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“I don’t have a backup on me.” Steele pulled the fabric of his uniform pants to show his ankles.
Banner frowned as if trying to decide whether this was a trick. Then he shrugged. “Fine, then toss your utility belt down too. And the knife I’m sure you have in your pocket.”
Steele complied.
“What do you want?” Harper found her voice. She knew Steele had arranged for Raelyn to meet them here. She hoped that keeping Banner talking would give the female officer time to get here.
And then? She had no idea how they’d get out of this alive.
“I want the evidence you have about the drug running scheme, specifically my complicity within the operation.” Banner’s gaze bored into hers. “And I want it now.”
Seriously? The man was delusional. “I don’t have anything. You know that. You and Perkins searched my apartment.”
“You have it hidden somewhere else,” Banner said. His gaze dropped to her belly, then back up. “You’re going to tell me where it is. Or I’ll kill that kid.”
Honestly, she would gladly hand over whatever he wanted if she had a clue what he was talking about. “I don’t have it. Why would you even think I did?”
“Because Ellis Starkey said he hid something where only you would know where to find it.” Banner took a threatening step toward her. “Enough playing games. I’m only going to ask you one more time. Where is it?”
“She doesn’t know anything,” Steele said.
“Starkey claimed she does.” An evil smile tipped up the corner of Banner’s mouth. “Right before I shot him.”
Steve Banner had murdered Ellis. Not Tommy Grotto or anyone else within the gunrunning organization. An ATF agent sworn to uphold the law had cold-bloodedly ended Ellis’s life.
And she had no doubt he would kill them too.
The image of the blue vase Ellis had given her flashed in her mind. If he had hidden anything inside, it was likely ruined by the water she’d used for her wildflowers. Unless there was something hidden in the base?
It was the only possibility that made any sense. “Okay, okay.” She splayed her palms over her belly, as if that alone would protect her baby. Ignoring Steele’s shocked gaze, she said, “it’s in the blue vase in my apartment.”
Banner scowled. “We checked the vase. It was empty except for the plastic flowers.”
“You didn’t check the base.” She forced herself to hold his gaze. “Ellis Starkey gave me that vase. He hid something in the base.”
“Well, well.” Banner made atsk-tsksound. “I guess he was smarter than I gave him credit for.”
“Go to my apartment. Get the vase and check the bottom.” She fought to keep her voice steady. “You’ll find whatever you’re looking for.”
“You don’t need us,” Steele added.
“Nice try. But it’s too late. You both have to die.” Banner’s tone was matter of fact. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to frame Tommy Grotto for this too.”
“Where is Grotto?” Steele asked. She sensed he was stalling, waiting for Raelyn to arrive.
“He’s alive if that’s what you’re getting at.” Banner shrugged. “Not Waylon, though. After he failed to grab you off the street, he took a long walk off a short pier.” Banner let out a harsh laugh at his own pathetic joke. “Tommy still has his uses, or he’d be dead at the bottom of Lake Michigan as well. Too bad his old man managed to get himself arrested again. I told Tommy to kill him and be done with it, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.”
Just as she’d thought, the similarity between Neil Otterson and Tommy Grotto was because they shared DNA. Father and son. And Banner was so heartless he’d wanted Tommy to kill his own father.
Banner was a monster. One who looked and behaved normally but had a black heart.
She silently prayed that Raelyn would get there soon.
Steele twisted a bit and abruptly stepped into the gap between her and the ATF agent.
Banner laughed. “This gun is loaded with tungsten carbide bullets. You have no chance of surviving this, despite wearing your vest. And once you’re out of the way, I’ll get rid of the preggo.”
A glimpse of a small gun in Steele’s hand caught her eye. Where had he gotten it? Somewhere within his vest? Regardless, she knew what he was going to do. She instantly dropped to the floor, curling into a ball just as twin gunshots echoed around her.
