Page 31 of Caught
Broderick deflated. “Eldrich is involved?”
“Yes, ma’am. The Attorney General is waiting with him. That’s the urgent call she took right as we arrived.” She gestured toward the other agents.
She gripped Genia’s hand. “This is a mistake, Genia. I’ll get it sorted.”
Her friend looked at her impassively. Then she shook Broderick’s hand off her own. “I hope that’s true, Alice.”
Leilah watched the four agents escort the Inspector General from the private club. “It’s oddly anticlimactic,” she mused. “I was hoping they’d cuff her and do a perp walk.”
Ryan gave Leilah a look that said ‘really?’ Then he tilted his head toward the Solicitor General. “Oh, Genia, I’m sorry. That was thoughtless.”
The Solicitor General paused for a long moment before responding. “I appreciate that. It is thoughtless, as you say, but it sounds as if Alice was far worse than thoughtless. How deeply involved in Ripley’s misdeeds is she?”
Leilah looked at Ryan. “Seems like you should field this one.”
“The first thing to know is that Ripley Broderick didn’t only defraud the Army, flood the streets with drugs, and likely order the killing of King Cortez. We believe he also killed another AUSA named Natsuo Ito and made two attempts on my life.”
“I can’t imagine how Alice thought she could cover that up.”
Leilah gave her a curious look. “Really? She thought it would be easy, and it was.”
Genia shook her head. “What do you mean?”
“She has a whole private police force at her disposal.”
“She abused her office?” The Solicitor General turned to Ryan. “You have proof of this?”
“We believe she used OIG special agents to carry out the murders of Grover Anderson and Reginald Slidell.”
“Reggie Slidell is dead? When?”
“This afternoon. He met with me at the request of his Deputy Inspector General. The Department of Defense was already investigating Adjaveta Pharmaceuticals, Ripley, and Ms. Broderick. They were gathering evidence of her abuse of power.”
Leilah thought there was an unusual weight to Ryan’s words. They certainly seemed to resonate with Genia Strong.
The Solicitor General stared deeply at Leilah with faded blue eyes. “Leilah, you have my word. If Alice did these things, you’ll get your perp walk. I’ll see to it personally. After all, I have the Attorney General on speed dial.” She turned to Ryan. “Now, you see to getting this lovely woman some dinner. Have the club charge it to my account. I seem to have work to do.” She stood, drained her glass, and swept out of the room.
Ryan looked at Leilah. “Do you want to eat here?”
“Ugh, no. I want to order a pizza and eat it in my pajamas. In bed, preferably. I’m beat.”
He offered her his arm again. “A pizza, huh? Talk to me about toppings, Sparky.”
She giggled, then said, “What was all that about with Genia right before she left?”
He smiled. “Her parents escaped from Russia during Stalin’s Great Purge. I’ve heard her speak about the horrors of the NKVD’s treatment of the Russian people. Stalin’s Ministry of the Interior waged an unimaginable campaign against the civilian population. Hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens were tortured, imprisoned, and executed by their own government officials. Of all the people who will be rightfully outraged by Alice Broderick’s actions, nobody will be more livid than the Solicitor General.”
She gave him an admiring look. “You knew she’d be here and how she’d react.”
“I did.”
“I guess you were right about not needing a gun. You came fully armed.” She tapped his forehead gently.
Ryan flushed and changed the subject. “About that pizza. Just tell me you aren’t a pineapple and ham person.”
She regarded him seriously. “Don’t be ridiculous. Anchovies and eggplant all the way.”
He searched her face. “You’re kidding. Right?”
