Cut and Run (Lucy Kincaid #16) - Allison Brennan Page 0,72
that burden. I don’t have that burden, at least not like you do. She’s on to something here, and you would not have had this information if she didn’t come here and open herself up like this. I told her when we first started working together not to tell me anything that would mean I had to keep a secret from you, because I won’t do that. But I couldn’t help her if she kept all this from me—and I can help. I’m running a deep background on Harrison Monroe as we speak. But neither of us have access to the Albright case. Max is willing to turn over all the research in this case—everything I’ve done and she’s done.”
“But she won’t walk away.”
“Would you?”
“That’s different.”
“If you weren’t a federal agent and you uncovered something big—a potential conspiracy—would you just turn it over to the police and walk away?”
“I can’t answer that, because I am a federal agent.”
“I think if you talk to Max about the Albright case she might have more information that she doesn’t realize is important, plus a unique insight.”
“You’re forgetting that the Victoria Mills murder is an active police investigation. I can’t get involved.”
“You’re not. But if you solve the Albright murders, I think you’ll also solve the Mills murder. And like you said, a little boy’s life is on the line. No one wants Ricky Albright to stay in hiding his entire life. What he must have been going through the last three years. If he’s alive, he deserves a life free from fear, free from running, right?”
Sean was taking Max’s side over hers. She rubbed her eyes. Sean was right. There really wasn’t a side in this situation. But what happened when Max crossed the line—which historically she was prone to doing—and it cost them a conviction?
As if sensing her indecision, Sean said, “Remember when we were looking for my cousin in New York, before you were an FBI agent, before you were even in the academy, and Suzanne brought you into the investigation because you had a unique insight into the situation? She didn’t want to. Noah vouched for you, and she trusted Noah. You helped solve a major case, even though you weren’t a cop. And before you went through the academy, that DC cop partnered with you to solve the murder of two prostitutes. Because you had insight and you wanted to help. I’m telling you, Max has insight and access right now, and I think she can be an asset.”
There had been several times when Lucy helped with criminal cases, even though she had no legal authority or jurisdiction. There had been times when she’d broken the rules because someone was in danger.
She looked at the timeline that Max had written on the board. She wanted to dismiss the coincidence, but she couldn’t. Victoria was killed the same day that the Albright bones were found, and Stan changed his plea the Monday after the Albrights’ identities were revealed. He must have seen a news report on it, but no … he couldn’t have. The information wasn’t released to the media until Monday afternoon.
“Who told Stanley Grant that the bones we found were the Albrights? That wasn’t information we released until yesterday, but he planned on changing his plea over the weekend.”
“Very good question,” Sean said. “Maybe he always knew.”
“In a perfect world, Max would give me everything she has and walk away.”
Sean smiled. “I don’t think she would agree, but I understand what you mean.”
“For the record, Sean, I don’t like this. I can see a hundred ways this can go sideways. But … I want her information. I guess I’m stuck.”
“No, you’re not. No one’s stuck. This is a win-win.”
Lucy wished she felt that way.
“Bring her back in. I’ll lay out some ground rules she won’t like, but at least tomorrow we’ll both know exactly what we need to learn.”
* * *
Max had sent Ryan a good-night message when she was still at Sean and Lucy’s house because she knew she wouldn’t be back at the hotel until close to midnight, which made it one in the morning in New York. So she was surprised when her cell phone vibrated as soon as she slid between the sheets. She almost ignored it.
But she never ignored her phone if she didn’t know who the caller was.
She looked at caller ID and saw that it was Ryan. She answered.
“I told you I wouldn’t call because it was getting late.”