Colt wasn’t sure whom he was addressing, but chose to ignore the comment and focus on Leo, his boss. “Can we speak? Privately.”
Leo’s eyebrows rose. “Anything you say to me can be said to the new deputy special agent in charge,” Leo said.
Stunned, Colt’s gaze jumped back to Daniel. “I didn’t know you were up for the position. Congratulations.”
Daniel gave an imperious nod. “I was surprised you didn’t put your hat in the ring for the job.”
“I’ve been busy.” Colt’s single-minded focus on bringing down Shadow hadn’t allowed him to consider the promotion. The quest for justice and the determination to take the poison off the streets had taken over his life, making him miss family gatherings and giving him no time for much else, including job growth.
Leo stood, his gaze on Maren. “I’m sorry, we haven’t been introduced,” he said.
She stepped forward to shake his hand. “Officer Maren Anderson, Colorado Springs PD and the Colorado K-9 Unit task force.”
Leo nodded. “I’ve spoken with your team leader, Special Agent Emmett Dane.” He flicked a glance at Colt. “I was surprised when he requested for you to be temporarily assigned to the task force.”
“Colt has been a valuable asset to our efforts to bring down a baby smuggling ring. And I’m helping him take down the drug trafficker known as Shadow,” Maren said with pride in her voice that sent warmth through Colt’s chest.
“As well as find your missing sister,” Daniel piped in.
Both Maren and Colt turned their gazes to the agent.
“Do you have a lead on my sister?” Maren asked.
Daniel held up his hands. “No, we don’t. I think any relevant information died with Colt’s CI.”
Colt glanced at Maren just as she glanced at him. By silent agreement they both kept quiet about Vinnie Homer. Though Colt was certain he’d already mentioned the man to Daniel a couple days ago. Why was he pretending not to have heard?
Had he and Maren just walked into a den of vipers?
Colt turned to Leo. “Agent Spares was murdered. The suspect is at large.”
The shock on Leo’s face couldn’t have been faked. “When did this happen?”
Daniel jumped to his feet. “I knew we should have put an officer at the door.”
Leo turned to Daniel and snapped, “You said he wasn’t the target. That Steve Loren was. Why would somebody kill Henry?”
Confused and conflicted, Colt said, “That’s the million-dollar question. Henry claimed that Steve wouldn’t give him the information that he had wanted to tell Maren. But maybe Steve did tell Henry before being shot.”
“Agent Spares also lied to us,” Maren said. “He claimed that the blue panel van that ran me off the road was found burned. But we saw it on the parking lot security camera at the hospital.”
Daniel swore. “I didn’t know. Henry had to be part of Shadow’s network of spies.”
“The doctor tending to Henry informed us Henry’s wound was old and infected,” Colt said, watching both men carefully for their reactions to the news.
Leo tucked in his chin. “How can that be?”
Daniel’s eyebrows drew together. “What?”
“I winged one of the masked men who tried to kill Officer Anderson a few days ago,” Colt said.
Leo looked like he was going to be sick. He ran a hand over his bristled hair and sat back down. “This has to stay between the four of us. If word gets out that we know Agent Spares was dirty, whoever his accomplices are might go underground.” He turned his sharp-eyed gaze to Colt. “I’ve tried to keep your progress quiet after you informed me that your CI claimed Shadow had informants in all branches of law enforcement.”
Colt wanted to believe him, but he wasn’t sure whom to trust. “We’re due at the Colorado K-9 Unit headquarters.” Though technically not true, they needed to meet with Emmett and get his take on the situation.
Colt was going to need the task force now more than ever to bring down Shadow. But would Emmett do as he promised and provide the resources they needed? Or would taking down Shadow have to wait until they could find Mia and break up this baby smuggling ring? Time was running out to find Opal and to seize their chance to arrest Shadow.
* * *
