Page 55 of Dichotomy

He nodded, staring at the floor. “I’ve suspected there was corruption in the FIA for a few years now,” he confessed quietly. “Cases have shown up out of the blue; agents killed in action on cases they shouldn’t have been on. There’s only so many leads I can follow without raising suspicion, but it goes…”

Ice slid down my spine. “It goes where?”

“All the way to the top.” His eyes were serious and his voice steady as he confirmed what we suspected. Director Keller was dirty.

Everything clicked. The memo from the director’s office to open the case. The director showing up at my interview with the recording from Luke Jones, and the director ordering Jones’s release. Too many pieces were falling into place, but things were still missing.

“What do you know about Luke Jones? And an organization called Kingfisher?”

Dominic frowned. “Not a ton on either. I’ve requested the file but haven’t received it yet.” His eyes widened. “What if…”

“What if the director is involved with the Kingfisher organization somehow?” I asked quietly. “It would make sense. From what we’ve been able to find out, the Kingfisher organization is powerful. I thought it was just because they were a powerful organization, but what if that means they have powerful people in powerful places?”

“The director and the judge,” Dominic said slowly. “Fuck, that sounds crazy, but I think you’re right.”

“We need proof,” I said. “We can’t go after the director without proof.”

“And that’s why you’re here,” Dominic surmised.

I nodded, but didn’t confirm it. “Can you get us everything the FIA has on the Kingfisher and Luke Jones? Including theFIA’s CI list.” Having the FIA’s Confidential Informant list could help us rule out Luke Jones as a CI.

Dominic crossed his arms, staring out the window as he thought. “The CI list, yes. The Kingfisher file? Maybe. If we’re right, I don’t want to trigger any flags in the system by submitting an official request. There’s a guy in records who owes me a favor and would do it on the down low.”

“Do you trust him?”

If this guy spilled the beans, we were fucked. We could kiss any hope of catching the director goodbye, because he would bury everything and go to ground.

“Yes,” Dominic said. “He’s a good guy. He won’t ask questions, and he’ll keep his mouth shut.”

I bit my lip. I didn’t like it, but it was the only way. Maybe we could uncover some more information from the judge’s files if that didn’t work.

“Okay.” I exhaled slowly. “Do it. We can meet up and discuss after you get the information.”

“How should I get in contact with you?”

He was right. His communications were probably monitored. I furrowed my brow as I thought. Wait, we had something for this. “Go to the gas station on Fremond and Sixth Street. Tell them you need a phone to get in touch with an old friend from home. They’ll give you a phone, and I’ll contact you on it.”

“Just who are you, Evelyn Harper?”

I smiled, slow and deliberate. “Answer the phone and find out.” I straightened and moved past him.

His gaze flicked to the doorway, then back to me. “I thought you might be dating Alexander. Or maybe Adrian. But you’re here tonight with Marcus.”

I stopped mid-step.

“Is there a question in there?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder.

“Which one are you dating?” he pressed.

“All of them,” I said simply. I didn’t flinch when the words left my mouth. I was tired of hiding. Hiding them and hiding myself away. Everything was about to come to a head. I could feel it in the air. And I was going to face it with the people I chose by my side.

I expected shock or disgust when I said that. What I didn’t expect was the interest in his eyes or the way he straightened.

“Interesting,” he murmured.

“Any other questions?”

“Do you need me to cause a distraction so you can break into Judge Jefferson’s office?”