Read Nowhere To Run (To Protect And Serve) for Free Online Page B

detectives.”
    “Lieu…” Riley knew it was pointless, but he had to make one final attempt.
    “ Donovan, I don’t want to hear it. My hands are tied. This came down from the Chief himself. Get your notes together and whatever you do, don’t use Johnson to deliver the paperwork to the Feds this time. I’m still hearing about his last screw up. ” Lieutenant Sam Parker’s stone cold expression never changed. The man was notorious from breaking down the most hardened perps.
    No one could forget how pissed the LT had been. Johnson was the lucky one. He’d gotten off easy with a few days of desk duty. Riley and Frank had suffered most of the Lieu’s wrath.
    It took only a second for Riley to get the LT’s message loud and clear. He’d just given them the unspoken go-ahead to stay on the case for at least a little while longer.   
    “You two have something else to say, Donovan?” the Lieu snapped.
    “No. No, we’re good.” They filed out of the office without another word.
    Riley waited until they were back at their desks and out of the Lieu’s hearing. “How the hell you figure the FBI got wind of this thing so soon.”
    “ Are you kidding? They’ve probably been watching the kid for a while.”
    “ Yeah? And why would the Bureau be interested in a kid like that. By all practical purposes, he looks like your stereotypical boy-next-door.” Riley slipped into his chair and got out his notes on the case.
    “ Except what’s the boy-next-door doing in that neighborhood?”
    Riley scanned his notes. Frank was right. That little detail had bugged him from the beginning. On impulse, he typed Jeremy Scott’s name into the police database. It didn’t take long to find what he was looking for. “The kid got popped six months ago for possession. Funny thing is, the charges just disappeared.”
    “ Holy crap.” Burbeck leaned over Riley’s shoulder, squinting as he read the report. “They turned him into a CI? Why? What could he possibly know beyond association that the Feds would be interested in?”
    “ I don’t know, but the connection to Santiago is no coincidence.” Riley shut the computer screen off. “Whatever it is, I’m betting it will prove to be the key to solving this case. I know someone at the Bureau. I figure we’ve got twenty-four hours tops before Thomas starts screaming.”  
    Frank held up both hands. “Whoa bubba…I know what you’re thinking, but no way. Forget it. I’m telling you for your own good, let it go.”
    To say his partner’s reaction surprised him was an understatement. Riley expected more from the man. Burbeck had a reputation for being ruthless when it came to ferreting out information. He didn’t care who he pissed off if it meant solving a case. “Frank, we owe it to kid’s sister to do everything we can to bring her brother’s killer to justice.” Riley’d made a promise to Jordan he didn’t intend to break.
    “Buddy, we just caught the case. We don’t even have a single legitimate lead yet other than the kid was probably in the area scoring some drugs. With all due respect, we don’t owe anyone anything.”
    Riley scrubbed a hand over his eyes. Sure, in his head, he knew what Frank said was true. But still…
    “ You’re not in the least bit curious why the FBI’s getting involved in this thing? Come on, Frank, that’s not like you. Besides, my gut tells me the sister knows something.”
    “You sure it’s your gut talking?” His partner tossed him a knowing smile. Riley refused to take the bait. “Look,” Frank blew out a frustrated breath then plopped down into his squeaky chair. “I agree with you, bubba, I do. Which is all the more reason why this thing reeks. Something’s screwed up here. Something we don’t need to know about if we wanna sleep at night. You gotta let it go, pallie. Know when you’re beat. Let the FBI handle it.”
    It surprised Riley that his mentor would be willing to give up so easily. “Well, maybe you can let