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  ‘This is amazing, Miss Azizi,” Bryce said.

  Kate agreed by nodding her head. Her mouth was full. For the first time since she awoke, she didn’t feel like puking.

  Azizi picked at her food. “You have a dark cloud around you, Miss Kate. You need to watch your back.”

  Kate nearly choked. “What?”

  “The policeman, he was run down, it was no accident,” Azizi said, then sipped coffee as if this were a normal morning conversation.

  “And you know this how?” Bryce asked when Kate hesitated to ask.

  Azizi stood, packed the empty dishes back into her basket. “Please rinse the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. I’ll be back for them. And keep the thermos, I’ll get it some other time.” She closed the lid of the basket and walked to the door. “I think you two should stay home until this blows over. No one will come on the property.”

  “Why won’t they? There’s not even a fence or gate.”

  “They just won’t.” She walked out the door.

  “Well, that was rude,” Kate said.

  “I know. She didn’t even answer my question first,” Bryce said.

  “No, I mean that you asked. She obviously ignored my first question, so she doesn’t tell people how she knows things.” Kate stood and picked up her plate and fork. “Are you done?” She didn’t wait for an answer and picked up Bryce’s dishes, too.

  “I’m gonna have another cup of coffee, so don’t take my cup.”

  Kate walked to the sink and placed her dishes down before turning on the water. Waiting for hot water, she picked up a scrub brush and pumped dishwashing liquid onto it. “If she thinks it was on purpose, I believe her.”

  “She said to rinse and put them in the dishwasher. She’s going to know you didn’t do that,” Bryce said. “And I believe her, too. But what can we do about it?”

  Kate rinsed the dishes and put them in the dishwasher, then sat back down at the table. Bryce poured her another cup of coffee and she dressed it up with cream and sugar. “There’s no way to tell from the autopsy that he was purposely mowed down.”

  “Like I said, we think he was hit, then run over for good measure. At least that was Doc McC’s assessment.”

  “Did he put that in the report?” Kate asked.

  “I have his notes. I haven’t written the report yet. I’m headed in this morning to finish up. I could barely see straight after two bodies last night.” Bryce filled his coffee cup one more time.

  Kate leaned in close. “What if he was mowed down? What if the person who did it wants it to look like a hit and run accident, and you contradict the findings? Are you going to end up dead, too?”

  Bryce leaned back, away from Kate. “You’re a conspiracy theorist.”

  She raised her brows in a smug expression. “Am I?”

  Bryce glared at her.

  “Geo was killed, I was almost killed, Sousa was killed, and now Trevino. It’s all too close for comfort, and no one seems to care.” Kate stood. “I need to talk to Zane.”

  “I thought you already talked to him. And slept with him. Haven’t you toyed with him enough?” Bryce stood, too.

  “I didn’t sleep with him. He may have stayed with me for a while, but I was in no shape to be climbing on top of him and having my way,” Kate defended.

  “I’ll say it again, stop toying with his heart, you evil beast. He’s the nicest man ever and you’re doing your best to ruin him. He’s never going to move on and find someone who loves him heart and soul if you don’t let him go. So, enough already.”

  “I love him heart and soul,” Kate said.

  “Your kind of love destroys a person, Kate, it doesn’t make them feel all warm and fuzzy.”

  “We’re not going to talk about this right now. I need to go to town.”

  “‘We’re not going to talk about this right now,’” Bryce whined. “That’s what you always say when it’s time to talk about your flaws. And you have a lot of flaws.”

  “So do you,” Kate tried not to sound as offended as she was. “And I still need to go into town.”

  “I’ll give you a ride. That way we aren’t alone.”

  Kate shoved Bryce. “You’re scared!”

  Bryce shoved her back. “You’re scared, too.”

  They headed upstairs together. “I’m not scared anymore. I’m mad. But I’ll go into town with you. Let me find out where Zane is, and you can drop me off there.”

  Chapter 22

  Kate called early in the day, and Zane had his hands full. He didn’t want to respond to the call, but after the night before, he felt obligated. She’d known about Trevino. Of course, Bryce told her. He agreed to let her tag along for the day.

  “Where was he when they found him?” Kate asked.

  “He runs a back road near his house. Did you know he still lived with his mom?”

  “He’s young and Hispanic, so it’s not unheard of. They are very close families. He’s not married, so sure, I believe it. But I didn’t know it.”

  “Telling them was the worst part. His mom collapsed.”

  Kate sighed.

  He took her to the site where Trevino was found and showed her the evidence. “You’re right about the possibility of it not being an accident. Dixon is ruling it a hit and run accident, though. So, we’re looking for the car and driver.”

  “No witnesses?” Kate asked.

  “None.”

  “Azizi saw it. She said he was mowed down,” Kate said.

  “Azizi saw it? Mowed down?” Zane sounded skeptical.

  Kate explained what Azizi had said that morning.

  Zane believed Kate when she told him about Azizi’s statements. Not that he believed she knew anything; it was just his sixth sense; plus, what Rex had told him. He knew it wasn’t Rex, because he’d been at county. So, who would want Trevino dead?

  “If it was on purpose, Trevino had to have been followed. It’s not like someone happened upon him by accident.”

  Officer Jake Underwood’s vehicle remained at the accident site.

  “He’s keeping watch until they release the scene. The state police are expected any time now,” Zane said.

  Zane parked outside the police tape, and they got out of the car.

  “Hey, Darby, you look good,” Jake said as they approached.

  “Thanks. They got you on babysitting duty, huh?” Kate stepped up next to Jake.

  “Has anyone been out here to look at the scene?” Zane asked.

  “Other than the captain, the lieutenant, and the assistant chief?” Jake asked.

  “I expected they’d all stop by,” Zane said. “None of them wanted to be the one to notify Trevino’s family, though. They left that to me this morning.”

  “I thought maybe the chief had that job,” Jake said.

  “Chief’s on leave at the moment. Or at least that’s what he said at the press conference last night. He said something about a personal issue and he was leaving Dixon in charge,” Kate said.

  “You were at the press conference?” Jake asked.

  Kate laughed. “No, we saw it on TV.”

  “I heard we’re turning the investigation over to the state police. Why is that?” Jake asked.

  “I’m not sure. It wasn’t my call to make. I just hope an independent investigation turns up some answers. Trevino was a good cop; he didn’t deserve this,” Zane said.

  “Deserve what? It was an unfortunate accident,” Jake said. He looked past Kate and Zane. “And here they are.”

  A round of introductions was followed by an exchange of basic information. The investigators wanted a fresh take without being influenced, then they’d look at the previous reports. An odd way to investigate, Zane thought, but it wasn’t his place to argue.

  Kate and Zane got back in his car to leave.

  “I’m back to investigating Sousa’s murder, and I’ll be honest, I have no answers. I tried to charge the phone I took, but when I unplugged it from the charger, I got a we
ird beep and the screen went blank.”

  “Did you try opening it with the charger plugged in?” Kate asked, as if he were a three-year-old.

  “I’m telling you, there’s something wrong with that phone,” Zane snapped back.

  “Sure, it’s the phone.” Kate had to put in one more dig.

  “You want me to take you home? Cuz I’m fixin’ to.” Zane started the car, put it in reverse, then stomped on the gas pedal.

  “Hey, don’t take your frustration out on me. I’m here to help. And I’m telling you, something stinks.”

  Zane looked at his watch. Four o’clock. Where the hell had the day gone? “I need to eat something. I haven’t eaten since pizza last night.”

  “I’m not hungry, but I’ll go with you,” Kate said. “I owe your dad an apology for last night. Wanna go to his place?”

  “Are you going to drink?” Zane asked.

  “Club soda with a lime,” Kate said, nudging him.

  Zane radioed in, and they headed to Code 7.

  Zane’s phone rang, and he saw Moore on the caller I.D. “Lieutenant?”

  “Sergeant.” Moore’s tone clipped. “Anything more on the Sousa case?”

  “No, but I’m eating lunch, then headed back out.”

  “Have you taken any time off in the last three days?” he asked.

  “I’ve had time to sleep, if that’s what you’re asking. I’m good.”

  “Well, I’m headed to the jail. Rex Williams is being released. That was a whole can of worms. Did you know he was DEA?”

  Zane nearly dropped his phone. “Excuse me?”

  “DEA. I got the call about an hour ago. I’m headed to get him and take him back to his car,” Moore said as if inconvenienced.

  “You want me to do it? I know you’re swamped with the chief leaving town.”

  “I’m halfway there now. But maybe Rex knows something. I was told he was in town for a big bust. Usually we’re notified in advance, so this must have been hush-hush.” Now he sounded more irritated than inconvenienced.

  “I hate when they do that. But I’m sure they have their reasons,” Zane said, trying to focus on his driving when his head was swimming. What the hell was going on?

  “Check in after lunch. We need to set up something for Trevino, too.”

  Zane wanted to ask Moore if he thought Trevino’s accident wasn’t an accident, but after talking with Kate, he didn’t know who to trust.

  “Look what the cat dragged in,” Pops said when they walked into Code 7.

  “Hey, Dad. You’d think Kate would be embarrassed to show her face, but she’s not.” Zane hugged his dad. This was a new thing. They never hugged when he was a kid, or while his dad was a cop. But somehow, retirement had made him mushy, and he didn’t care who saw them hug. But he wasn’t a hugger otherwise, and just shook Kate’s hand.

  “I’m really sorry about last night. I never drink, so I should have stopped at one.” Kate did lean in and kiss him on the cheek.

  Pops had the decency to blush. “Pizza?”

  Zane looked at Kate, who turned a shade of green. “Got any tomato bisque?”

  “I do, and a couple of fresh loaves of French bread, too.”

  “I’ll even eat that, and I’m not hungry,” Kate said.

  “As long as you don’t go running out of here, making the patrons wonder about my kitchen,” Pops laughed as he headed to the kitchen.

  “Club soda?” Zane asked.

  The soup was delicious, and the bread was crunchy on the outside, and soft and delicious on the inside. Zane wolfed his food down, while Kate pulled the bread apart, soaked it in the soup, and ate like a bird.

  “Do you feel sick? You’re usually more excited about food,” Zane said.

  “It’s delicious, and I feel fine. Azizi knows more than what you don’t tell her. She also knows how to cure a hangover. I’m just thinking.”

  “About?”

  “Moore. Where was he when Newton was killed?”

  “I think he was on leave. His mom, if I remember correctly,” Zane said.

  “Yeah, he said that, but he could have been in town. I told the chief I was meeting Newton. He said he was going to tell Francois. Is there a chance Moore knew, too? I mean, he could have been back for a day or so.”

  “Yes, that’s a possibility. But he wasn’t in on the bust on M Street.”

  “But he could have known Payaso. And Payaso knew about the bust. Just because he wasn’t on duty doesn’t mean he didn’t know what was going on.” Kate put her bread down and stared at Zane.

  “No way!”

  The call came through loud and clear over Zane’s radio. “Shots fired. Officer down.”

  Zane wasn’t the only cop in the place, and it felt like he heard it in stereo.

  Zane and Kate jumped up from the table. Zane looked at his dad, who had dropped the glass he was polishing. The other officers jumped up, their chairs toppling over. Kate grabbed for her handbag.

  “I gotta run,” Zane said. “Stay with my dad.”

  “I’m coming with you.” Kate threw her purse over her shoulder and ran after him.

  Zane slammed open the kitchen door, and she was right on his heels. They were out the back and running across the parking lot before Zane looked back. His old man was quicker than he looked. Zane saw him standing in the doorway.

  “Be careful,” he yelled.

  “You got a gun in that bag?” Zane asked as Kate jumped in the passenger seat of the Charger.

  “Damn straight.”

  Kate was breathing hard and looked like she hurt.

  “You okay?”

  “I’m fine, just out of shape from not being able to run. But that’s gonna change.” She sat up straight and pretended not to be breathing like a marathoner on the last point two miles of a marathon.

  Zane listened to the radio, waiting for the name of the officer.

  “That’s part of what I’m working out.” She took a deep breath. “Zane, let’s call a spade a spade at this point. Someone in the department set me up that night. Someone wanted me dead. And that’s the reason Geo Newton was killed. And Trevino, and now this?”

  “I’m on your side,” Zane started, but stopped himself.

  “But you weren’t always. I had to have Bryce help me while I was in the hospital. And when I was in therapy.”

  Zane whipped the Charger around the corner, and Kate held the handle above the door to keep from being flung to the side. “Bryce? Really? Now that’s priceless.”

  “See? This is why I can’t be around you. You’re an asshole.”

  “This really isn’t the time or place, Kate,” Zane said.

  A few moments of silence passed, with only the sounds of the siren and the tires burning rubber on the asphalt filling the air.

  “Here’s the thing,” Zane said, hesitating a moment before continuing. “I came to the same conclusion.” He reached behind her seat and pulled out the envelope with the footprint photos. “I can’t be certain, but you know how we all wear 5.11 boots? Well, most of us do, but there are a couple of us that wear Belleville, like the 700s?”

  He handed her the envelope.

  “Okay?” She pulled out the pictures and looked at the prints. “Moore.”

  “Those were the prints found on the stairs and in Sousa’s bathroom. When you showed me that photo, I realized they were the same boots in both pictures.”

  “Why didn’t you lead with this? I’ve been with you all day.”

  “I’ve had other things on my mind. I was going to tell you eventually, but I wasn’t going to bring it up where someone might overhear.”

  She pushed them back inside. “That doesn’t mean anything. He could’ve been over at the guy’s house for Monday Night Football. Saturday for college ball…hell, anything. Not that I’m saying he’s not a suspect, just hard to prove.”

  Zane took his eyes off the road for a moment. “Are you kidding me? When was the last time Moore joined us for anything that wa
sn’t a family gathering?”

  Kate was quiet for a few seconds. “He has five kids. His wife would castrate him if he went out with the boys when he’s got four boys of his own at home, not to mention his little girl. And three of those boys are at the age where they are likely quite a handful.” She stared out the window. “This doesn’t make any sense, Zane.”

  They were Code 3, so Zane flew down the streets, through intersections and red lights. He didn’t look at her again as the blue lights illuminated the storefront windows. They zipped along the asphalt at speeds that would scare most people.

  “Moore wasn’t available that night. I called and got his voicemail.”

  “Where was he?” Kate said.

  “Vacation. Then the next morning, he said he was actually home, but his phone wasn’t on him. Said he was in his kid’s room.”

  It was almost a whisper. “Son of a bitch.”

  “I don’t get it. He doesn’t live like he’s that well off. His wife works. I mean, they have a nice house, but nothing fancy.” Zane wasn’t really sure what he was trying to justify.

  “Well off? What do you mean?” Kate asked.

  “Like he’s on the take. If he killed Sousa, and Sousa is undercover DEA, FBI or whatever, Moore had to know Sousa knew too much. Or why kill him?”

  “So he’s taking a cut under the table, I get it. But what does this have to do with me and Silva, or Newton?”

  “He’s been getting paid somehow. And with Silva dead, who has stepped up to replace him?” Zane said.

  “Or is Moore the head guy?” Kate said.

  “But, like I said, Moore lives like a man trying to feed his family, not a guy driving a new car, designer clothes, and the latest electronics.”

  “Really, Zane? You think he’d be stupid enough to flaunt the money in Peculiar? What about the vacations? For a family of seven, that can’t be cheap. They take several a year.”

  “Yeah, to his parents’ beach house in Galveston.”

  “So he says,” she snapped back. Zane could almost see the wheels spinning in her head.

  When they arrived at the scene, it was chaos. Squad cars everywhere, lights flashing, and two ambulances.