Page 43 of Beneath the Surface

“At least six. Probably more if I think about it.” Dax’s jaw tightened, but he kept his voice even.

“This isn’t funny, Mercer.”

“I’m not laughing, sir.” Dax leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Wheeler tried to kill Quinn Barrett yesterday. Planted a bomb under her car. If I hadn’t checked it first, she’d be dead. That’s not protocol. That’s not politics. That’s attempted murder.”

“Which you can’t prove Wheeler ordered.” Holloway’s fingers drummed once against the desk.

“Not yet. But I will.”

Holloway was quiet for a moment, studying him with those sharp brown eyes that missed nothing. “I’ve gotten three phone calls this morning. One from the mayor. One from a city councilman. One from James Wheeler’s attorney.” He paused, letting that sink in. “All of them expressing concern about harassment of a respected businessman based on unfounded accusations.”

“Let me guess. They want me to drop the investigation.” Dax’s hands curled into fists on his thighs.

“They want me to reassign you. Put you on desk duty. Keep you away from Wheeler and his associates.”

Dax felt his temper rise, heat crawling up his neck. “So Wheeler gets to commit murder, and we just look the other way because he donated to some campaigns?”

“That’s not what I said.” Holloway’s voice sharpened.

“It’s what they want you to do.”

“What they want and what I do are two different things.” Holloway’s voice hardened, his posture straightening. “I don’t like being pressured by politicians any more than you do. And I definitely don’t like the idea of a murderer operating in my town.”

Dax sat back slightly, his shoulders relaxing a fraction. “So you’re not shutting down the investigation?”

“I’m telling you to do it right. By the book. No more calling in favors without clearing it with me first. No more protectivecustody without proper authorization. You want to investigate Wheeler? Fine. But you follow procedure.” Holloway fixed him with a hard stare, leaning forward over the desk. “One more violation and I will pull you off this case. Understood?”

“Understood.” The word came out clipped, but respectful.

“Good. Now tell me everything you’ve got.”

Dax spent the next thirty minutes laying out the case. The financial records showing money laundering. The suspicious deaths of David Barrett and Thomas Crane. Clara Mendez’s disappearance. The threats against Quinn. The bomb. His voice stayed steady, professional, laying out facts like evidence at trial.

Holloway listened without interrupting, making notes on a legal pad, his pen scratching across paper.

When Dax finished, the captain sat back, tossing his pen onto the desk. “It’s circumstantial. A good defense attorney will tear it apart.”

“I know. That’s why I need time to build a stronger case.”

“How much time?”

“Two weeks. Maybe three. I need to track down Clara Mendez, get financial records subpoenaed, interview more witnesses.”

“Wheeler’s attorney will fight every subpoena.” Holloway rubbed his jaw, his dark hand rasping against the stubble, the sound audible in the quiet office.

“Let him. That just makes him look guilty.”

Holloway tapped his pen against the desk, the rhythm steady as he considered everything. “I’ll give you two weeks. But Mercer—” His expression turned serious, his eyebrows drawing together. “You need to be smart about this. Wheeler’s dangerous. He’s also connected. One wrong move and you’ll give him the ammunition he needs to destroy this investigation and your career.”

“I’ll be careful.”

“Will you? Because from what I’ve heard, you’ve been taking some pretty big risks. Protecting a civilian. Going after a powerful businessman. Making enemies.” Holloway leaned forward, his forearms on the desk. “I need to know you’re in control of this. That you’re not letting personal feelings cloud your judgment.”

“My judgment is fine.” Dax’s spine stiffened, his shoulders squaring.

“Is it? Because word around the station is that you’re getting pretty close to Quinn Barrett. That maybe this isn’t just about the case anymore.”

Dax felt heat rise in his face, his jaw clenching. “I’m protecting a witness. Nothing more.”