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Liam could hear Alice’s shrill voice rising over Boyd’s angry, clipped tones.
The office door swung open again, and Alice cameclick-clackingout on patent leather stilettos. In a fitted dress, dark sunglasses, with a red clutch tucked under one arm, she was as eye-catching as a shiny red fire engine. Otto waved to her, but she ignored him, bypassing everyone in the pen, including—thank goodness—Liam. Within seconds she was down the hall and out the door, but the spicy perfume she’d been wearing still lingered in the air.
Boyd opened the blinds to his office again, and everyone pretended to be hard at work. Even Liam didn’t want to look at the man, knowing from experience that Boyd would be in a devil of a mood.
Unfortunately, he shouted, “McLeod! O’Connor!”
Liam and Cora exchanged a look before heading into Boyd’s office.
“Sit,” Boyd said angrily. His face was red, and his hair stuck up in tufts from running his fingers through it. “The forensics report came back, and Magnus Blackwell’s prints were nowhere on that bag or the money.”
“So maybe he wore gloves,” Cora said. “That doesn’t mean he didn’t do it. He offered to share it with me if I agreed to look the other way.”
“Other than the appearance of the bag under his bed, there’s no concrete evidence he stole it,” Boyd said. “It’s your word against his, and he’s denying it.”
“Captain,” Cora said, shocked. “You don’t believe me?”
“It doesn’t matter what I believe. My point is this doesn’t look good on paper. You were dating him. You two had a lover’s quarrel—”
“They were notlovers,” Liam interrupted.
Boyd glared at him. “O’Connor, your track record in this department isn’t squeaky clean, so forgive me if I don’t take your word on this.” It was true; Liam had lied about his affair with Margaret Brady. It had been a blow to everyone working on her husband’s murder case when they found out he’d kept it from them. Even though Cora had forgiven him for withholding information, Liam was certain Boyd still held a grudge.
“Take my word, then,” Cora said in a tone Liam had never seen her use on Boyd. “I was not in a romantic relationship with Magnus Blackwell. We went on a couple of dates, but before things went further, I decided to break things off with him.”
“They were mere acquaintances, at best,” Liam insisted.
“Be that as it may, Cora was dating him. Then she found money on his premises, as evidenced by her fingerprints on the bag. They argued and got into a scuffle.”
“The bastardhither,” Liam growled. “She almost drowned.”
“He’s claiming self-defense,” Boyd said. “She’s a police officer, yes, but her word against his won’t hold as much weight in court because they were in a relationship. It will call her credibility into question. Magnus says he was set up, and someone framed him. He’s got the power of Johnston & Knight behind him because, whether or not they believe him, their reputation is at stake. Since Magnus has never had a record before this, I don’t like him for the theft, or Lindsey’s murder. I’d say there’s a good chance someone at that motorcycle club is behind it.”
“Captain, Magnus is in on it,” Cora said. “You should’ve seen his face. He wasn’t even shocked or surprised when I found it under his bed. He tried to pay me off!”
Boyd appeared unmoved. “I’ve already heard your report. There’s no need to keep repeating yourself. It’s your word against his, and right now I want you to stop focusing on Magnus and start focusing in therightdirection.”
“The Booze Dogs?” Cora scoffed and rose stiffly from her chair. “Forgive me, Captain, but I think you’re wrong about this.”
Liam was impressed at all the attitude she was throwing right now. Once again, he was filled with pride for this beautiful, brilliant, headstrong woman. Cora was convinced Magnus was the criminal, and she wasn’t going to stand down without a fight, even if her captain didn’t agree. Liam loved it. And, more important, he was one hundred percent on her side.
“You’re walking a fine line with me, McLeod,” Boyd said testily. “But I’m going to overlook it this time since I know you’ve been through a lot this week. Now, get out there and bring me the evidence I need, or I’ll let someone else take over, and you’ll find yourself appointed as Mrs. Wilson’s personal contact for all her future complaints.”
Cora stormed straight down the hall to the kitchen, and Liam followed. She was so visibly angry, her hands shook as she tried to scoop coffee into the machine.
“Here, let me do it,” Liam said, gently taking the bag from her.
“Make it extra strong,” she said. “I mean it. Strong enough to knock some sense into me before I march right back into Thompson’s office and show him the meaning of the wordscuffle.”
Liam raised a brow, but wisely said nothing. He tossed a few extra scoops into the filter, with Cora watching him like a hawk. She signaled for another scoop, and then she was satisfied.
When the bitter sludge from hell was finally brewing, she turned away and began to pace. “What is wrong with Captain Thompson? He’s been under so much pressure, it’s like he can’t see reason.”
“I believe you about Magnus,” Liam said. “It’s baffling that Boyd doesn’t see it, too.”
“He’s a hardheaded man.” Cora slumped into a chair near the vending machine. “Always has been. But until this moment, I’ve always respected his judgment. Now I’m just floored that he could be so obtuse.”
Liam agreed. He’d known Boyd his whole life, and even though it wasn’t the same world, Boyd was essentially the same person. He was shrewd, enterprising and a bit hotheaded and boastful, but he wasn’t stupid. In fact, he was usually quite good at seeing through a person’s ruse. “We’ll find a way to prove Magnus’s guilt. Don’t worry.”
