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that’s for sure.” Riley eyed the two men standing arrow-straight in the lieutenant’s office. He recognized one of them right away.
    Riley opened the door for Frank, but his partner held back, letting him take the lead.    
    “ Detective Donovan, Detective Burbeck, this is Agent Thomas and Agent Ramirez with the FBI.” Lieutenant Sam Parker made the brief introductions.
    Ramirez, the younger of the two , appeared momentarily surprised. “I know the name. Your reputation with at Bureau was legendary. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Detective Donovan.”
    Riley knew Thomas only too well , but he’d never met the younger agent. He thought of Deb and wondered if perhaps she might be the common link.
    Ramirez shook their hands. T homas did not. It was clear Thomas was senior officer. A tall man with a buzz cut and hard brown eyes, Thomas looked as if he still spent most of his time in a gym. Some things never changed. The man was all about appearances. He’d been Riley’s senior officer at the Bureau. They’d butted heads from the beginning. Thomas was a self-important prick, and the worst excuse for a leader Riley’d ever seen. Riley’d had the pleasure of telling Thomas so before he left the Bureau.
    Agent Thomas spared them a brief nod.
    “Agent s Thomas and Ramirez are here about the Scott case.” The LT didn’t really need to add that last part. Riley’d pretty much figured that out on his own.
    “Here it comes,” Frank whispered out of the side of his mouth. He and Riley swapped a quick glance. They’d both known it was only a matter of time before their homicide became part of a bigger federal investigation. It had to with Santiago’s possible involvement. But the kid was barely cold.
    “Let me guess,” Frank intercepted aloud. “We’re off the case.”
    Agent Thomas sized Frank up for a minute. “That’s right, detective. We need all your notes right away.”
    “Lieu, you can’t be serious .” It galled Riley to no end to lose one to the Feds. Mostly because he knew the cavalier attitude that went with the mindset. He and Frank had already begun to examine the evidence from the scene. Trying to link Santiago to the weapon wouldn’t be easy, but this was their investigation. Thanks to Agent Thomas, it probably would end up in some cold case file somewhere.
    His thoughts went to the sister. She hadn’t been faking her reaction to hearing the few sketchy details he’d given about her brother’s murder. No one could fake that much grief. She’d been overwhelmed by it. Jordan Scott wasn’t involved in her brother’s death. He wondered again how she’d ended up engaged to someone of Santiago’s caliber. What had gone wrong between her and Caesar? Whatever it was, he planned to pursue the angle. His gut told him she knew something.
    Something important to the case .
    “I am serious, Donovan. I expect your complete cooperation. The two of you will turn over whatever you have on the case so far to Agent Thomas and Ramirez.”
    “L T, this is our case. We’ll solve it. We just need more time. It’s only been a couple of hours.”
    “ Detective, the Scott murder is no longer your concern.” Thomas turned to Riley. “You’re off the case. Let it go.”
    Riley ignored Thomas’ remarks entirely. “Lieu, since when does the FBI have jurisdiction on a homicide.”
    “Lieutenant,” Agent Thomas exclaimed, clearly infuriated by Riley’s remarks.
    Too bad , Riley thought. He wasn’t about to let Jordan down simply because the Feds wanted to make a name for themselves by nailing a major drug cartel member like Caesar Santiago.
    The lieutenant held up a hand anticipating Thomas’ argument. “You’re off the case Donovan and that’s it. Do as I ask for once.”
    Agent Thomas had a smug look plastered on his face, which could only pass for a smile. He and Ramirez left the lieutenant’s office with a final parting, “I’ll expect the files on my desk today,