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“But…? What?”
“Do you have access that law enforcement doesn’t?”
Her brow dropped again. “I don’t understand.”
“McDade. Ire. He runs the family.”
“I know.”
“He runs this city.”
She smiled. “Grandpapa might object to that claim.”
“You’re not naïve,” he said, impatient. “I didn’t raise you that way. Lachlan said you are shadowing McDade. What does shadowing mean? Do you sit in on meetings?”
Squirming, this was a line her family had never asked her to cross before.
“My job is not to spy,” she said. “I’m not a crime or undercover reporter.” Or a cop. “My job isn’t to scurry back with details. If I do that, I don’t get the access I need.”
“This is not negotiable,” he said, growing stern. “You cannot withhold incriminating information… if you do, you’re an accessory.”
Wow, the shock was visceral. “Are you threatening me?” she asked, tempted to push him away. “What the hell is going on?”
Her father did arrogant with the best of them. His pompous belief in his own righteousness meant more to him than his parental duty. But that truth didn’t usually manifest in such physical and intimidating form. Attempted intimidating anyway.
“We know about his manipulation.”
Terror spiked. “Whose manipulation?”
And had he seen the tape? Connel wouldn’t have… would he?
“McDade’s,” he said. “He’s manipulating city officials at the highest levels for his own gain.” Shit. He knew that? “This is nothing new. Crime and politics have a history in this city. In the country. There will always be corrupt elements in any…” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Just give me their names.”
Surprise jolted her. “What? Whose names?”
“The names of the people you’ve seen him associate with.” He gestured at the pad and laptop she held against her. “You can write them down if—”
“I’m not doing that,” she said. “I won’t do that.” His frown became a glare. “I won’t, Dad. No. My professional integrity won’t—”
“What about his professional integrity?” he snapped. “Is that the line he feeds you? That he has pride in what he does?”
“I don’t know why you’re so mad. I thought you knew better than to put me in this position. You never have before.”
“You may have crucial testimony for—”
“I won’t testify,” she said. “And you can’t ask me to, the ethical implications—”
“And what are the ethics behind people being ruined? Against the integrity of respect for your city.”
“It’s his city too,” she said. “No one wants to hurt the city.”
“No, just the people in it,” he said and stepped back. “I thought you were raised to do the right thing.”
“I do a lot of talking about the right thing,” she said. “It’s not the right thing to abuse someone’s trust. The purpose of my work isn’t to point fingers. It’s not about sneaking around and tying bows for the cops.”
“The cops protect you. They protect your city. Keep you from harm.”
It was difficult to contain her smile. The whole point of frequenting Stag in the first place was its safety.
