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The guy’s throat impacted with Kodiak’s arm, and he hit the ground hard, flat on his back. He didn’t move.
Kodiak squatted beside him. “Why are you running from us?”
The guy gasped for air.
“Get up,” Kodiak ordered.
The guy stood slowly, then fell back against the wall heaving for air. He made a dash for escape, but Kodiak was there, his fingers wrapping his throat and pulling him back.
“We’re not quite done here.”
“Tell Lenny I’m good for it. I just got behind. That’s all.”
“Lenny? Who’s Lenny?”
The guy’s eyes bulged, and he clammed up. Kodiak squeezed. “Who’s?—”
“What are you doing?” Kaiya demanded, glaring at him as she slipped between Kodiak and the man they had pursued, shoving at Kodiak. “Let him go, for God’s sake.”
He released the man and Kaiya said, “Bugger, Mickey. Do you think I would bring someone with me who was going to hurt you?”
“No! I thought he was one of Lenny’s guys.” He gestured to Kodiak. “Look at that beast. He looks like the kind of guy Lenny would hire. I was scared. I owe him.”
Kaiya sighed, pinching her nose between her forefinger and thumb. After a few seconds she said, “We have a situation we need to talk to you about. Come to the station, and we’ll figure out how to get you out of Lenny’s sights.”
She glanced at Kodiak, who wanted some damn answers, but she held up her hand. “Not here,” she said under her breath.
Kodiak reared back and scowled, curbing his frustration and questions. “We’re going to talk as soon as we get to the station. Understood?”
“Yes,” she hissed, taking Mickey’s arm and marching him out of the alley. Kodiak felt the energy and frustration simmering through her. Mickey gave him a wary glance and then looked at Kaiya. It was clear he trusted her and was protective of her.
“Who is this…bloke…American? Why are you dealing with Americans?”
“I’ll answer your questions, Mickey, as soon as I can, but right now, you’re coming with us.”
When they got back to the station, Kodiak took Kaiya’s arm after they secured the guy she called Mickey into a room and ducked into an empty interrogation room with her in tow. “Who is that guy?”
She lifted her chin and gave him one of her cool looks. “He’s my informant. A damn good one. We need him.”
He studied her, not liking the awful tension he sensed in her.Keeping his voice calm and quiet, even though he was trying to tamp down his ire, he said, “And you thought it wasn’t a good idea to let me know instead of lying to my face about where you were going?”
She went still, and he caught a glimmer of alarm in her eyes. Satisfied he had gotten her full attention, he folded his arms across his chest.
“I didn’t lie to your face. It was personal. I have a close relationship with Mickey…Michael Jones. He’s been invaluable, and I didn’t want him to spook when he saw you. He doesn’t know you.”
“You didn’t think I would understand? So, you needed to do this secretly?”
She met his gaze with a hint of defiance. “I didn’t know if the lead would pan out. I didn’t want to waste your time.”
He gave a derisive snort and shot her a disbelieving look.
She continued, a slightly tenacious set to her chin. “I thought I would screen him first, and if there was a credible threat, I would tell you. I had every intention of alerting you once I got back to the station.”
To keep any anger out of his voice, he took a breath to settle himself, his patience getting thin. A burst of frustration and disappointment made him clench his jaw. “Kaiya. This has got to stop,” he said, his voice gruff.
“What?”
“This behavior. You don’t trust me or my team. Why is that? We’re allies. We both have skin in this game. Do you want to lose citizens while we run around each other?”
