Page 27 of Hold a Candle

“Since when are two known thugs so interesting to Interpol?” Mica asked with a wary frown.

“And when did Interpol decide they needed an errand boy to run out for coffee refills,” snarked Pauley, enjoying the dark red flush that crept up Brodie’s neck. The only seniority he held over her was crime scene seniority if they were at the same scene. And that was only because he’d been in the position longer than she had. Other than that, their title was the same.

“That’s enough, MacBride,” Quinn ordered. “Ye’ll hold yer tongue with senior law enforcement. The International Police is taking lead on this case because the ongoing investigation they are involved in has extended to our jurisdiction.”

“I’ll need all yer case files and forensics evidence,” Brodie gloated with a slimy grin. “And the two of ye are to stay away from our investigation.”

Pauley’s eyes narrowed. “Drugs have always been a problem in the Highlands.”

Brodie nodded with a knowing grin. “Aye. I know yer son killed Ruskag, which makes me wonder how deeply involved he might be?”

“My son has nothing to do with drugs,” Pauley snapped and started forward, intending to wipe the smirk off Brodie’s face.

Mica grabbed her arm. “Let it go, Pauley. Is that all ye need, Chief?” he asked Quinn.

“That’s all fer now, Mica. I know ye both have other cases, so carry on,” Quinn instructed.

Pauley sat at her desk and waited until her hateful ex-partner finally left. She would have flipped him off as he shot her a triumphant smirk on his way out, but she wouldn’t put it past him to order her written up. Then she jumped up and barreled into Quinn’s office, Mica right behind her.

“What gives, Quinn?” Pauley grated between clinched teeth. “How did that smarmy bastert end up working with Interpol? Are they desperate these days? And why is he hijacking our investigation? I wouldn’t trust that man any further than I could throw him, even if he is law enforcement.”

“Close the door,” Quinn instructed to Mica with a sigh before leaning back in his chair. “Sit down, both of you.”

Mica scowled as they took the chairs in front of the chief. “Pauley’s right about this one, Quinn. I don’t trust Macalister either. He was a right pain when he worked here, and some of his results in his investigations were suspicious to me.”

Quinn leaned forward with a steely glare. “The man left here with a sterling record, but I can’t deny I was glad to see the back of him myself.”

“That’s because he’s squirrely,” Pauley shot back, remembering when Brodie had seemed to get a lot more enjoyment in the physical arrests at times than she thought he should have. It was as if he enjoyed inflicting pain on his suspects, but never crossed the line into police brutality. She’d never liked him, and didn’t trust him at all. She’d been glad when he left.

“Ye know I can’t tell ye anything,” Quinn added.

“Oh, come on. Ye can give us something, surely?” Mica leaned forward.

Quinn hesitated. “I can’t give ye any details, and I don’t know any names; he’s keeping that quiet. But he says he has a confidential informant involved, and he doesn’t want that informant at risk by competing with us.”

“A CI?” Mica asked thoughtfully. “I thought I knew most of the CI’s around here.”

“Look, Pauley,” Quinn sighed. “Why don’t ye take a few days off until after Luca’s hearing? If ye hang around here, ye are just going to drive yerself crazy.”

“We can’t be sure Pauley isn’t a target,” Mica objected.

Quinn shot her a sly look. “Staying with Jamie will keep ye out of sight, and ye can arrange the repairs to yer house. Mica, you can keep an eye on Jamie’s house while Pauley is staying there. Plenty of time to check on Luca too,” he added.

Mica turned to Pauley. “Does Jamie have a security system installed?”

Pauley shook her head. “Nay, I don’t remember seeing one.”

“If he’s going to be hanging around with ye, lass, he might as well get one installed,” Quinn threw out there. “Trouble seems to follow ye around.”

Pauley rolled her eyes. “And maybe the man doesn’t want a security system in his home.”

Quinn picked up his cell phone. “We’ll just see about that.” He punched in some numbers and held the phone to his ear.

“Hiya.”

Jamie’s voice came across the line and Quinn put the phone on speaker.

“Hey, Jamie. Quinn here and ye are on speaker with Pauley and her partner, Mica.”

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