Page 289 of Unexpected Heroine

“I’ll get you a copy of her police interview with Patterson and Salgado. It was recorded. As for another interrogation...” I shake my head, nibbling at my lip. “I’m not sure. She’s already shared a lot with me. I can fill in the dots for us.”

“Fair. I’ll go easy on her. Just think it through.”

“I will.”

“Maybe ask her?” she prods, nudging me further as if she knows I’m not on board.

Dozens of times when I thought I knew what was best for Lettie flash through my mind. And she’s proved me wrong at every turn. “Fine.”

Our brainstorming continues for several minutes. Studying the board, I ask questions, seeking clarification when it’s needed and add details here and there. Once the conversation winds down, I add two lines with question marks beside them.

Katia’s role in the trafficking?

The box?

“What’s the box?” Klein tilts his chin at what I added to the board. “And Katia? Is that Savin’s sister?”

“When Shep and I paid a visit to Savin, he directed me to a box hidden in the wall at the trafficking house. He didn’t tell me why. And now he’s in WITSEC. So I can’t contact him to get more information.”

“Did you get the box?” Klein asks.

“It’s in a safe at my house. No fucking clue why he wanted me to get it so badly. All that’s inside is a novel, some snacks, a Russian nesting doll, and two containers of Narcan.”

“Narcan?” Mia slopes her head to the side, eyes thinning to slits. “Why Narcan?”

My arms fling out to the sides. “I can only assume it was in case someone overdosed.”

“Did you ask Lettie about it?” she fires back without missing a beat.

“No.”

She puffs up her lips with a sharp inhale. “This is why I need to interview her.”

Wait. Should I have asked Lettie?

When I don’t respond fast enough, Mia adds, “The box was in the house. Lettie was in the house. It’s worth asking the question.”

“I’ll see what she knows.”

Guess I’ll be calling her sooner than planned. Nah. Fuck that. She won’t answer, and it’s not appropriate for texting. I’ll go see her tonight.

Silence falls in the room as three pairs of eyes study the board.

“What’s going on with Savin’s sister?” Mia asks, reminding me of Klein’s earlier question.

“The night I nabbed Skidmark, he was in the bar with Katia. During our chat with him, he said she was often sent to do the talking for Lenkov. That’s what she was doing that night.”

“And?” Klein prods.

“He also told me that Nikolai Lenkov isn’t involved in the trafficking operation. It’s Viktor’s project.” I shake my head to rid my thoughts of the disgust clouding my vision.

Growing impatient with my delay, Mia connects the dots. “If Katia is beholden to Nikolai and carrying his baby, why is she running errands for Viktor or getting her hand in the trafficking ring?”

I point at her. “Bingo. That’s what I want to know.”

Klein uncaps his marker. “Need to talk to Savin,” he mutters as he writes it on the board.

“Good fucking luck with that,” I quip.

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