Page 27 of Axe-ing for Trouble
“What about your last police chief?” Mila asked. “He came into the Ape Hanger all the time.”
Parker’s brows shot up, and I straightened in my seat.
The whole town knew Chief Souza was a bad guy. What he had done to Cole was probably only the tip of the power-abusing iceberg. But involved with drug trafficking?
“Yes. He always ordered a shot of whiskey and an Allagash White. I know he’s on leave, but he’s not locked up, and he still has influence around here, right?”
Parker winced. “Do you know for sure he’s involved?”
“I’ve seen him walk out of the bar with duffel bags full of cash. Does that answer your question?”
“Any other Lovewell PD?”
“No one ever came in dressed in uniform, so I couldn’t tell you. I only recognized Souza because I met with him after Hugo was attacked.”
“Wait a second.” Parker tapped her pen on the table, her lips turned down. “You met with him, and he never recognized you at the bar?”
Mila shrugged. “I cut and dyed my hair before I started this and dressed differently.”
“Fuck.” Parker shook her head. “That dumbass was terrible at his job.”
Mila pushed her hair behind her ear with her good hand for what had to be the third or fourth time, which got me thinking it was a tic of hers. That was further evidenced when she stood abruptly, wincing at the movement.
“Respectfully,” she said through gritted teeth. “I’m not going to stop. This situation.” She pointed to the arm cradled in its sling. “Is unfortunate, but I’m too close now.”
“I’m going to ask you to please stand down.” The authority in Parker’s tone was natural. Clearly, it came with the territory in law enforcement. “This is complex and, while I’m impressed with what you’ve put together, one injured woman is not going to take down an entire opioid cartel.”
Mila’s expression darkened as she pulled herself up straighter.
“You should lay low,” Parker said. “Leave town.”
Leave town? No way. Abruptly, I stood. A second later, sensing my mood, Ripley appeared at my side.
“No. She’ll stay here,” I growled.
The response was out of character for me. I was the calm, quiet Hebert brother, and I certainly didn’t make demands like this. But I couldn’t imagine Mila being safe anywhere else. And that was all I wanted, for her to be safe.
“I’m not running away from this,” Mila argued, her good hand balled into a fist at her side.
“You should.” Parker sighed and closed her eyes. “You should go far away and live your life.”
Mila’s eyes flashed with rage. “Whether or not you want to believe it, this isn’t only about your family and your town. My brother’s in a damn coma because of these assholes. My mother has been threatened by goons. So excuse me for caring.”
She stepped up to the table and splayed one hand on it, leaning closer to Parker.
“I’m sorry this is coming at an inconvenient time for you professionally, but I will push forward, and I will find law enforcement to help me.”
My blood ran cold. While I respected her passion, she was hardly in any condition to do this. And in the thirty-six hours she’d spent in my house, I’d learned that she had little to no regard for her personal safety.
“Parker,” I pleaded.
She sighed. “Let me poke around with the FBI. Off the record. See if I can get a sense of where the investigation has stalled. Even if someone there is compromised, the bureau is likely still collecting evidence. There have got to be threads we can pull.”
“I’ll get you all my evidence.” Mila straightened again, her demeanor calming.
“I can’t use illegally obtained evidence.”
“Yes, I’m familiar with the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine, thanks,” Mila snapped. So much for her mood settling. “But in the state of Maine, there are several exceptions, including independent sources. Of which I am.”
