Page 76 of Flash Freeze

Bach threw out a suggestion in jest. “Maybe it’s just a fat guy in his mother’s basement with his fingers on all the threads running the whole show.”

The look that overtook Mora’s features chilled Athena to the bone. “I hadn’t thought of it, but you could be right.” What disturbed her most was that some of what he said made sense in a twisted way.

“I have followers who will carry on my work,” Mora said. “People must wake up, take back their own sovereignty, stop drinking the Kool-Aid.”

“Mr. Mora, did you ever stop to think that those people you sold stolen chemicals to might use them in the manufacturing of illegal, addictive drugs or deadly weapons?” Athena said, pushing the disturbing thoughts of a deep-state conspiracy aside.

“Those bent on escaping their miserable lives through addiction are still going to do it, whether I sold chemicals to drug makers or not,” he rationalized. “The same for weapons. Fear and ignorance are the felons. I’m a freedom fighter.”

Athena sighed and exchanged a glance with Bach. She’d heard enough. Paulson had it all on record.

Bach answered, “We can’t arrest intangibles like fear and ignorance. But you …” He pinned Mora with a serious stare. “You, we can hold accountable.”

Victorious grins flashed around the situation room amid applause from her team when Athena and her sidekick reentered. “Way to go, boss. Detective,” Agent Howard cheered.

Athena allowed herself a satisfied smile. “It was a team effort. I just have to type up my report, send a note to Mr. Smith, and give the U.S. Attorney’s office the heads-up. Go. Enjoy your Valentine’s Day and all that mushy stuff.”

“I have to complete my report too,” Bach said, “notify the state prosecutor’s office.”

Karen passed a hopeful gaze from Elyan to Athena and bit her lip. “I don’t have any plans. I can stay and help.”

“What’s this?” Bach angled himself toward her, presenting a shocked expression. Then he tsked. “That simply won’t do. Let’s finish this paperwork, and then I’ll correct such a grievous oversight—if that’s acceptable to you, Agent Shoops.”

Caution blossomed into joy on Karen’s face. “Sure. That works.”

“OK, then, we’re out of here,” Paulson announced. “I’m more than ready to get home.”

Ice stopped, turning to Athena. “Don’t you need a ride somewhere?”

Bach answered with a smile and a hand gesture. “I’ll take the assistant special agent in charge where she needs to go once we wrap up the paperwork.”

“It’s been a pleasure,” Campbell called to the detective, and suddenly only the three of them remained.

“Let’s make sure everything’s airtight in our reports,” Athena instructed, feeling vibrant and itching to get home to Flash, “and then get the hell out of here.”

Chapter 35

Flash slept in on Saturday morning, directing Snuffles to use her piddle pad when she tried to roust her at their regular time. The past few days had been grueling, and she still needed to process them. At least the sun had returned, turning symbols of winter into glittery, dancing sparkles on frosty surfaces. Icicles melted and refroze, elongating their mini stalactite-like fingers.

After Snuffles’ walk, Flash went through an indoor workout of push-ups, squats, burpees, and chin-ups on a bar she hung in a doorway. She poured cereal and relaxed in front of the TV for a while. Still no word from Athena.

“I hope she’ll like the gift idea we came up with,” she said to Snuffles. The pup licked her nose approvingly, and Flash sank her fingers into Snuffles’ freshly trimmed coat, rubbing her all over and stroking her lovingly. It probably provided Flash more comfort than it did the dog.

Thinking about it, she wasn’t so much angry with Assistant Chief Velasquez as disappointed. Former assistant chief now, she supposed. I’ll be sure to check in with her, she promised herself.

She called Nita, and they talked for an hour. Things had been so hectic at the station that they’d barely had time to say “hi.”

“I don’t get why everyone had to go bat-shit crazy,” Flash complained to her friend. “It’s just a little snow.”

“Snow?” Nita teased. “What’s that? Oh my God—you mean I have to wear a coat?”

They both laughed. “Maybe if the news and weather programs hadn’t made it sound like the apocalypse was coming, people wouldn’t have panicked,” Flash said. “Plus, if you’re just always prepared, you don’t have to fight over the last roll of toilet paper.”

“For sure,” Nita agreed. “Hey, is Agent Smokin’ Hot going to make it to your Valentine’s plans, and are you going to suck it up and ask her to move in with you?”

Flash stretched out on the couch, laying her head on a throw pillow. “I’m not sure—on both counts. She’s closing in on the perp from the chemical plant explosion and fire from last Friday. Nita, what if I ask and she says no? I mean, she’s lived by herself for twenty years or more. It’s one thing to come over when she feels like it and another to be, I don’t know, trapped?”

“Trapped?” Nita sucked in a dramatic breath. “Locked in with that adorable dog and a smart, hot, sexy firefighter who can keep the flames ablaze all night long? The horror! She should run for the hills.”