Nowhere To Run (To Protect And Serve) by Mary Eason Page B

weren’t.”
    “Fine ,” she huffed in annoyance. “I’ll see you soon.”
    “This had better be good.” Deb met him at the door with coffee in hand.
    “I think it is.” He took the coffee she offered and followed her back to the kitchen. “I think this whole thing is about Caesar Santiago, not Jeremy Scott.”
    She finished pouring coffee before answering. Her silence revealing more than she realized. He was on the right track. Deb knew something. “Why would you think that?” She evaded the question while facing him at last.
    “Cut the crap. Think about it. What would be the biggest act of betrayal someone close to you could perpetrate?
    “You’re talking about the Scott kid, I’m assuming?”
    “Partially. Bear with me for a second.” She turned her back on him and poured herself coffee. But he knew he had her full attention.
    “Go ahead, I’m listening.”
    “We’ve been assuming Santiago figured out the Scott kid was working with the Feds and that’s the reason he killed him, right?”
    She glanced back over her shoulder. “Yeah. Right. So?”
    “But what if Jeremy Scott was playing both ends of the field?”
    She turned back to him in shock. “What do you mean?”
    “What if Jeremy was working for the Santiago Cartel. Feeding them information about Santiago’s movements in the U.S.”
    “There’s no proof of that.” She sat down at the kitchen table and he joined her.
    “Maybe there is. Indirectly anyway.” He pulled out the article about the botched assassination attempt and tossed it over to her. “A few weeks ago, someone tried to kill the old man – probably the brother as well.”
    Deb scanned the article then looked up. “You think Caesar Santiago did this?”
    Riley nodded. “I think there’s a very good chance that he orchestrated it. But someone figured it out beforehand. Someone tipped the family off to the plan.”
    “Jeremy Scott.” She figured out where he was going with it. “Oh, come on. The kid was a screw up. You think he was capable of playing both ends without getting caught?”
    “Well, that’s just it. He did.”
    Deb looked suddenly uncomfortable. “What is it?” He gazed narrowed as he studied her expression. “I’m right, aren’t I? You know something. I can see it.?”
    She let go of a long breath.
    “Dammit Deb, what do you know?”
    She studied him across the table “You have to promise me, you’ll drop this. You’re in over your head already. “
    “What are you talking about?”
    She stirred her coffee thoughtfully. “Riley, I don’t know. This case is locked up tight. Only the detectives working it are privy to the details. All I can tell you for sure is the second the U.S. Attorney got word of it, you guys were out.”
    “ Some asshole threatened the sister today. I’m betting someone’s pissed about Santiago’s recent actions.”
    Deb opened her mouth to say something then thought better of it.
    “What is it? Come on. I need your help.”
    She got to her feet and paced the room agitated. “Well, you’re not going to get it, Riley. I’m not losing my job for you.”
    He stood and went to her. “What are you talking about?”
    “This thing is big. Let the Feds sort it out. I’ll report the sister’s threat to my superior officer and they can bring her in.”
    “Thomas? You can’t be serious . She’ll never talk to them.”
    “It’s her only chance. They can get her to a safe place. And you and I can get out of this thing with our jobs still intact.”
    “Deb, what aren’t you telling me?”
    She rolled her eyes . “Why are you so involved with this case, anyway? You barely had it for a few hours, it’s not as if you did a lot of leg work on it? You got a personal investment in it? Something going on with you and the sister, Riley?” Deb’s keen gaze narrowed at his expression. She’d guessed some of the truth.
    “Don’t be ridiculous, Deb.”
    “Riley, it’s not worth it, she’s not worth it—“
    He