The rosy color had drained from her cheeks and she was nibbling on her fingernail. “I’m going to need a bomb expert to confirm what I found in the case file.” She paused. “From what I’m learning, bomb makers—especially the good ones—leave like a signature in their explosives. They use specific materials, blended in a unique way. They’re masters at knowing how much to use to create the exact level of destruction they need. Like with Frederica, The Bomb Maker used just enough dynamite and other materials to blow up his house, but the explosives did no damage to any of the other houses on the street. It was the same when my team got ambushed by him.” She shifted on the sofa, but she was struggling to look at him.
“Simone,” he murmured. “I’m right here. Talk to me.”
She fixed her gaze on him, concern radiating from her eyes. “The same materials, with the same signature components, were found at the scene with your family. I’mnotone-hundred-percent certain, and I’m not a chemist, but the types of materialsmatch up. Even the proportions are the same. Less for the car explosion than the houses, but it’s the same.”
Luciano stared at her, trying to absorb her words. Several seconds passed. “Why would The Bomb Maker come after me?”
“I don’t know,” she replied.
“My thing was boodle,” he said. “Counterfeit money.”
The fury, the pain, the grief were always there, lurking below the surface. As he ran through the countless deals in his mind, he’d never once interacted with an explosive’s expert.
His phone rang. It was Teddy. He put the call on speaker. “Tell me something good.”
“Are you in front of your computer?”
He and Simone moved to his desk. He pulled a chair around for her and they sat side by side.
“Hirzog has an account at a credit union in DC,” Teddy said. “He opened it several months ago. There have been ten deposits, each one for twenty-five grand. I’m sharing my screen.”
Seconds later, he and Simone were staring at Hirzog’s bank account.
“Jesus,” Luciano bit out.
Simone’s smile lit up the night. “Teddy, I love you,”
“I’m good, huh?” Teddy asked.
“The best,” she replied. “This is huge. Thank you.” While Luciano took a screenshot, she hurried back over to her desk, retrieved her phone, and made a call.
“Cooper, it’s Red. I got a break in the case.”
SIMONE
The next morning,Simone was ready to rock it. To say she was fired up was an understatement. She’d hardly slept, which worked out to her and Luciano’s favor. After he’d zhuzhed her up good at four in the morning, she was still buzzing with energy.
It was eight o’clock. She was sitting at her desk in Luciano’s office ready to execute her plan. All she needed was her star player.
She texted Hirzog.
I’m worried about you. Can we talk?
…
I have an all-day meeting with the Director. How’s 4 today?
I’ll be there
Simone called Cooper. “I’m meeting Hirzog at the Bureau, four o’clock.”
“Nice work. What do you need from me?”
“I’ll let you know.” Simone hung up, called Commander Nikki Cardoso. After she brought Nikki up to speed, Nikki suggested Simone meet her at the police station so they could work out the details. Though elated, Simone wasn’t getting ahead of herself. This wasn’t a win, but things were moving in the right direction.
She pushed out of the chair, sat across from Luciano. “How are we going to do this so I’m safe, and you can go to work and not worry?”
“Stuart and I can drop you at the police station. He’ll take me to the office, then come back and drive you to your meeting with Hirzog.”
