Free Lure of Obsession (The Muse Chronicles Book 1) by Lisa Kessler Page B

this time, and John would be the intimidator if needed.
    “I told you all I know,” the guy said.
    Nate skimmed his notes. “Two shipments of explosives checked in at the port, one for Ace Demolitions and the other for?”
    “It’s not on the list?”
    Nate lifted his gaze. “But you already knew that didn’t you?”
    His eyes widened in mock surprise. “I didn’t know. It must’ve been a mistake.”
    Nate frowned. “Don’t you have to check the purchase orders and packing slips?”
    “Sometimes.”
    John approached like a shark smelling blood in the water. “You’re telling us you let two shipments of explosives into Crystal City without checking the documents?”
    The dockworker recoiled, crossing his arms. “I checked ’em.”
    “Good.” Nate picked up his pen. “So who picked them up?”
    The guy chuckled. “I look at a hundred purchase orders and packing lists a day. I can’t remember a list that came in last week.”
    Nate went for the kill. “We didn’t tell you it came in last week.” He got up from the chair, staring the guy down. “If you can remember that, maybe you can tell us who paid you to keep quiet?”
    “Please…these people…” he stammered. “They’ll come after me. I needed the money. My wife lost her job.”
    “I don’t care why you’re doing it,” Nate said.
    John placed his hands on the table, leaning in. “But we can protect you if you give us names.”
    Nate’s gut twisted. He’d made that promise of protection once before, and then he’d found her dead body.
    “Some guy named Lewis Gold came to the dock and paid me a grand to let him know when the C-4 arrived instead of logging it in the book. I think he worked for Belkin Oil.”
    Nate jotted down the name. “Thanks for your cooperation. Detective Gilman will help you with paperwork for police protection in case of prosecution.”
    He left the interrogation room. Rationally, he understood that protection from the department was usually successful, but making those kind of promises still sickened him. They were far from infallible. And failure led to Maggie losing her mother on his watch.
    He rolled his shoulders back, struggling to box the memories back up. At least now he had a name. It could lead to a dead end, but it was another thread to chase.
    John came over to his desk. “You okay?”
    “Yeah.”
    “You couldn’t get out of that room fast enough.”
    He sighed and looked up at his partner. “I don’t feel good offering our protection like it’s a blank check for safety.”
    John shook his head. “This isn’t an abusive ex-husband.”
    “I know.” Nate nodded. “I’m fine. Really.”
    John pulled a chair over. “You going to follow up with Belkin or you want me to do it?”
    “You can take the lead over there. I’m going to cross-reference the partial plate and see if I can find a Lewis Gold on the title of a silver Honda Accord.”
    “All right.” John grabbed his coat and paused. “I’d be a bad partner if I didn’t warn you off the Jacoby woman.”
    “Her name is Melanie.” He lifted his gaze to his partner. “And it’s really none of your business.”
    “You questioned her on a case. What’re you going to do when you’re finished with this one and she goes to the captain and tells him you took advantage of her?”
    John’s advice was solid, but for some reason it rubbed Nate the wrong way. He stood up, knowing he had a couple of inches on his partner. “She’s not that kind of person.”
    “Because you’ve known her so long, right?” He shook his head. “There are less dangerous ways to get some tail.”
    He turned to go, but Nate grabbed his arm. “Don’t ever call her that.”
    “You don’t seem okay to me.” John glanced at Nate’s hand and then back to his face, frowning. “Not by a long shot.”
    Nate let go and stepped back. What the hell was wrong with him? He cleared his throat. “I appreciate your concern.”
    John nodded. “Just be careful,