Page 38 of State of Retribution (First Family #9)

“ C ome on,” Gonzo said. “What the fuck is that about?”

Jeannie’s expression was grim and maybe a bit guilty. “Remember when Skip was in the hospital with pneumonia?”

“What about it?” Malone asked.

“Because we thought he might die for a time there, Sam asked me and Tyrone to look into the one case from his career that remained open—the murder of Tyler Fitzgerald, the youngest son of Alice Fitzgerald.” She was the widow of Steven Coyne, Skip’s first partner, who was shot and killed on the job in a case that went unsolved until they closed Skip’s case and tied the two shootings to the same people.

“I remember when you guys looked into that case,” Malone said. “Nothing came of it, right?”

“It got messy. We found out Skip had sat on some crucial information that would’ve tied Tyler’s older brother, Cameron, to the murder.”

Malone’s face went slack with shock. “ What? ”

Jeannie swallowed hard. “We found numerous irregularities in the original investigation, but because Skip’s health was so precarious at that time, Tyrone and I told the lieutenant we hadn’t come up with any new leads.

We were thinking of him, and our goal was to protect his sterling reputation, especially if he died. ”

Jeannie crossed her arms over her pregnant belly and looked down at the floor.

“We made the decision to keep this from her. We thought we were doing what was best for her and Skip under the circumstances. But then he recovered and later found out we’d reopened the case.

He was furious and wanted all the info we’d uncovered.

That’s when she found out we’d lied to her. She suspended us for a week.”

“And what did she do about the case?” Malone asked.

“Skip flipped out about it, and she did what he told her to, which was nothing. He protected Alice the way he had since Steven was murdered.”

Malone stared at her, incredulous. “You’re telling me that Skip Holland knew who killed that kid and buried it, and when Sam found out he’d done that, she kept it buried ?”

Jeannie’s expression was pained when she nodded.

“Motherfucker,” Malone said. “Who else knows about this?”

“Only me and Tyrone, and he’d never breathe a word of it to anyone.”

“Well, clearly, someone else found out about it, and now a reporter has it.” Malone headed for the door. “This is just great.” He slammed the door behind him as he left.

“What is this?” Jeannie asked, seeming devastated by the turn of events.

“I don’t know,” Gonzo said, “but let’s get busy finding out before they ruin Sam and the rest of us, too.”

Jake Malone walked toward the chief’s office, avoiding several officers who wanted a word with him by raising his hand to say “not now” as he kept moving, fueled by outrage, disbelief and fear.

The fear had his full attention. Whoever was orchestrating this hit job against Sam could end up taking them all down in the process, which probably wouldn’t break their hearts. If it was Ramsey, for instance, he’d be thrilled to see them all mired in scandal for the crime of doing their jobs.

He knocked on the chief’s door and walked in, not waiting for an invitation.

Joe looked up at him and lifted his brows in inquiry. “What now?”

“Did you know that Skip covered up the fact that Alice Coyne’s son Tyler was killed by his older brother Cameron?”

Joe stared at him, unblinking. “No, I didn’t know that. How do you know?”

“A reporter called McBride, who knew because Sam had her reopen the case when Skip had pneumonia, wanting to get it settled for him if he was about to die. They found all sorts of irregularities but told Sam they’d learned nothing new in a misguided attempt to protect Skip’s reputation.

Then he recovered, found out about the new investigation and hit the roof because he’d told Sam before to leave that case alone. ”

“Oh my God.”

“He demanded everything they’d found during the review, which was when Sam found out that Jeannie and Tyrone had lied to her about what they’d uncovered. She suspended them. And then she did what her father told her to and forgot about what her detectives had learned.”

“No detective is perfect, but she usually plays by the rules. Now I’m wondering if that’s not the case.”

“There’re almost always extenuating circumstances when someone like her behaves out of character. We need to find out more before we jump to conclusions.”

“Yeah, you’re right, but how in the hell does a reporter have this?”

“We have no idea. Tyrone is the only other person who knew, and McBride was adamant that he’d never tell anyone.”

“I want every available officer working on this and only this. Any and all overtime is authorized.”

“Yes, sir. We’re operating on the theory that all of it—the four new murders, the kidnapping and assault of Archelotta’s girlfriend, the drones, the shooting of Agent McFarland and the resurrection of the Reese and Fitzgerald cases—are somehow related to a coordinated attempt to take Sam down.”

“I think that’s a safe bet.”

“It would help to have her input.”

The chief shook his head. “We’ve announced that she’s suspended pending an investigation into Reese’s allegations.”

“She did what he said she did.”

“We know that, but the public doesn’t need to know that yet. If we can find the people coordinating this attack, we can take the heat off her by arresting them.”

“Will she be able to come back from this?”

“We’ll make sure of it, but for right now, we’re focused on figuring out who’s doing this, and my bet is on Ramsey and Offenbach to start with. Put your focus there. I told her she couldn’t talk to anyone here, but I’ll lift that if you think her input will help.”

“Got it.”

“I want you to oversee this investigation personally, Jake. Get to the bottom of this as fast as you can.”

“Yes, sir. We’re on it.”

“Hurry. We have a matter of days to save her career and possibly ours, too.”

“Understood.”

Jake left the chief’s office and returned to the pit to see to his orders, determined to figure out who was trying to ruin Sam and why, before it was too late.

Sam answered the call from Jeannie McBride because Jeannie was now one of her bosses. “Hey. I’m not allowed to talk to anyone from there.”

“I know, but I wanted to give you a heads-up that a reporter called me. He asked about the Tyler Fitzgerald case.”

Once again, shock hit her like she’d been electrocuted. Sam sat when her legs threatened to give out. “What did he say?”

“He said he was a reporter but wouldn’t say from where, that he wanted to know what I’d found out about Tyler Fitzgerald’s murder and why you never did anything with the information.”

“Holy shit,” Sam whispered. “How in the world would anyone know that? It was contained to you, me, Tyrone and my dad.”

“Or so we thought.”

“Someone is out to ruin me.”

“That’s how it appears to us, as well. The chief has put Malone in charge, and we’re focused fully on all the associated cases. He’s told us we’re allowed to speak to you if it will aid the investigation.”

“Well, it’s a relief that he’s giving it the highest priority.”

“The last thing any of us wants is to see your career destroyed, especially by people who blame you for their own fuck-ups.”

“Are you thinking it’s Ramsey and Offenbach?”

“We’ve been told to focus there first.”

“Why in the world would Ramsey team up with the guy who fired the shot that killed his son?”

“If I had to guess,” Jeannie said, “it’s because in his twisted mind, he doesn’t blame Offenbach for following an order that came from you via Malone. To Ramsey, Offenbach becomes a means to an end if it results in your downfall.”

“So sick and twisted, no matter how you look at it. I get why Ramsey would bother to go to the trouble, but explain Offenbach to me. He’s in enough trouble as it is and still has six kids to support. Why would he risk his career and pension over petty revenge?”

“We don’t know for sure that he’s involved.”

“I’m not supposed to tell anyone else this, but I have it on good authority that Offenbach is obsessed with drones. I’ve already reported it to the chief and Agent Hill.”

Jeannie’s gasp was audible. “That’s unreal, Sam. One of our own colleagues… Does he have any idea what he could be charged with if they trace that back to him? They’re treating it as a presidential assassination attempt.”

“I know. Can’t imagine what he was thinking, if it was him.”

“I’ve got to run. Malone has called an all-hands meeting to discuss the various cases and how they might be related.”

“Keep me in the loop if you can.”

“I will, and I’m sorry this is happening to you.”

“Thanks. I am, too.”

“Hang in there, and I’ll be back to you as soon as I know anything.”

“You’re the best, Deputy Chief.”

“I’m only the deputy chief because of you, and I’ll do everything in my power to figure this out for you. Count on that.”

“Love you.”

“Love you right back.”

Sam closed her phone, smiling at the fierce words from her friend.

She and Jeannie had been through hell together, and knowing she had Sam’s back made her feel a thousand times better, as did the news that Malone would lead the investigation into the various cases that might or might not be related.

They were.

Sam had no doubt whatsoever about that or who was most likely behind it.

She just hoped her colleagues could prove it before her career went up in smoke, along with her reputation and everything she’d worked so hard to achieve.

Later that night, after the kids were in bed and Nick was in his office working on his nightly correspondence and preparations for the morning, Sam eyed the file Jesse Best had given her.

Maybe it would help to dive into something new to get her mind off how her career was in major jeopardy while there wasn’t a damned thing she could do about it.

When she opened the file, the first thing she saw was a photo of a beautiful blonde girl who reminded her a bit of Aubrey. And just that quickly, Sam was invested.