Bad Boy's Touch (Firemen in Love Book 3) (24 page)

We polished off the remainder of our food, which was now quite cold. While Madison emptied the chicken bones into the trash, I flipped through a wad of cash, maybe enjoying the smell of it a tad too much.

“We need to put this someplace safe.”

She eyed me warily. “And where would you suggest?”

“I'd keep it away from your house, your car, anything that could be traced back to you. Last thing you want is Victor hunting you down 'cause he thinks you have it.” I showed her the safe I had tucked in the corner of my room. “You can stash it here.”

“You want me to trust you with over two hundred thousand dollars? For all I know, you're just trying to get close to me so you can snatch the money up for yourself.”

I entered the safe's combination and made room among the stacks of important papers and other junk. “That's a very clever theory, but I'd never do something so stupid. I'd take you over the money any day.”

“Bullshit,” she said, laughing. Then she grew serious. “You have to promise me you won't do anything with it once it's locked in there. Don't even think about taking a single dollar.”

“Promise.” I kissed her to show her I meant it. “I gotta get you to trust me somehow, don't I? Don't want you thinking I'm nothing but a criminal who makes bad decisions.”

She seemed to relax once I'd locked everything behind the heavy steel door. I felt better about it, too. Madison keeping that cash on her would have only ended in disaster, and I couldn't stomach the thought of her being in that kind of danger.

“Drop me off at the station, okay? I've got some work to do.”

I drove her back to work, pulling right up to the employee entrance on the side of the building. For a while, she just sat there, staring at one of the cruisers closest to the door.

The sign in front of the spot said “Reserved for Victor Patterson, Chief of Police.”

I squeezed her hand. “Don't let them get to you. You're a tough woman, tougher than they are. Remember that.”

She managed a smile. “Thanks for supporting me through all of this. If I had to go through it alone, I don't know what I'd do.”

“You won't have to face this by yourself.” I gladly stared at her ass as she climbed out of the truck. “I want to see you tonight.”

“I don't know if I'll be up for it after today. And Jenna has off work, so we were going to hang out together for once.”

“Bring her over too. I'll make dinner for you both.”

She hesitated. “We'll see.”

I didn't drive away until she was inside and gone. Then I left, a dopey grin plastered on my face in spite of the hell we were about to go through.

This wasn't just about good sex anymore. I could get laid anywhere, but why bother?

As long as Madison gave me her heart, I knew I'd never want or need another woman again.

Chapter 16 - Madison

For years, my world had been one of controlled chaos. Now, nothing made sense anymore.

The squad was like a second family to me. We took care of one another and watched every officer's back. As I walked past them to my desk, I had to wonder which of them were hiding yet another dark secret.

The real arsonist ran free while Harvey would fight to prosecute an innocent person.

And maybe most shocking of all: I found myself falling for the man I swore was just a fling.

When I almost arrested him in that alley, I knew he was trouble. I didn't expect him to be hiding so many good things under that rough exterior of his.

“Get your hands
off
me! I've done absolutely nothing wrong!” A man's screams echoed down the hallway. “Just you wait; you'll be getting a very nasty phone call from my lawyer about this. All of you are going to lose your badge.”

It was James, struggling against the grip of an officer as he shoved him into a holding cell. Harvey's plot, whatever it involved, was already in motion.

Shane, one of the newer cops in the department, gaped at the scene with widened eyes.

“So that's him?” he asked me. “
That
guy is the arsonist who's been burning down the buildings? Wow, what a jerk.”

“No, Shane,” I said flatly. “It's not. There's been a huge misunderstanding.”

“But Harvey came in with him. Said the two of you captured him red-handed at the Ventura place.”

Oh, hell. Harvey had some nerve, dragging my name into this. I wanted no part of his lying and scheming. Brett said I should keep things quiet for now, but I couldn't just let this go on.

Harvey wasn't at his desk. I didn't have to wonder for long where he'd gone. His booming laughter came from Victor's office.

I made the decision – probably a real stupid one – to confront both of them together.

“So you're sure about this?”

“Definitely, sir. The guy was acting all nervous; had this guilty look about him. It's clear he had a hand in starting the fire.”

“We'll have his house searched, and his computer too,” Victor added. “We'll surely find
something
implicating him in the crime, won't we?”

“Of course.”

Having heard enough, I burst into the room without bothering to knock. Victor hated when people did that.

His face turned red as if he were about to explode, but when he saw me standing there, he put on one of his fake, snake-charmer smiles.

“Ah, there you are, Madison. Congratulations on your capture of the arsonist. I'm sure the fine folks of Waco and Kingston will be relieved to find that he's off the streets.”

Harvey stood across from him, looking very smug and proud of himself. For a moment, I thought this had to be a joke. It was just too surreal to be true.

“Are you insane?” I blurted. “James Ventura isn't the arsonist. Harvey has it all wrong.”

They weren't smiling anymore.

“He's the most likely culprit we have for now,” Victor assured me. “It's obvious he wanted his brother's money, so he burned his house down in hopes of killing him so that he might obtain it.”

“And he told us how he was involved with Melody,” Harvey said. “She was scared to leave Freddy because of his violent nature. By knocking the guy off, she'd be free to leave safely – and run right into James' arms.”

I slumped against the wall. Why did I even bother with this? I should have known I had no chance arguing with them.

“I agree, there is a sound motive,” I said slowly. “But the trouble is, you'll find no solid proof he did the crime because there isn't any.”

Victor clucked his tongue. “You can find exactly the proof you need if you bother looking hard enough.”

I tried not to cry. If I did, they'd see me as weak and wounded. They'd lunge. I would have no chance.

“Sir, I... I honestly can't believe what you're saying. I was there at the scene. I interviewed James, and I'm telling you, I do not agree that he had a single thing to do with the fire except for being there when it was set.”

“You don't have to agree,” said Harvey. “The evidence will tell us what we need to put that guy behind bars where he belongs.”

They stared me down, their glares challenging. They were trying to break me, to get me to shut up and run away with my tail between my legs.

With a lesser woman, their tactics would probably have worked.

Brett's words came to me. He said I was tough. A badass who got things done. He believed in me.

“There is no evidence,” I said slowly. “So you're going to plant some. Aren't you?”

I hoped he would at least deny it. Instead, Victor ushered Harvey toward the door.

“I'll meet up with you later, officer. I have to talk with Madison alone.”

Harvey didn't even look at me as he headed out. Victor shut the door – and locked it.

“You're a smart girl, dear. That's why I pursued you in the first place, you know. You've got a fire in you, a passion for law, like no other woman I've known.”

He strolled the room, watching out the window as a couple of cruisers took off, sirens wailing.

“Sadly, your view on how it all works is... How shall I say this? Not quite so realistic.”

“What the hell are you going on about? This job isn't complicated,” I growled. “We stop the bad guys from doing the wrong thing. If they've already done it, then we figure out what happened and make them pay for their crimes.”

He chuckled. “If only it were so easy in the real world. Sometimes it is; don't get me wrong. And those are the cases every cop likes best, the cut-and-dry ones where there's no doubt who did it. But what do you do when the answer isn't so clear?”

“You hunt for the truth. You search no matter how long it takes.”

“Sadly, time is a commodity we don't have. There are dozens of crimes being committed in this city every minute. We simply don't have the man-hours to devote to fully investigating each one.”

Why did I have to cry so easily? What kind of strong woman teared up when something didn't go her way? It made me feel ashamed.

“When a crime occurs, civilians want justice. It is our job to give that to them,” he continued. “We are the ones who protect them, who ensure they feel safe in their beds at night. If we don't do that job, they stop believing in us. They begin to doubt, to think we are part of the problem. And a doubting populace is a dangerous one.”

“So... What? You just plant evidence on innocent people, all so everybody else thinks you're catching the real crooks? And the true culprits go on their merry way, still free to break the law again. In the end, you're only hurting yourselves.”

“Perhaps they do roam free. Still, as long as the people believe we're making progress in the fight against crime, they remain satisfied.”

If only somebody over his head heard all this, what would they think? Would it be enough to bring him to his knees?

Hey, what if I recorded the conversation on my phone? I reached for my pocket while he was turned around, but there was nothing.

Oh yeah, I'd left it on my desk. Crap.

“So when Harvey served James up to you on a platter, you knew he was lying – yet you're going to have the guy locked up regardless. Tell me what exactly that's going to accomplish? The true arsonist could decide he isn't finished, and everyone will know you made a mistake.”

“It's called spinning a story, dear. You seem to forget I'm not some entry-level rookie officer. I know people. I get things done.” He grinned. “That's why you wanted me, isn't it? Don't be shy.”

I felt like vomiting from disgust. How had I been so blind? Did I seriously chase after Victor for his status?

“What is it you're getting out of this? Sure, you 'catch' the guy quicker, but so what?”

He picked up the remote off his desk and flipped on the TV he had hanging on the wall. Right away, a news story popped up about the fires.

“I don't know if you're aware, but our fine city has been gaining national attention recently. The serial arsonist and his penchant for attacking low-life criminals has swept the country into a fervor. They simply love true-crime stories like this, you realize.”

Just as he said, they had news reporters interviewing people from Miami to Denver. How had this case blown up so fast without me even knowing it?

“By capturing this madman, I'll be getting national attention, too. With that comes television appearances, rewards, accolades.”

“If you're doing this to advance your career, why not just find the real culprit?”

His stare turned icy. “Just like they found the person who burned down your childhood home, eh? They searched for months with no leads. See how well
that
worked for you.”

What an asshole he was, bringing up the past like that. Victor was lucky I resisted punching him right in his face.

“That was years ago. We have new tools and technology now. I mean, the culprit even leaves us notes telling us where he'll strike next.”

“True, but with fires, any evidence of who did it usually vanishes in the flames. It could take months before you find a single workable clue.” He drummed his fingers on the desk. “And I don't have months. Spots in the FBI are coveted, and they fill up with candidates fast.”

So that was his plan? Frame a guy, look good for the FBI, go to work there – all while the real criminal got away with it?

“What about Harvey; why is he going along with this?”

He chuckled. “Harvey is a good boy. He does what he's told if he wants his bonus, just the same as you should do.”

Then there was that ledger with his name in it. I wouldn't mention that, though. Could be my trump card, my only shot at bringing him down.

“So as of now, the case of our vigilante arsonist is closed. You, Madison, are to resume your normal duties. And if you speak a word of our discussion to anyone, there will be consequences.”

He unlocked the door and waited for me to go. The tension between us was so thick in that room, I couldn't escape fast enough.

“Oh, one more thing.” He grabbed my arm. “While you were at the Ventura estate, you didn't happen to come across a safe, did you?”