Page 184 of Papa's Bébé
“There have been reports that were buried,” Detective Reeves said. “We found some names, though, and we reinterviewed those people. Well, some of them. Some were reluctant to talk to us after their last reports were buried. Some of those people mentioned cops who said that the Chief of Police had sent them. Or that the Chief could help them if they did something for him in return.”
“Oh my God.” She felt like she was going to be sick. Could her father really be that corrupt? Was he collecting payments from people?
“Violent crime has increased in Billings over this last year in particular,” her brother said. “And a number of cops seem to be turning a blind eye to it.”
“Are you saying that Dad is corrupt and that he’s filled the police force with cops like him?” she asked. “But he’s always lived and breathed being a cop. It’s his life. And I never would have thought . . . the two of you . . . are you investigating him?”
“What we have to say is very confidential, Maya,” Reeves said to her. “We have to be careful not to show our hand too soon. Not only could it put the investigation at risk, but it could also put us at risk.”
“You think Dad would hurt you?” she whispered, looking at her brother.
“I don’t like to think that way about him, but the more evidence we find . . .” Marlin shook his head. “I was approached by someone from Internal Affairs a while ago, they asked me if I’d come back to Billings and look into what was going on. They figured Dad wouldn’t suspect his own son. And he doesn’t know that I’ve been working with them. Reeves had been doing some sniffing around so I approached him, told him to calm down or he was going to get caught.”
“So that’s what you meant in our other meeting when you said you weren’t opposed to working with IA,” Ink said to Reeves. “You already were.”
“In a roundabout way,” Reeves said. “I didn’t want to tell you about Marlin’s involvement because I wasn’t completely sure I could trust you and I didn’t want to stick his head out with mine.”
Ink nodded as though that made sense.
“Wait,” she said, confused. “Other meeting?”
She saw them all exchange looks. What was going on? What meeting?
“I met with Ink before your father hired his company to protect you,” Reeves said. “I actually suggested that your father think about hiring you a bodyguard. Then I came to Ink and asked him if his company would consider taking the job if I put their name forward.”
“Why would you do that?” she asked.
Reeves sighed. “Two reasons. One, I thought his guys might find something we couldn’t. And the second is because I didn’t want something to happen to you. When your father mentioned getting you protection, Vince put his hand up and volunteered for the job. I knew that couldn’t happen.”
“So . . . Matthieu was spying on me?” she whispered, feeling sick at the thought.
“No,” Matthieu said firmly. “I was hired to protect you. And I knew straight away you knew nothing about what your father was up to. You’re too open, too sweet, and you’re not a fan of your father. I might have kept my eyes open for anything, but in no way was I ever spying on you.”
She eyed him carefully.
“Have you ever known me to lie?” he asked calmly.
She shook her head. No. Never. Matthieu hated lies. Her doubts eased and she nodded to him.
Was it her imagination or did he look relieved? Had he been worried she wouldn’t believe him?
“You’re the reason we took the job,” Ink told her.
She gave him a startled look. “Me? Why?”
“Because you helped Livvy,” Ink told her. “Livvy is part of the Iron Shadows family and we look after our own. You helped protect her that day, that means we owed you.”
Maya shook her head. “You really didn’t.”
“We did. You risked yourself to help her. That was brave. And you’re a person worth protecting, Maya,” Ink told her.
Wow. That was . . . she didn’t even have words. Instead, she took several big breaths to try and calm yourself. “Thank you.”
The words were croaky and quiet, but Ink must have heard them as he nodded.
“Why did you come to help me that day?” she asked Reeves, needing to change the topic. “With Vince.”
“I’d heard Vince talking about you one day in the locker room,” Reeves said. “I’d been keeping a close eye on him. I didn’t like what he was saying. Thankfully I was nearby when he tried to force you into his cop car. And after that, I knew if I could find a way to protect you, I had to take it.”
