Page 178 of Flash Point


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“I remember it.” After initiating a search warrant, the police had found nothing at the thief’s house. Soon after, the case turned cold. So Zeke had heated it back up.

“Ash explained the situation to Lawson and thought he’d settled the matter. Until a few weeks ago, when Lawson and his boss approached him at a conference.”

Zeke recalled Mitch Lawson’s poor attempt at his office to diminish the significance of their initial meeting at the hotel and Shanice Williams’s intent regard of him before pulling Ash away from their dinner. At the time, he’d thought her interest was one of empathy. Now he saw it for what it was.

Calculation.

“Let me guess,” Zeke said, as some of the puzzle pieces fell into place. “The FBI would look the other way on my ?illegal' activities if Ash could convince me to recover their CI’s antique doll in order for them to get the information on the drug shipment.”

Rohan nodded. “But Ash knew how you felt about the FBI and sensed you were going to turn them down, so he devised a different story to get you to take the job.”

One that made it seem as though Ash’s career was on the line if he didn’t cooperate.

Family first.

Thanks to Phin—hell, maybe all of them—his bastard brother knew he was struggling to hold BARS together, so he probably hadn’t wanted to add to the strain Zeke was already under. In other words, Ash had lied to protect him and to keep the drugs off the streets.

Sonofabitch.

“Lederman worked a double-cross with the St. Martins,” Cruz said. “He promised Nicola a three-thousand-year-old Mayan artifact she’s coveted for years if she made the doll disappear.”

“Jeez Almighty.” Zeke scraped a hand down his face. “He must have been the one who contacted the FBI about my violin recovery. When that didn’t produce the results he’d intended, he went to Plan B, the St. Martins scheme.”

Cruz nodded. “He devised the plan to make sure that you would fail, assuming the FBI would be furious about their blown case and would resume their investigation into your shady business practices.”

Zeke shook his head. “All of this because of a damn comic book.”

Rohan raised a brow. “Not just any comic book. You cost him over a quarter of a million dollars.”

“Besides fucking with me, what else did Lederman get out of this elaborate scheme?”

“When he didn’t get his so-called property back,” Rohan said, “Lederman cut off communication with the UCA.”

Zeke took a large drink. “The fucker never intended to share the drug shipment information with the undercover agent.”

“Which allowed him to stay on the good side of a homicidal drug lord.”

“Lederman played the perfect tune, and the FBI hummed along.” Zeke squeezed his eyes shut. “Now that shit’s going to hit the streets of Steele Ridge.”

“If they can get through Maggie and her deputies,” Cruz said. “Not a bet I’d be willing to gamble on.”

Over the years, many people had underestimated Steele Ridge’s sheriff, much to their later regret.

“The FBI briefed Maggie, and several other authorities in the region, on the situation,” Rohan said. “She’ll be ready.”

Fury welled in Zeke’s chest. “Rohan.”

“Yeah?”

“Find Lederman.”

His brother nodded. “With pleasure.”

Zeke looked at Phin. “What happened after you showed Nicola the photo of Hugh taking the doll?”

“Tried to deny it, of course, until we presented the phone log and some very damaging texts Rohan uncovered.”

“We?”

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