Page 34 of Under Fire

“I would not have asked if I did. It’s still under investigation, and all the reports haven’t come in.”

“I’m sure when they do, it will be interesting reading. But then I guess your team needs to try to figure out how her location was leaked to whoever tried to kill her.”

Detective Connors didn’t say anything and said, “I’m glad she got out alive.”

“So am I. I don’t want to think about the fury law enforcement would be facing had anything happened to Walter Roker’s daughter. Especially after he thought he was being helpful by helping you guys track where she was.”

From the clenching of his jaw, Hollis knew her words had hit a nerve. “There was no leak in my department.”

“You sure about that? Somebody tipped them off.”

“And I’m determined to find out who did.”

She smiled. “So am I.”

He leaned back in his chair and stared across the table at her. “I was hoping our lunch date would be productive.”

“It wasn’t a date, and it was productive.”

“For you, maybe.”

“Before you get bent out of shape, Detective Connors, let’s get something straight. “You didn’t share anything with me that you weren’t legally able to. As for what you asked me, only the defense attorney can answer how Nyla Roker got out of that house alive. I’m sure he’s told the prosecutor, who will relay all the facts to you.”

His jaw clenched tighter when he looked at his watch. “Ready to go?”

“Yes.”

When they returned to police headquarters and parted ways, she went to the check-out desk to get a copy of the boutique’s video footage. She also asked for a copy of the autopsy report for Nick Underwood. They told her both would be sent directly to her computer in about an hour.

She checked her watch and decided this was a good time to pay the Federal Bureau of Investigation a visit.

***

Locke smiled when he recognized the ringtone and clicked on. “Holy Terror.”

He heard the chuckle followed by, “Yes, Danger. How are things going? I heard from Ms. Lucinda that you were in Florida.”

Locke leaned back in his chair. If he was considered missing in action for too long, you could always call his mom to find out where he was. “That’s right. I’m in Tampa working on a case.”

“You work too hard, man. You need some playtime.”

Now it was Locke who chuckled. “And I plan to take some once this case is over. I might even come to visit you, Sherri, and the kids in the Keys. How are my godchildren, by the way?”

“Busy. Trying to balance school and sports. Right now they’re looking forward to spending the summer with their Aunt Libby and Uncle Reggie in D.C.” Terrence’s sister Olivia was married to Georgia Senator Reginald Westmoreland.

“Your mom is worried about you, Danger.”

Locke rolled his eyes. “Let me guess. It still bothers her that she doesn’t have any grandkids, right?”

Terrence chuckled. “Right.”

“And what did you tell her?”

“That I would work on you. Mainly, to get you to see how great having a special woman in your life could be.”

“What you should have told her was that having two grand-godsons and a grand-goddaughter was as close as it would get to her being a grandmother.”

“I’m not brave enough to tell your mother that. I love my life too much. We’re talking about Ms. Lucinda Dangerfield Smith. But I did tell her that I would make sure you brought a woman with you to Dad’s birthday party as your plus-one.”