Page 11 of Anarchy Missing
Chairs scrape, bodies shuffle, and a few seconds later it’s just me, the mayor, and Randy. I shift my feet as I take a long sip of cinnamon-flavored coffee, trying my best not to look nervous.
“Lightly,” the mayor says, running a hand through his thick head of dark hair that does nothing to betray his middle age. “You and Randy have been appointed special investigators. We need something today, Randy. Do you understand? I’m not fucking around. I want heads rolling by tonight.”
“Got it, sir.” Randy actually looks nervous as the words come out. “Don’t worry, Lulu and I will dig up something.”
“You better. If you want to keep your job, you better figure this out.” He storms out of the office, slamming the door behind him.
“What the hell?” I ask Randy, both of us staring at the door for a few seconds.
He turns to me and then sighs deeply, then walks around to slump into the seat behind his desk.
“Special investigators?” I ask, taking a long sip of the delicious cinnamon coffee. “What does that mean?”
“It means…” Randy rubs his hands up and down his unshaven jaw. God, he’s almost… handsome like this. All messy and disheveled. The scruffy chin, loose dress shirt, and rolled-up sleeves have me seeing Randy in a different light. “It means,” he continues, “we’ve got a mole in the CCPD and the mayor expects you and I to bring them in with enough evidence to prosecute.”
“A mole?” Jesus. I feel like I’m in a Jax Justice spy movie all of a sudden.
Randy opens a folder and points to an eight-by-ten black-and-white photograph. “How well do you know this woman?”
I squint down at the photo. “I’ve seen her around court. Molly something, right?”
“Detective Molly Masters,” Randy adds. “She’s fairly new, some kind of military hotshot hired on by the last chief—”
“Shit,” I say, seeing where this is going. “She’s a leftover from his corrupt department?”
“Take a seat, Lulu. This is kinda complicated and I need to spell it out very carefully. You’re not on this case by accident. And I think you’re going to resist what I’m about to tell you, so let me take it from the top. Don’t interrupt me, just listen and think about what I’m going to tell you. Think very carefully, Lulu. And don’t draw any conclusions until I’m done. Can you do that for me?”
I might swoon a little at his masculine vulnerability right now. He needs me. For what, I’m not sure, since I’m the new girl here. But he needs me. It’s… sorta hot.
“Sure,” I say, taking my seat. “Sure. I’m a good listener.”
Randy smiles at me. He’s so much cuter like this than he is all buttoned up in that suit. “Good. Now look. Molly Masters came to town last winter as a new hire.” He pulls out a bunch of papers and starts pointing again. “Her hire paperwork says she was recommended by Alastair Montgomery.”
“The guy from Blue Corp? The one who died in that explosion?”
“What did I tell you about interrupting?” Randy says, but not meanly.
“Sorry. Go on.”
“She was recommended by Mr. Montgomery and hired by Chief O’Neil. And yes, Montgomery was killed in that explosion several months back. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. She’s been connected to this guy.” He pulls out another eight-by-ten photograph, this time of a man, about Randy’s age, looking like some kind of biker gang thug. “Lincoln Wade. Have you ever heard of him?”
“Lincoln Wade.” I toss the name around in my head, sure I’ve heard it before. “I think so. But I’ve been away—”
“I know,” Randy interrupts. “But you do know this guy?” Another photo appears.
“Thomas Brooks. Yes, he’s the CEO of SkyEye. Oh, Jesus Christ, Randy. You’re not telling me he’s the one behind this?”
“We don’t know yet.”
“Shit,” I mutter.
“Shit is right. If we call this guy out, do you know what will happen?”
“A swarm of lawyers will descend upon us with threats and lawsuits?”
“Ding, ding, ding,” Randy says slowly. “But again, that isn’t the reason you’re here.”
“Why am I here?” I try to take another sip of coffee, but my cup is empty, so I just stare at it instead.
