Give Me Grace(144)

Burns opened the folder in front of him, spreading out an array of crime scene photos. Tate leaned forward in his seat and Gabriella and I stepped up to the desk, shoulders brushing as we leaned in for a closer look. The photos showed enough blood spatter over the brick wall of the building for a fatal shot.

“Forensics?” Gabriella questioned, tapping at the blood spatter.

“Matched it to Grace,” Burns answered.

She pointed to the photo of the shell casings. “Ballistics?”

“Semi-automatic forty calibre Glock,” he replied, passing over a photo showing a similar gun.

My brows drew together, ignoring Gabriella’s closeness and her husky voice. “That type of gun could belong to anyone,” I said, “I have the same one.”

My boss shook his head. “This was the actual gun found on scene. We’ve already matched the registration back to Casey. The only prints on it belong to him and the gun’s been fired. Twice.”

I glanced up, eyes widening in disbelief. “The gun was found on scene?”

Gabriella looked across at me. “You think it’s a plant? Someone’s setting your friend up?”

“It’s possible,” I muttered, thinking hard. Travis and Casey had apprised me of yesterday’s events at last night’s party. The fact that Morgan was linked to the Sentinels MC was a topic I needed to broach with my boss, but Casey and Travis had asked me to sit on the information for two days. I didn’t like agreeing to the condition. The only reason I did was because Casey was like a brother. He deserved to find out the truth about what happened to his family.

Now sitting on the information was an impossibility because if I was right, and this was a set up, it could only point back to one person.

Morgan.

I opened my mouth, ready to share the information when my mind flashed back to the coiled snake on Gabriella’s ribcage. Was she working with us … or against us? I shut it quickly.

“Valentine?” Burns watched me closely. “You got something to share?”

“I do.”

“And?” he prompted.

“The information’s highly sensitive, boss.”

He sat back in his chair, his gaze speculative. “You can speak freely in front of Detective Valdez.”

I turned my head, staring at Gabriella and letting her feel every inch of my distrust. “With all due respect, boss,” I replied, not taking my eyes from hers. “I don’t think I can.”

“Arrghhh!” Gabriella shoved at my chest and I stumbled backwards, surprised at the force behind it. “Cula!” she spat, waving her hands around angrily. “You don’t trust me? You stand here wasting time with your bitch talk when your friend is in trouble. Get over yourself!”

Her chest heaved angrily and my hands fisted, ready to go nose to nose in an all out argument when Burns interrupted. “A word, Mitch.” I looked at him. “In private,” he added with a pointed glance at both Tate and Gabriella.

Gabriella huffed and stalked out. Tate followed behind, throwing me a questioning glance before shutting the door behind the both of them. I turned to face my boss.

“Sit,” he ordered.

I took a seat, elbows resting on my knees as I rubbed at my eyes.

What a goddamn clusterfuck.

“What I’m about to tell you is none of your damn business, but you’re the best goddamn detective I have and I need you to pull your head out of your ass. I also need you to keep this quiet because trials are still pending and making this information public could put the case, and Valdez’s life, in serious jeopardy.” He paused before continuing. “Valdez’s transfer was an unexpected one. She’s been with the feds for years, working deep undercover.”

Undercover? Damn you, Gabriella! Why did you have to go straight for the most dangerous division of law enforcement in Australia?

“Her last assignment with them ran for over eighteen months. Despite getting the guys they were after, it ended badly. Very badly. A lot of people died, including her partner. Valdez almost died too. She came out of it scarred and addicted to drugs.”

My boss steepled his fingers, watching me carefully. I gave nothing away on the outside. But on the inside my heart began to break for the girl I used to know and for the woman she was now.

“She’s worked hard to get where she is now,” Burns told me. “Damn hard. She doesn’t need to earn your trust because she already has mine. Got me?”

I let out a breath, realising I’d been holding it, and stared at my hands. “Her last undercover assignment …” I looked up. “She was with the Black Vipers, wasn’t she?”