Page 31 of Hold a Candle

“Ye like bikes, Pauley,” Mica growled. “Ye wanted in the motorcycle pool when ye first joined the force as I remember.”

“That was a long time and thousands of family pounds ago,” Pauley sighed. Then she gasped when the rider took off his helmet. “Ye have got to be kidding me.”

Mica and Pauley both ducked as the driver of the motorcycle looked around the parking lot as if searching for something. Jamie didn’t duck, he had no reason to. “Why are ye two hiding?” he asked, taking Curdle from Pauley because the poor dog was panting from being squished in her hold.

“That’s Brodie Macalister,” Pauley gritted. “What’s he doing with a bike like that? And why isn’t he in standard issue?”

“Only one reason I can think of,” Mica snapped. “Did he go inside, Jamie?”

“Nay, someone’s coming out to meet him. It looks like a young lad with a carrot top for hair, lanky and taller than Macalister.”

Pauley handed a camera over to Jamie. “Quick, take a few snaps, Jamie, please? That has to be Luca’s friend, Belton. He works with Luca at the shelter and has been over to the house a few times.”

Using the dog for cover while he had his paws on the dash, Jamie quickly zoomed in and took some pictures of the two people behind the building. He also snapped a picture of the license plate on the Ducati. The lad with the red hair was suddenly holding up his hands, shaking his head, and backing away. He snapped a few more pictures of the confrontation until the kid turned and ran back into the building. Macalister watched him briefly, then put his helmet back on and took off on the bike.

“He’s gone,” Jamie told them, handing the camera to Pauley. “Whatever he wanted from Belton, the kid didn’t want any part of.”

Pauley and Mica looked at the pictures and Mica frowned. “What the devil is he up to?”

“I don’t know, but I’m willing to bet that plate doesn’t come back to Brodie,” Pauley said. “Do ye think he’s working undercover?”

“I’d say he has to be,” Mica replied.

“Maybe Belton’s the CI you were talking about,” Jamie inserted thoughtfully. “Ye said he had one. Could it be the kid?”

Mica snapped his fingers in alightning-just-struckgesture. “Jamie, I think ye are onto something. What if Belton isn’t the CI, but Luca is? And with Luca out of the picture, he’s trying to recruit Belton?”

Pauley went pale with fury. “That...that...I’ll draw and quarter that sneaky bastert if he has dragged my son into a drug investigation without my knowledge. That would be just like him. We never got along and this would be his way of getting even with me, the spiteful git.”

“Luca’s not underage, Pauley,” Jamie reminded her.

“If Brodie’s here, then there is something going on at the animal shelter,” Pauley snapped. “Maybe someone is running drugs or laundering money through it. If Luca saw something, that could explain why Ruskag was after him. And with the fire bomb at my house, it also means he’s still in danger,” she insisted.

Mica growled slowly. “There is another possibility, Pauley. What if Brodie’s dirty and he’s looking for information on Luca’s whereabouts from Belton?”

They were all silent for a moment, absorbing the reality that it could be true.

Finally, Pauley spoke, jaw clenched with determination. “I need to talk to Luca as soon as possible.” She opened her car door. “But first, I need to speak with Belton. If there is a possibility of drugs and money being laundered and sold through Hope Barks, then Belton might know something. For all we know, Brodie is claiming cross jurisdiction because ofthat, especially if he’s dirty.”

“Pauley, wait,” Jamie urged, grabbing her arm. “What do ye mean cross jurisdiction?”

“It means that if an investigation started in another area and crossed borders, the jurisdiction of the person or persons who are investigating can take over the investigation in the area it’s expanded into. Which is what Brodie is claiming when all’s said and done,” she snapped the explanation. She tried to shake his hand off, but Jamie held her tightly.

“Nay, lass. Ye are no going in there. Ye could put Luca in even more danger if ye start poking around. Quinn may know something ye don’t, which could be another reason he want’s ye partnered with Mica. He knew ye wouldn’t stay out of it totally on yer own, so it’s his way of turning a blind eye while Mica continues to investigate on the sly.”

“I like the way Jamie thinks,” Mica added with admiration.

“I’ve known Quinn a lot of years. He may be a right pain, but he’s very sharp and has earned his position. He plays his cards close to his vest, always has. He releases them when the time is right, so ye need to listen to him. Besides, he’s yer boss,” Jamie said with a stern look.

Pauley wasn’t listening. “If ye two think I’m going to sit back and do nothing while my son is in danger, ye are out of yer blinking minds,” she snarled. “Now, let go of me, Jamie, I’m warning ye.”

She jerked her arm out of Jamie’s hand and was out of the car quicker than a flash. Mica swore and jumped out while Jamie popped out his side and raced after Pauley. He barely caught her, but he did. He swung her around to face him.

“Ye are acting like a distraught mother,” Jamie gritted firmly, holding her forearms.

“Iama distraught mother,” Pauley spat furiously at him.

“Exactly. Which means ye are nae an unbiased investigator at this point. This is why ye shouldn’t be anywhere near the case. Ye need to be near yer son and let Mica take over.”

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