’s life was on the line. If you’ve got a cop out there—one who is in mortal danger—why the hell isn’t your captain acting?”
“Because he’s afraid everything is about to blow up in his face!” Cain glanced angrily toward the captain’s closed office door. “The guy knows that he should have pulled Michelle at the first sign of trouble. He didn’t. And now he’s trying to cover his ass.”
“I can get you FBI assistance.” Victor kept his voice calm with a supreme effort. “I can help you, but first you have to help me.”
Cain yanked a hand through his hair. “Why are you still in town? I figured you’d vanish as soon as you had your lady back.”
He did want to vanish. But… “Zoe came here to find her friend. She’s even more convinced now that Michelle is in danger.”
Surprise widened Cain’s eyes. “But she knows Michelle is a cop.”
“Doesn’t matter. Zoe wants to find her.”
Cain’s hand lowered to rest near his holster. “And let me guess…you want to make Zoe happy, right? If she gets what she wants, then she’s more likely to trust you. To cooperate with you. To turn on her father and do whatever the hell you—”
“I don’t want her crying because her friend is dead.” Cold, brutal. “I don’t want her hurting because she blames herself for something happening to Michelle.”
Cain seemed to absorb that.
“So you going to work with me?” Victor waved his hand around the precinct. “Or should I just go over your captain’s head, too? Maybe the FBI does need to take jurisdiction. I’m sure I can. After all, it was my case that was jeopardized. My witness that was taken and nearly killed.”