Page 5 of Keeping What He Wants

Ryker rubbed his swollen lip. “What’s the profile you’ve got on this?”

“That’s none of your business.”

Ryker glanced up at him. “Then undo the fucking handcuffs.”

Pat blew out a breath. Ryker was pretty sure it killed him a little inside to share what he knew with Ryker. “We’ve got a few deaths where the women are posed the same. The wound is the same. The gun is the same make. The women are all former successes. This one was a beauty-pageant winner. Former Miss Alabama, to be exact. We’ve had a brilliant scientist show up on the streets with the same profile. And we’ve had an attorney.” Pat stared at him. “What’s stopping them from going after a doctor next?”

“And you want to get the guns, not the one’s doing this?”

“The guns lead us to the ones doing this.” Pat collected the papers in the folder and closed it. “Who are they? What is their motive?”

Ryker shook his head. “I don’t know.”

Pat sighed. “You’re a fucking worthless piece of shit.”

He stood, leaving the small room. Ryker thought about all the connections he had and who would have the most info about this. The gun wasn’t branded, but it was unique. He’d never seen it before, but it stood out enough that if he did, he would remember. The shiny metal was a stark contrast to most guns’ muted steel color. It was almost as if they’d polished it to be noticed.

The door opened and a uniformed officer came in. He undid the cuffs. “You’re free to go.”

Ryker rubbed his wrists. “I’m assuming I get to find my way home.”

“There is a payphone out front.”

Ryker stood and walked out the door. He didn’t like how Pat wanted to play this game. Arresting him for crap he had no proof of was breaking the law. Trying to con him into helping him solve cases was a pathetic attempt at justice. He had nothing, and Ryker wouldn’t bite.

He walked over to the payphone and dialed Vampire. If they got to the troublemakers first, then it would save everyone a lot of time and a headache. No burden on the justice system, just a quiet elimination of the problem.

“Yeah?”

“Come pick me up.”

“Where are you?”

Ryker glanced around and rattled off the street name.

Vampire didn’t say anything immediately. “Your girlfriend stopped by. She’s worried about you.”

Ryker blew out a breath. “Yeah. I know. Come pick me up.”

He hung up and stared across the street at the warehouse where they processed their coke. Pat had brought him dangerously close to the exact thing he was looking to find. While Pat had given no indication that he knew where the plant was, he did know the Roaming Devils had ties to it. If they got some fucking judge to give them a warrant to search the place, then everything would spiral out of control. Ryker pursed his lips and walked away from the phone. It was just a matter of time. He was fairly sure of it.

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