"I don't believe you." I got in his face and snarled.
"That sounds like a you problem."
He was a cocky bastard, and it was starting to piss me off.
Let's see how he feels about this.
I shoved my knife into his thigh. Careful to avoid anything major. I didn't want him bleeding out before I was done with him.
Mason hissed in pain. If I didn't hate him so much, I would be impressed that he managed to keep from screaming. The old Mason would've whined like a little bitch.
"Let's try this again." I twisted the knife and watched closely as he grimaced. "Where is Nova's body?"
"It doesn't matter what you do to me. I'll never have the answer you're looking for."
I glanced over my shoulder to where Sloane was leaning against the wall watching me. "Let's see if he feels the same way after a day of no food or water."
His tune would change. They always did. It was just a matter of finding out what their breaking point was, and if there was one thing I was good at, it was finding a person's weakness.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
BECKETT
"What the hell do you mean I'm off the case?"
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Supervisory Special Agent David Jones called me into his office a few minutes ago and delivered the bad news.
"It wasn't my call. This decision came directly from the deputy director."
I scrubbed a hand across my jaw. "I've been working this case for eight years. Now that we've located Mason, it's just a matter of getting him to testify against his father."
"Actually, Mason was released from prison this morning on a technicality."
Son of a fucking bitch!
"Why wasn't I notified?" It was taking everything in me to rein my temper in and not lose my shit on my supervisor. I didn't need that kind of backlash. I liked my job most of the time, and I respected my superiors for the most part.
"That I don't know. The deputy director isn't known for explaining himself."
No, I didn't imagine a man in his position would.
"Who have they assigned to the case?" Maybe I could talk to the other agent and be kept in the loop.
"The deputy director will be handling the case moving forward."
The hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention. Something wasn't right. There was no way the deputy director would involve himself in a case this small. Dunkin was small potatoes. Not the kind of case that made careers. Why would he involve himself directly in something like that?
There would be no changing his mind though and certainly no collaboration. "Well, if he needs anything, I'm available to help." I knew the request was falling on deaf ears, but I felt obligated to put it out there. "Do you need anything else, or am I dismissed?"
It looked like Jones wanted to say more, but instead he waved his hand. Effectively dismissing me.
I kept my thoughts to myself all the way to my desk.
"What did Jones want?" Sylvia pounced with the question as soon as I was close enough for her to ask without anyone overhearing her.
"Not here. Not now."
"Well then, it's a good thing I'm hungry." She pushed back from her desk. "I think it's even my turn to buy."
