Page 76 of Made of Steele
“I’ll be there.”
The call ended, and Drew resisted pressing his foot down on the gas pedal. His UC ride was already sketchy looking, and he didn’t need to be stopped for speeding with a brick of drugs in his backpack.
As it turned out, even with precautionary measures taken to make sure he wasn’t tailed, he beat Harris to their usual meeting place. She strolled down the alley, in her hand, a travel tumbler that she used to transport drives to him. It had a false bottom, which was where he would find the flash drive. In UC work, an agent never carried anything on their person that could be used to blow their cover unless it was somehow concealed. They especially never carried records like the ones Harris was providing, and if found, would out him as a law enforcement officer.
She handed him the mug. “How are you progressing?”
“Not as fast as I would like.” He told her about his meeting with Sal and Aldo.
“Got word from upstairs.” Her flat tone didn’t let on as to what she was feeling about that call. “They want this operation concluded by the deadline. No exception. You’ve got less than twenty-four hours.”
He ignored the panic threatening to make him snap and focused on his priorities. “Can’t see the murder investigation concluding that quickly. There’s no obvious connection to Rossi or the Contis. I’d need additional resources to delve into each victim to meet that deadline.”
“No can do.” She pushed back her leather jacket and rested her hands on her waist. “If you can’t resolve the murders, then turn your focus back to the drugs and antiquities so we can close out the UC op on a win.”
She didn’t seem to care that four men had been murdered. She was worried about her case closure rate. As were the agents upstairs. It was all about the statistics at times, a frustrating reality Drew had faced too often.
“You can’t let them get away with the murders.” He eyed her.
She didn’t bat a lash. “No one’s getting away with anything. County can take over. If they prove one of our guys is connected to the murders, then the suspects will be sitting in jail waiting for additional charges to be brought against them. A win/win.”
Not the answer he wanted. Not at all. He fisted his hands. “I don’t agree with this, you know.”
“I know, but you don’t have a choice.” Her tone had gone low and gruff. “Get the Contis and Rossi on the other charges and do it within the next twenty-four hours.”
“And if I don’t,” he challenged.
“At the very least, I’ll write you up for insubordination.” She held his gaze. “Push it too far, and you’ll lose your job.”
She turned and marched off.
He watched his career evaporate with each of her steps because there was no way he would back off the murder charges. No way. He would find the killer no matter the personal consequences.
20
Teagan had never seen Drew mad, but he marched in angry steps around her dining table, mumbling to himself, his eyes tight and hands in fists. To her surprise, after he’d said they shouldn’t meet here, he’d arrived to start printing the missing person investigation files. He’d gotten them on a flash drive from his supervisor, who had issued an edict. One he didn’t like. Not at all. And he didn’t know what to do, so he stormed around to clear his head and think.
“Printing should be done by now,” Teagan said to interrupt his pacing and get them moving ahead.
“I’ll get it.” He charged out of the room.
She’d also never seen him this indecisive. It wasn’t unusual in law enforcement to run into budget constraints and have to close a case and move on. But in this instance, they’d barely begun the murder investigation, and she knew how much he wanted to bring the killer—or killers—to justice. Being UC for so long had made this personal to him. He not only didn’t want to let Rossi or the Contis, or even a higher up, get away with murder. He wanted to be the guy to slap the cuffs on their wrists and haul them in.
She understood. Completely. So what should she do? She couldn’t encourage him to ignore his supervisor’s directive. She could assure him she would work the murders until the killer was found while he closed down his undercover operation. Better than nothing, she supposed. But she doubted that would be enough to appease him.
She turned to study the board that she’d updated with Hoyle’s information
Grave 1 - Smiley/Lenny Spence killed by sword and died 2016. Enforcer. Went missing while ?
Grave 2 - Benton Hoyle killed by a hatchet and died June of 2018. Went missing while ?
Grave 3 - Kris Forte killed with rifle and died April of 2022. Hotel executive. Went missing from his gym.
Grave 4 - Carlo Romo killed with arrow and died November of 2022. Alternative energy executive. Went missing while hiking.
Drew rushed back into the room and dropped a tall stack of papers on the table. Reports that would take hours and hours to go through with a fine-toothed comb. Not one time. Likely many times to find that hidden lead that would move them forward.
He planted his feet and faced her. “Forget what Harris said. We go forward on the murder investigation as planned. I can’t have Harris shut us down. Means we’ll need to use your resources only, but we can do this.”
