Page 30 of Forever Dead
“Yes.”
“And they’ll believe you immediately, I’m sure.”
Connor did not answer.
Morimer waited, knowing the silence was doing the work for him.
Then he said, “You wouldn’t like that pretty ex-wife of yours to think you’re on the take, would you?”
Connor’s hand tightened around the phone.
“Leave Selena out of this.”
“I haven’t brought her into anything.”
“You just did.”
“I mentioned her. There’s a difference. If I bring her into this, you’ll know all about it. See if her loyalty is to you or to the law.”
Connor could hear the smile in his voice now.
“You don’t get to use her against me.”
“I’m using your reputation against you. Selena Raven just happens to be one of the people whose opinion you care about.”
Connor swallowed the response that came to him.
Morimer continued before he could speak.
“All I’m asking is that you go to Malone’s and see if you can find a legitimate reason to pull his liquor license.”
Connor stared at the dashboard. “Legitimate.”
“That’s right.”
Connor knew how such a thing could be made to appear respectable. A noise complaint. Service after hours. An underage patron. A disorder call written broadly enough to become a pattern. He would not personally revoke the license, but a sheriff’s report could start the process and give the licensing authorities something to act on. Morimer did not need Connor to invent evidence. He only needed him to keep digging until ordinary imperfections became grounds for official pressure.
That was what made the request so poisonous.
“You threatened the man before he opened, and now you want me to inspect his business until I find something.” Connor felt rage seething inside himself. But it was almost a helpless one.
“If there’s nothing wrong, you won’t find anything.”
“That’s not how this works.”
“Apparently it is.”
Connor rubbed his forehead. “And if I don’t?”
The pause on the other end was short.
“Then the video goes out.”
“To whom?”
“FBI first. Local press after that. Depends how irritated I am.”
Connor said nothing.
