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Cain looked pained just saying the words. “I know, I know, but she’s in nursing school with a former Pilates instructor who said your problem is the muscles around your injury. They are probably tight so the other muscles are compensating for them. You need to do Pilates to strengthen your core to take the pressure off your back muscles.”
Dane fought to keep a straight face. To hear these words come out of Cain’s mouth was just so…weird.
“Yeah, I know, I hated to say it, but if it’ll work…”
Dane smirked. “Okay, Senior Chief.”
“Fuck off,” Cain shot back but smiled. “Tell me your ideas about the drills.”
CHAPTEREIGHT
Mac’s teeth clacked together as she dropped into her chair, finding the height, not unexpectedly, changed since she’d last sat in it. People adjusting her shit drove her nuts, but she typically bit her tongue, wanting to avoid being labeled the office bitch. Most of her co-workers were good guys and if she wasn’t in the office, she didn’t begrudge their use of her stuff for impromptu meetings.
She’d been looking for Casper since she’d gotten back to the office, but he was a no-show. She went through Landry’s file again, from his initial interview with CGIS. And the single sheet with Owen’s response to the complaint. Dane’s words from her interview with him rang in her ears.
There were holes so large in the report she could drive a truck through them. Casper probably went through the motions of doing an investigation, but if she had to guess, she’d say he’d simply written up a report and filed it as closed. Without asking Owens any probing questions. “Was your truck here? Did you steal something? No? Okay.”That alone would’ve told Owens he was being investigated. It wouldn’t take much for Owens to figure out who had spoken with Casper. Hell, Casper might have even revealed it himself. “How well do you get on with Landry?’ Yeah, she could see all that happening. Knowing Casper, he didn’t do it on purpose; it was just sheer laziness.
Rutledge was coming down the aisle. “Hey,” he said. “How did it go with the wife?”
“About what you’d expect. And you? How did the interviews go with Owens’s old team?”
His expression pinched. “Why don’t we go to the conference room and exchange notes?”
She gathered her things, including the file on Owens and Dane’s complaint. She tucked them into her bag and grabbed her coffee. Her mouth already tasted like acid. What was a bit more?
The all-glass conference room was similar to the one upstairs, but the furniture was older and the windows were not as large or as clean. It felt like being in an aquarium. The smell in the room, as usual, was rank. Sweat mixed with dust, mixed with office supplies. If only they could open the windows. She walked in and took a seat so she could look out at the office. Rutledge sat at the head of the table to her left.
“So, what happened?” she asked. She wanted to hear what he had to say before telling him about Casper screwing up Dane’s case.
He shook his head. “It was a shit show. I have no idea what the hell is going on, but they’re all up to their eyeballs in it. Not one of them seems upset about Owens’s death. More like they’re terrified they’re gonna be next.”
She leaned back in her chair. “That’s not good. What did Casper say about them?”
Disappointment beat within her chest. She was hoping this thing would be solved quickly. Not because she didn’t want to do the work. She was excited to work on a big case, but she didn’t want to be working on one that involved Dane Landry. The man threw her off her game. Too good-looking. Too sexy by half. If he wasn’t involved in the case, then she’d be free to date him.Oh, boy.
“Not a goddamn thing. I have no idea what he’s playing at, but he kept lobbing softballs at them. Just fucking stupid.”
“You want to walk me through it?” she asked. She pulled her notebook out of her bag.
He nodded. “Joel Cameron is the second in command. He’s already stepped up as the de facto head of the team. He tried to play it like he’s all broken up about Owens’ death, but you can see the naked ambition in his eyes. He’s looking to move up and thinks now’s his chance.”
Mac looked up from taking notes. “Just in the team? Or do you think he wants to take over Owens’s spot in the drug business? That’s assuming he was in the drug business.”
Rutledge grunted. “He wants it all. Don’t get me wrong. He’s afraid, but he’s willing to give it a shot. With Owens gone, this is his opportunity, and he doesn’t want to miss out.”
“Sounds like he could be dangerous. Ambition always makes me wary.” Her career in Minneapolis had been stunted thanks to ambition. Not hers, but someone else’s. Now, it made her nervous. It was like working with a snake, and you always had to be on guard in case it decided to strike.
“Agreed. The next is Topher Grady. He’s close with Cameron. He also wants a shot at moving up. He’s willing to follow Cameron’s lead. The two of them are tight, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Cameron is selling Grady a line about being partners but ends up keeping everything for himself. It’s that kind of relationship.”
Great. Ambitious and underhanded were a deadly combination. “So, wait. Did either of them give an alibi for Owens’ murder? What time frame did you give them?”
“I said it happened between midnight and five a.m., just to give us some breathing room. The medical examiner should get back to me today with the full autopsy results. Their alibis were non-existent.” Rutledge snorted. “Both were home in bed with no witnesses. In all honesty, their entire statements were a load of bullshit. Casper was being too nice, and they were running circles around him. But I’m telling you what they’re really like.”
She glanced down at her notepad and then back up at him. “I really appreciate that. I mean it.” And she did. Casper was not a boss she looked up to or admired. Rutledge was the only one who was giving her any kind of guidance, and she was thankful. “If we want to solve this thing, I think it’s going to be you and me. Casper is too caught up in the search for the Navy’s weapons. He doesn’t give a shit about this.”
Rutledge glanced down at his notes. “Donnie Anderson and Frankie Probert are both followers. They stick together and will do what Cameron says. They said all the right things about Owens, but I doubt either of them meant it. They seem like lightweights. Tell them what to do and they’ll do it, but don’t expect them to make any decisions.”
He glanced down at his notes again. “Anderson said he was home with his girlfriend, Cindy Richards. I called and confirmed with her, for what it’s worth. Probert was at his mom’s. He moved her over here a while back to some retirement community. He says he fell asleep on her couch. I’ll call, but I’m sure she’ll back his story.”
