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His sharp features darken. “Detective Quinn, I’m very aware of that, and the fact that, technically, you have no right to be questioning me at all. Considering you’ve been suspended.” He laces his hands together atop his desk. “But I like your no-bullshit manner. And I think we can help each other.”
Sadie cuts her eyes at me, and I know—the only reason Larkin wants me here is simple: anything he divulges can be thrown out due to my suspension. Fucking lawyers.
I nod for her to address Larkin. “A partner at your firm was acquainted with one of the victims,” she says. “Do you have any knowledge of Marcy Beloff? Or how Ryland Maddox was associated with her?”
Larkin relaxes back in his chair. “I think you’re asking the wrong questions. You’re going about this like a simple murder investigation.”
She cranes an eyebrow. “And just how should we be conducting this interview?”
He looks at the woman. “Alexis, can you please give the officers the copies.” The woman, Alexis, does as instructed, quickly gathering papers off his desk. “Miss Wilde will now show you something that I trust will remain between us; it can’t leave this office. For obvious reasons, my name can’t be implicated in your investigation. Any information I give you must be of a confidential source.” He holds up a hand, and Miss Wilde halts her steps. “I need to be assured of this before any information is exchanged.”
If I ever shook hands with the devil, I have a feeling he’d be wearing an Armani suit and silk tie. Sadie lays her hand near me on the couch, signaling that she’s ready to try to restrain me if needed. She knows I’m about two seconds away from jacking this guy up by his collar and shaking the information out of him.
If he has anything, anything at all that will help Avery, he’s giving it to me before I leave this room. How ever I have to obtain it.
Regardless, for the sake of his game, I’ll give him the illusion he’s in control. I suck down a tight breath. “I assure you, Mister Larkin, whatever transpires in this room will not leave.” And it better be damn good.
His smile isn’t as smug as it should be. He nods once, giving Miss Wilde permission to advance. “Mister Larkin received this message the day he was visited by an anonymous man,” she says.
She first hands Sadie a photocopied page, and then one to me. My eyebrows pull together as I stare at a copy of a business card, front and back. The card belongs to Ryland Maddox, attorney at law. His number and firm address, but it’s the backside of the card that sets my jaw.
It’s just a signature, but one I now recognize as the Alpha.
“Where’s the original?” I ask.
“Someplace safe.”
“You’re trying to tell us the Alpha gave you Maddox’s business card?” I look Larkin right in the eyes. “Why? Is he the Alpha?”
He holds my stare. “I’m not trying to tell you anything, Detective Quinn. I’m imparting sensitive information to you. Information on the very criminal network you’re investigating. And I don’t know whether Maddox is the Alpha or not.”
I shake my head, set the paper aside. “Giving us a false lead to take the heat off of your firm isn’t only tactless, it’s illegal. As I’m sure you know, I can charge you with interference.”
“I can assure you,” Alexis says, turning all heads her way. “We’re very aware of the implication of falsifying evidence. I’m a witness to the transaction that took place between Mister Larkin and the anonymous source.”
I shift my gaze to Larkin, studying him. “Maybe you should let your assistant head this up,” I say. “Miss Wilde seems a little more prepared to tango with the ACPD.”
Sadie sits forward. I can tell she’s losing patience with my temper. “Let’s assume this message is real. Why you, Mister Larkin? Why would the head of a crim
inal network direct you to hire a specific lawyer?”
Larkin sits forward, elbows to knees, and steeples his fingers together. “So they can have access to The Firm.”
I shake my head. “That’s too vague. You know what this person wants from you. Specifically. Money laundering? Or something more appealing. Like representing members of this crime ring. Making sure they don’t see a day of prison.” I narrow my gaze on him. “Just like your boy Maddox already appears to be doing.”
His features harden. I struck a nerve. He’s the boss here. The man in control. And seeing how he not only hired Maddox but made him an equal partner, he submitted to this request. Which means, whoever gave him this card has some pretty big dirt on Larkin.
“You’re thinking too small, detective.” Larkin stands and leans against his desk, making sure he’s looking down at us. “This person doesn’t just want access to my law firm—they want access to The Firm.” At my obvious confusion, he says, “I run an exclusive members only organization for the…” He pauses here, selecting his words carefully. “For the elites of society. Those who wish not to have their sexual appetites exposed to the world.”
Fucking hell. This city is crawling with fucking perverts. I spear a hand through my hair, purposely avoiding eye contact with Sadie. This is right up her alley, and I suddenly feel bitter. Bitter and angry—angry that I have no knowledge of the underground workings of my own city.
Naivety is the worst disposition. I’m like a giant, goofy kid stumbling around in the sandbox with the rest of the cool kids.
Despite my desire to shred this topic and get immediate answers, I let Sadie take the lead on this one. It’s her damn area of expertise, and I need to pay attention to any subtle nuances during their exchange.
Picking up on my cue, Sadie proceeds, looking far less disturbed by this information than me. “So The Firm belongs to you,” she says, and I want to balk. Of course she knows of its existence. Her and Rope Boy probably frequent it.
Larkin smiles, impressed. “Actually, it belongs to the members. I just oversee it. Make sure everybody plays by the rules.”
