Free Fractured by Wendy Byrne Page B

“If this is what it’s like rooming with you, maybe I should take a pass.”
    He rolled back the intensity, knowing she’d bolt if he pushed too hard. Then everything he told the lieutenant and Malone he could manage would disappear and she’d go totally rogue. “Listen, Isabella, maybe you rattled the wrong cage. Somehow it’s got to connect back to what you were doing in the alley.”
    Maybe if he let her think about it for a few moments, she’d finally see the connection. Although, based on the combination of the look on her face and the frantic way she was worrying that handkerchief, she already spotted the connection and was trying to keep him out of the loop for as long as possible.
    She huffed. “It was small-time stuff. You know those gangbangers, if they’re not running drugs, they’re selling guns. Same old, same old.”
    â€œIt had to be more than that or you wouldn’t be so protective about it.”
    She moved toward the kitchen. “You just got off shift, aren’t you a little tired? Hungry? Hey, I’ll make you something to eat.”
    He laughed. “We both know you don’t cook, so stop avoiding the question.” He grasped her arm. “Come on, Isabella, what were you doing in that alley?”
    â€œWhat is this, the Spanish Inquisition?”
    â€œNo, it’s the Irish Inquisition, Landry Taylor-style. I know you’re hiding something.”
    She chewed her lip for a few moments before speaking. “What if the information on Ramirez was correct but we were looking in the wrong spot?” Her voice was barely audible. “What if it was all an elaborate set-up? What if the Feds were in on it?”
    â€œI’d say you were crazy.” He forced a smile while he contemplated the possibilities. “But I have to admit I’m mildly intrigued.” He wasn’t sure where she was going with this, but figured it best to let her play it out at her speed.
    â€œI don’t give up my secrets mildly.” She grinned and placed her hands on her hips. “I got an anonymous tip—” She held out her hands to stop his protest. “I know that is not a by-the-book response, but I had this gut twitch telling me I was on to something.”
    â€œLet’s say, for example, your tip told you the Ramirez sting was a set-up and asked you to meet him in the alley. Am I getting warm?”
    She nodded. “I was supposed to find out more, but that’s when I got shot at.”
    â€œYou sure it wasn’t Ramirez?” He didn’t believe she was keeping this information from him but wanted to make sure. With Isabella, he never knew.
    She shook her head. “Didn’t even know anybody was there until I got knocked on my butt.”
    â€œAnd you shot back?”
    â€œOnce. But I missed.”
    â€œHow did they make you and you didn’t make them?”
    â€œNo clue. My back was protected and I had vision from three sides.”
    â€œExcept it was darker than hell.”
    â€œAt the time I figured me and the bad guys were on equal footing.” She chewed her lip. “Except what if we weren’t? Somebody with a night scope could have hit me without too much trouble, especially if they were on a roof of one of the garages.”
    He suppressed the fear that crawled up his back. She’d been a sitting duck. “If that’s true, they could have taken you out easily with a shot to the head.”
    She nodded slowly. “Are you thinking they shot me in the chest knowing I’d be wearing a vest?”
    â€œMaybe they wanted you distracted, but not harmed.”
    â€œNo bad guy gives a cop a pass like that.”
    He drew in a breath as he contemplated how best to play this. He didn’t want her going off without thinking through the possibilities. “Bad guys don’t get tested for their marksmanship on a regular basis.”
    Although neither the