Secrets Never Die (Morgan Dane #5)(92)

“Who will handle the investigation?” Morgan asked.

“Deputy Todd Harvey has just been promoted to chief deputy. He’ll be cleaning up the case, with some help from the SFPD and the state police. Harvey will be in touch.”

Morgan studied him. “Why are you really here? You could have told me that Colgate quit in a phone call.”

“To relay a message.”

“Also from the powers that be?”

“Maybe.” Esposito lifted a shoulder. “Randolph County needs a sheriff. Someone smart. Someone who can whip that department into shape.”

Shock dropped Morgan’s jaw. “You can’t be serious. I have no policing experience.”

“You don’t need any. Sheriff is an elected office. You would be required to take a training course prior to taking the oath of office.” Esposito’s dark eyes glittered. “The DA’s office would back you in the election. You’d win.”

Morgan considered the offer. Every decision made by the DA was a chess move. There was a reason he wanted her to run for sheriff. Since she’d opened her defense firm, she’d gone head-to-head with the prosecutor’s office several times and come out on top. Did the DA want to eliminate her as his opponent? It didn’t matter. Morgan had no desire to be a politician.

“Well, thank you for your support,” she said. “But I’m not interested. I like what I’m doing, and I very much enjoy being my own boss.”

Esposito acknowledged her answer with a slight incline of his head.

The sliding door opened, and Lance stepped out. He wore a pair of faded jeans and a gray T-shirt. A bruise had darkened on his jaw, and his arms were covered in small cuts and abrasions. He shifted his coffee to his left hand and shook Esposito’s hand.

“Colgate quit.” Morgan brought Lance up to speed on the case. They’d talk about Esposito’s weird proposal later.

“I heard Morgan told him off at the scene last night.” Esposito chuckled.

Warmth flushed into her cheeks. But she didn’t offer apologies for her behavior. She’d meant what she’d said.

Esposito set his cup on the railing. “Don’t feel bad. He wasn’t a very good sheriff. You were just the only one with the balls to tell him.”

“Have you pulled the arrest warrant for Evan?” Morgan asked.

Esposito exhaled hard through his nose. “Yes. The homeowner he stole from is not pressing charges, and we’ve decided not to pursue a charge of fleeing the scene at this time.”

Morgan’s temper spiked. She was too drained, physically and emotionally, to play games with Esposito. “If you pursue any charges against Evan, I will eviscerate you.”

His nostrils flared, but he didn’t respond.

She stepped closer. “I expect a press conference to be held today clearing Evan of all charges. Or I will hold one of my own, and I assure you, my words will not be flattering to the sheriff’s office or yours.”

“That’ll be up to Chief Deputy Harvey.”

Morgan rubbed the bridge of her nose. What was it with Esposito? It felt like he wanted to be decent, but he couldn’t do it unless she made him. Is that what he wanted? For her to force him to do the right thing? Or maybe he needed to use her as an excuse so that he didn’t ruin his tough-guy reputation.

She needed more coffee.

Esposito walked toward the sliding glass door. “One last thing. The urgent care center is not pressing charges against Tina.” Esposito sighed with disappointment. “Her boss said he understands the highly unusual and desperate nature of her situation. She isn’t even going to lose her job.”

“She took some supplies to save her son,” Morgan argued. “Her boss sounds like a reasonable person who doesn’t want to lose a valuable employee.”

“He’s a chump. She stole from the company.” Esposito didn’t roll his eyes, but she could tell he wanted to. He shook his head in disgust as they walked back through the house. Lance wasted no time showing him to the door.

After he’d left, Lance said, “I told you he was still an asshole.”

Morgan snorted. “I know Esposito is mostly difficult, but he’s done us a few good turns.”

She wondered what Esposito would do if he knew that Tina was probably hiding a large chunk of stolen drug money. It would be best if he never found out.

“He wanted the urgent care to press theft charges against Tina,” Lance said.

“OK. Esposito is still an ass, but he’s no longer the devil incarnate. Agreed?”

“I guess,” Lance huffed.

Sophie ran out of the family room. “What’s an asshole?”

Of course, she pronounced that L perfectly.





Chapter Thirty-Nine

That afternoon, Lance walked into the ICU, afraid of what he might find. His hand reached for Morgan’s. Walking next to him, she squeezed his fingers.

Tina started to rise from the bedside chair.

“Don’t get up. How is he?” Lance asked, stopping by the bed.

The teen was breathing on his own, and his color looked better than it had the night before.

“Better.” Tina smiled. “The doctors were afraid of sepsis, but the infection seems to be localized.” Tina scanned the blinking and beeping monitors. “His vital signs improved a little during the night. The antibiotics seem to be working.”