the DA’s office building and gets lucky enough to maneuver into a rare empty spot before killing the engine. In action mode, eager to do something, anything, that might affect this trial with Waters, I reach for the door.
“Before we go in,” he says, halting my actions with words. “Let’s talk about the plan.”
“Okay,” I say, settling into my seat again, albeit with heavy reluctance. The need to get inside and ensure no new bombshells have shown themselves is powerful. “What exactly is the plan?”
“I don’t know if Pitt was dirty or not,” he says, “but even if he wasn’t, someone close to him set him up. That could be another agent, or since he spent a substantial amount of time with you, someone at the DA’s office, someone here.”
“Ed,” I say. “I feel like Ed is dirty.”
“Probably,” he says. “But we were monitoring Ed last night. He was not the person who led Pitt to that cabin.”
“Then someone else is dirty,” I say, following his lead. “What do you need me to do?”
“Build up Walker, and our resources and skills, and do so in a big way.”
My brows dip. “Won’t that just encourage the bad egg to stay silent?”
“The bad egg is already silent, or we’d have found their electronic fingerprint. But when a person is pressured, they tend to panic. We want to set the fire and watch and see who tries to put it out.”
“I’ve seen that in my work,” I say. “That makes sense. Let’s go set the fire.”
“One last thing,” he adds. “Assume there are recording devices all over the office, including on the people you’re talking with. They might not even know it. Take nothing for granted.”
“Right,” I say. “I have to tell you, Lucifer,” I emphasize the name as I add, “you Walker men are just bucket loads of warm, fuzzy comfort.”
A few minutes later, Lucifer has been assigned credentials and a badge by security and we’re stepping into the lobby. The receptionist, Shari, greets us, and she’s all eyes and smiles for Lucifer, flicking her red hair over her shoulder and giving him flirty looks.
“Anything you need, Lucifer,” she says, “I’ll be your angel.”
I roll my eyes and he and I head down the hallway. “Please tell me you don’t get that often, though I suspect you do.”
“Mostly in bed,” he says, all matter-of-fact, like the comment is a simple conversation.
I’d comment, but Josh is walking toward us, and he’s not with Grace as I’d expect considering he no longer works here and he’s dating her. Next to him is Martin Morgan, a homicide detective that I’d last seen at Josh’s going away party. I assess them, trying to figure out why the pair is here, and together.
Josh is classically handsome with brown hair, a man who, like Adam, you might call Mr. America, though more and more, I suspect Josh doesn’t deserve such an honorable comparison. Morgan is blond and muscular, with a bit of a quiet bear personality. He doesn’t say much, but what he does say is always kind of growly.
The four of us halt in the middle of the hallway, halfway to the conference room, deep in the bullpen of the DA’s offices. Josh is directly across from me and I greet him first. “Josh, I thought we’d see less of you, not more now that you don’t work here anymore.” I eye Morgan and give him a nod.
Morgan lowers his chin in my direction and seems to ignore Lucifer.
“Grace has been freaking out about you,” Josh comments. “You, Pitt, and the DA all being MIA has her uneasy.”
“Me and Ed are not MIA,” I say. “I told Grace what’s going on.”
“You know Grace,” he says. “She’s a worrywart. I came by to check on her and offer up my services again.” He glances at Lucifer, or rather, pins him in a stare. “And you are?”
“Not your mama,” Lucifer says dryly.
I have no idea what that means. Josh frowns and doesn’t seem to understand either, but I have a feeling that’s the plan. Lucifer wanted to put him off guard and I do believe it worked.
“Lucifer is the name,” Lucifer adds. “Walker Security. And our services have already been contracted.” He offers Josh a card. “Feel free to talk to our team about contract work.”
Josh’s face positively puckers and I do believe that’s exactly what Lucifer wants. He doesn’t like him. He’s goading him the way I did Lucifer. Josh snatches the card from him a bit