Free Dead Broke (Lana Denae Mystery Series Book 1) by Bruce A Borders

but if we have reason to believe one of them could be the next target, we can assign a twenty-four-hour surveillance team.”
    Holloway assured the detectives he would do as they asked. Reaching to the shelf behind him, he retrieved the paper that shot out of the laser jet, handing Lana the printout of the employee and client contacts. “If I can be of any further assistance, please let me know.”
    “We just might take you up on that,” Lana said as she and the other two detectives headed for the door.
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
    “I got those background checks you wanted,” Ray announced the moment Lana walked into the precinct.
    Earlier, upon returning from her visit with Devin Holloway, Lana had given Ray the list of those with access to the Cascade Global Investment accounts, asking for a full report on each of them. “And don’t forget Mr. Holloway.”
    I’ll have them for you in an hour,” Ray promised.
    “Take your time. I won’t be back until late afternoon. Something I’ve got to take care of.”
    Ray started to ask if she wanted him to call if he discovered anything useful, then he remembered the date—the anniversary of the day Lana’s partner had been killed. Stifling his words, he merely nodded.
    Every year, Lana made the trip out to Pioneer Cemetery in Hillsboro, a city a few miles to the west of Portland, to visit Brent Daniels’ grave. He’d been killed in the line of duty during a shootout, as they were about to make an arrest in their case. Though she was in no way responsible for his death, Lana felt compelled to honor his memory and pay homage to the man who had taught her to be a critically thinking detective. No matter how busy she was, no matter how important the case, she always took the time to pay her respects. It was a time of reflection; a time of inspiration. A chance to renew her commitment to herself to be the best detective she could be—and then push it a little bit more.
    Knowing how important the visit was to her, Damien and Jamie had agreed to finish questioning the tenants in the Rose City Apartments, as well as the other building, without her; allowing Lana the time to make the short journey.
    They were still gone when Lana returned at four thirty that afternoon. She’d been ready to give the two a call to see how they were progressing when Ray had spoken up saying the background checks were complete.
    Slipping the phone back into her pocket, Lana asked, “Anything out of the ordinary?”
    “No criminal record. They’re all clean, including Mr. Holloway. We’re talking government type security-clearance clean.”
    “Makes sense. They’re dealing with millions of dollars of other people’s money on a daily basis.”
    “Yeah,” Ray agreed. “Probably helps if they’re trustworthy.”
    As he finished speaking, the door opened, letting in the raucous sounds of a festive carnival nature. Lana smiled faintly. “The boys are back.”
    “Yes, we are,” Jamie said as the two swaggered into the room. “By popular demand.”
    Lana rolled her eyes.
    “Aren’t you going to ask us what we found during our afternoon of conducting our stellar interviews?” Jamie asked.
    Still not feeling that cheerful, Lana said with a lackluster enthusiasm, “Sure. What did you find?”
    “Absolutely nothing.”
    “Nothing? Then what was all the whooping and hollering for?”
    “Oh, that was because I won our bet,” Jamie told her.
    “Not really a bet when only one person is betting,” Damien scoffed.
    Lana said, “What was the bet?”
    “Whether or not I could beat Damien from the car to the door,” Jamie answered. “I did.”
    “I didn’t even run,” Damien said.
    Jamie nodded. “Which is why you lost.”
    Shaking her head, Lana gave him an apathetic stare and said, “So you questioned all the tenants?”
    “We did, and it didn’t take that long,” Jamie told her, all business now. “The other building only had a handful of residents so it was mainly those at the