Free Blind Faith by Christiane Heggan Page B

suitcase Nick had placed on his desk, along with the notebook, and looked close to tears. "Not Matt.
    Christ, not Matt."
    Fists on his hips, he walked around his office like a caged lion. "How in hell did that happen?" He looked at Nick as though expecting him to know the answer, but Nick felt as helpless as his boss.
    Cross stopped his pacing and came to stand in front of the open suitcase. "I was reluctant to put him on a sting operation at first, did you know that?" He didn't wait for an answer. "I thought he was too much like you, impulsive and a little crazy." Cross barked a laugh and shook his head. "He told me crazy was good, that it kept the bad guys on their toes. He was the last person I expected to give in to the temptation.
    "The day before the shooting," Cross continued, "I asked him how the case was coming along. He said he was making progress, gaining the confidence of Matias and
Santos
and that it wouldn't be long until he found out who the head honcho was." He picked up one of the bundles.

"You counted it?"
    "No, but I'd say there's about twenty-five thousand dollars in there."
    "Corruption in the department. The press is going to have a field day with that one." He glared at the money as if willing it to disappear.

After a few more seconds, he asked, "How's Patti?"
    "Better now that the money is out of her house. She'll be moving to
Ohio
for a while, so the girls won't be affected by the publicity. She's thinking of staying there permanently."
    Cross nodded. "Good idea. I'll hold off making a public statement as long as I can. That'll give Patti a little time."
    "She'll appreciate that." Nick started to leave. He couldn't stand looking at that money for another second.
    "Nick, wait." From the mountain of paper work on his desk. Cross took a fax. "A Detective Quinn from the
Miami
police called me earlier. You know Jonathan Bowman?"
    Nick nodded. The news had spread fast. "I know he's Cecily Sanders's nephew by marriage."
    "Detective Quinn says Bowman flew to
Miami
on Monday morning and now there seems to be evidence that he's either missing or dead."
    Nick listened to the details of Bowman's disappearance for the second time today without letting on that he already knew about the incident.
    "I normally wouldn't get involved," Cross continued, "but Cecily Sanders, as you know, has done a lot for
Philadelphia
and for our police force. We owe her."

"Have you talked to her?"
    Cross nodded. "I told her about Quinn's call and assured her we would cooperate fully with the Miami PD. She wants to be kept informed."

"What's the latest information on Bowman?"
    "Quinn requested dental records and the family's complying." He closed the suitcase lid as if he, too, couldn't bear the sight of all that dirty money. "I'm assigning you to the case. Nick, but only as a liaison between Quinn and this department. And for God's sake, don't breathe a word of this to the press. Cecily Sanders was adamant about that."
    "A bomb explosion isn't something you can shove under the rug," Nick pointed out.
    "I know. Let's just try to keep the story under wrap as long as we can."
    Because the police department was one big party line, it didn't take Nick long to find out which two patrol officers had been harassing Kelly. Officers De maro and Swan were young, full of self-importance and eager to right the perceived wrong their way.
    Both were in the locker room, changing from their uniforms into their civvies and looking forward to a night on the town when Nick caught up with them. Faced with Nick's fury, they had quickly admitted following Kelly's bright blue Beetle and writing her up with phony violations whenever they thought they could get away with it. But no matter how much Nick pushed, they vehemently denied vandalizing her town house.
    "We just wanted to shake her up a little," Swan said with a bitter edge in his voice. "Believe me, she deserved a lot more than a couple of tickets, but that's all we did. I swear."
    "So do I ,"