Crash Into Me - L.A. Fiore Page 0,70

the same,” Zac said then turned to Vin. “We could use some of your expertise.”

“Shoot.”

“You know Terence Baker?”

“Yeah, he’s pretty high up in the Enzi organization.”

“So, he’s still in the family?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, so based on the Dents’ confession, Terence Baker was the one who got the whole ball rolling with Katrina Dent, allegedly at the order of Enzi senior. It was also Terence who encouraged Samantha to interview for the position at Wakefield’s and we’d bet money, Frank Harris, one of our victims, learned of Samantha from an anonymous tip from Baker. It isn’t likely if Jason is Teller that he would have stirred up the past because it exposes him. So why the fuck is Baker stirring up something that was already buried?”

We all recognized the look that entered Vin’s eyes, a cop on the verge of breaking a case wide open. “Because it’s a coup,” he said, pacing at the back of the room. “There’s been bad blood between the father and son for years. The old man is old; the son is ready to take over. I would bet money it was the son who ordered Terence to stir it up. Create the weakness, the unrest, and use that to take his father’s place. Using Wakefield was smart because of his connection to Carmine DeLuca. DeLuca is a hothead, but he’s also dangerous. Coming at Wakefield would set him off, and there’s no love between DeLuca and Enzi senior.”

“So the son stirs up the ghosts of the past and incites DeLuca to take out his father, so he can step into his place,” Cap summarized.

“Yeah.”

“Alright, Vin will take point with the Dents. We’ll ride the desk for a few days, until things cool off,” Cap added.

“If we’re riding the desk, I think I’d like to take those days,” I said.

“Another vacation?” Zac teased.

“Why not,” Captain said, “Not much for us to do until vice gets a lockdown on this shit.”

“Thanks, Cap.”

“Enjoy if for me, too.”

Before I could reply, Zac brought the conversation back when he said, “I want to know who’s cleaning up the shit Enzi stirred up.”

A look went around the room before I said, “That’s the million dollar question.”

I was crossing a line, but if Vin was right, DeLuca was being setup, and as Kade’s friend, I had to at least warn him. I went to see Kade, but he was in a meeting. Penelope showed me into his office. I stood by the windows and looked out at the city, but my thoughts were on the case and how there seemed to be multiple agendas. It wasn’t a wonder we were having so much trouble nailing it down.

The door opened, voices followed. I turned, just as Kade glanced over, then took a double take. I knew what flashed through his head when his focus shifted to his desk. I felt the heat creep up my neck.

“We need to reschedule. See Penelope. She’ll get you on my calendar.” He didn’t wait, opening the door then closing and locking it. He leaned back against it, pushed his hands into his pockets and asked, “Is it Friday?”

Despite what brought me here, now I was thinking about sex on his desk. “I have a new bucket list item.”

He didn’t move when he said, “I’ll be sure to help you scratch that off and soon, but for now, tell me what’s put that shadow behind your eyes?”

“We met with the Dents today.”

Understanding swept his expression.

“They confessed to all of it. Being in debt, the plan, they even fingered Gregory Enzi senior.”

I saw the sharpness behind his eyes. “They did?”

I crossed the room to him. “They also told us their loan shark’s name was Terence Baker. We found his name in Samantha’s things, confirmed with her parents that he was the one who recommended she interview for your public relations department.” This was exactly what Kade had warned would happen, us finding ourselves on different sides of the law. “Enzi ordered Katrina’s death, according to her parents. A job carried out by Jason before he disappeared. Enzi was also the one to pay off the Dents to keep them quiet. I was having trouble understanding why Terence would have stirred the shit up with Samantha when the blowback would be on the very man he worked for. Vin, from vice, filled us in.”

Silence followed.

“Enzi junior wants to take over, so he’s blowing shit up, so he can step through the rubble and take his father’s place. Vin believes you were targeted