Free Dead Heat by Allison Brennan Page A

beans on your operation today.” He opened the oven and pulled out a tray of BBQ.
    “There’s something more going on here than simple drug dealing,” Lucy said. “I didn’t tell you about the conversation with DeSantos from CPS.”
    “No,” Sean and Ryan said simultaneously.
    “DeSantos thinks that Michael, the boy Bella helped escape from the basement, is Michael Rodriguez, a thirteen-year-old from foster care who ran away last year. Allegedly ran away.”
    “Allegedly?” Sean brought plates to the kitchen island, which had stools all around. “Okay to eat here?” he asked.
    “Absolutely,” Ryan said.
    “Help yourself.” Sean loaded up his plate.
    While they ate, Lucy continued.
    “Michael’s father is in prison and might have a connection to people connected to Sanchez. I’m going to dig around.” She frowned, licked spicy BBQ sauce from her fingers. “Here’s the thing that’s been bugging me since I talked to CPS. Michael Rodriguez has been gone for fourteen months—no word from him until he left a cryptic note for his foster parents only hours after Bella let him out.”
    “So you do think it’s the same kid?” Ryan said.
    She nodded. “Too much of a coincidence not to be. I’m going to show Bella his picture tomorrow. We need the confirmation.”
    “Why didn’t he go inside? Talk to the foster parents?” Sean asked. “Were they abusive?”
    “I read their file,” Lucy said. “And the note. He’s scared of something, but it’s not the Pope family.”
    Ryan said, “I dealt with a lot of street kids in Houston, and most are working their way up the wrong side of the law. Sounds like this kid is doing the same. Can’t say that I don’t understand how—his mom’s dead, his dad’s in prison, it’s what he knows.”
    Lucy shook her head. “Sometimes, not always. And he was locked up for four weeks. Maybe longer. That makes this different.”
    “I gather your prisoners aren’t talking about Michael,” Sean said.
    “Sanchez will, I’m pretty sure, but Donnelly is focused on working out the deal with the AUSA. Donnelly wants Jaime Sanchez bad. His sheet is long and violent, so I’m not surprised, but I think there’s more.”
    “What’s with that guy?” Ryan said. Sean slid him over another beer, opened one for himself. Lucy shook her head, and Sean gave her water and a kiss. “What was going on this morning?”
    “I explained that,” Lucy said.
    “Explain to me,” Sean said. “Since I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “It’s nothing—it was an interview tactic to get the brother to talk.”
    “Donnelly stepped over the line,” Ryan said.
    “I agreed to it,” Lucy said.
    “Agreed to what?” Sean asked.
    “Good cop, bad cop,” Lucy said. “I was the good cop, the bleeding heart, challenging the big, bad angry Donnelly. It worked. We got what we wanted.”
    Ryan snorted. “He yelled at you, threatened you, and attempted to humiliate you.”
    “It was an act,” she said again. “Ryan, I appreciate your chivalry, but I was cool with it.” She glanced at Sean. “It was fine. ”
    She didn’t like the look on Sean’s face. It was subtle—Ryan might not even notice—but Sean was protective of her. She understood it, and loved him for it, but at the same time, he sometimes said or did things that could get him into trouble.
    “You got what you needed?” Sean confirmed.
    “Yes. It was a good day. Now we just need to find Michael, track down Jaime Sanchez, and decode the ledger we found.”
    “Ledger?” His ears perked up.
    “It’s in the hands of the DEA,” Lucy said. “I couldn’t show you if I wanted to.”
    “Hmm. Maybe I need to point out to the local feds here that I have security clearance to consult.”
    “You’re impossible,” she said with a smile.
    She started to clear the plates, but Sean took them from her. “You worked all day. Nearly fifteen hours by my count. Sit.”
    “You’re spoiling me.”
    “You’ll make