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“The information wasn’t to help himwinthe cases,” Quinn felt obligated to point out. It sounded more like it was to help himchoosethe cases. If the accused was truly innocent and Sebastian had information to confirm that indisputably, then Quinn didn’t mind him getting insider information to help prove that. Their job wasn’t to fuck with the defence, it was to make sure the guilty received the sentence they deserved. They were there to keep the streets safe. That wasn’t at any cost. He didn’t believe in sacrificing the one for the many. One person locked away for a crime they didn’t commit was one too many.
“What the fuck is going on, Quinn?”
Quinn wished he had the answer to that question. He was willing to break into a house, and risk being arrested himself, to find the truth and keep Sebastian safe.
“I’m not asking you to get involved in any of it,” he said as he stepped out of the car, one hand braced on the open door. “I just need your help to close this case. I know you don’t like him, but he’s important to me. You can stay in the car if it’s going to be a problem. I won’t be long.”
Grady sighed heavily. “Don’t be fucking stupid. We’re partners. I’ve got your back.” He closed his door and leaned over the top of the car. “For you. Not him. I’d like to make that clear.”
“Noted and understood,” Quinn said dryly. He didn’t care why Grady chose to help him, so long as he did. He was one of the most useful allies a person could have if they were lucky enough to call him their friend.
Quinn leaned back into the car and stretched across, the shoulders of his suit jacket tightening as he opened the glove box. He grabbed out his lock-picking kit from underneath all the random papers, manuals, and discarded receipts.
“Really?” Grady asked.
“How else did you think we were getting in?” Did he think they were going to knock, and the ghost of Howell was going to let them in?
“I didn’t think about it,” Grady said with a roll of his eyes. “Strangely enough, this isn’t one of my after-work hobbies.” He pulled his jacket sleeve down and covered his hand before unlatching the simple latch lift that was keeping the small hip-height gate closed. “We could see if we could shimmy a window open?” he suggested.
Because that was easier than picking a lock. Quinn would prefer not to do any climbing through windows in his suit if he could avoid it. “You do that while I work on the back door.”
“This is against the law,” Grady said as though Quinn wasn’t perfectly aware of that. “What are we supposed to do with any of the information that we find? What if we getcaught?”
“I think the plan is to not get caught.” He didn’t thinkthathad to be said.
“We’re both going to Hell for this,” Grady muttered.
“Just don’t tell Riley.” Neither of them would be prepared for the lecture they would get.
The fencing on the border of the property was pushing the regulatory six feet, and Quinn was thankful. Anything that would help them stay incognito worked for him.
“If there’s another dog in here, you’re also keeping it,” Grady said as they walked up the short driveway and reached the back steps.
Quinn went up the two concrete stairs and slid to a knee. He flipped open his case and studied the lock. It was fairly simple and wouldn’t take more than a few minutes to get open. He’d been expecting a deadbolt or something higher tech that would take some skill to crack. Either security wasn’t a priority, or Howell just hadn’t thought to do more than the lock already on the door.
Grady smacked his shoulder, and Quinn turned with a scowl. “What?”
Grady held up a pair of latex gloves. “I thought the plan was to not get caught?”
Quinn slipped the gloves on and refused to respond to the question. All the times that he and Sebastian had broken into random places when they’d first dated, it had never once occurred to him to wear gloves. Which, in hindsight, was just another mark beside all the other stupid shit he’d done.
Grady shoved his hands into the pockets of his slacks and rocked back on his heels while Quinn got to work.
It took even less time than he’d anticipated. The clicks easily sounded, one by one. In no time at all, the door opened with acreakthat was louder than Quinn would have liked.
“If we go to prison, we’re sharing a cell,” Grady said, peering over Quinn’s shoulder. “And the top bunk is mine.”
Quinn stood and pocketed his stuff. “Let’s hope they don’t have overly nosy neighbours.”
“The guy was a drug dealer. I think he would have wanted a place that minded its own business. And there aren’t many nosy neighbours left.”
More true than funny. Nosy neighbours were helpful in so many ways when they were canvassing. It was rare to find them these days. Luckily, most houses now had camera security, either separately or as part of their doorbells, and that was useful when they were gathering evidence and working to confirm their theories.
“What are we looking for?” Grady asked as they entered the kitchen. He’d donned his own gloves and immediately began poking around the letters on the bench.
“I’m hoping that we’ll know it when we see it,” Quinn admitted. They were flying blind. “Howell thought Sebastian knew something. I guess I’m hoping maybe there’s a clue in here as to what that might be?”
“And Boiler—Jericho, thanks forthatmindfuck—was supposed to have told him?”
