Captain Derek Tyler. I’ve been expecting you.
The captain joined them in the shadows, giving the sight of Austin embracing a redheaded Polly a speculative once-over. “Going somewhere?”
I knew I was right never to underestimate him. “You must already have some idea, since one of your officers has been following us for five blocks,” Austin drawled. “Where do you think we’re going?”
“I’m not here to answer your questions.”
“In that case, we’re just out for a stroll.” Austin turned and tucked a bemused Polly into his side, massaging her hip in a silent signal to relax and trust him. “Just about to bring Polly home, in fact. Fingers crossed she’ll give me a good-night kiss at the door.”
Derek’s expression remained stoic. “We both know I was aware of your connection to Reitman when I hired you, Shaw. It’s not a coincidence that he’s a block away at the Four Seasons right now.” The captain waited while that sank in—although it didn’t—because Austin had already been waiting on Derek’s intervention since the initial meeting regarding Reitman, well aware he was playing the clock. “One phone call and I can have an extradition warrant to arrest him. I already have uniforms outside the hotel. That would throw a wrench in your plans, wouldn’t it?” Plans he should have been made aware of—clearly that was the captain’s subtext.
“You don’t want to give Reitman to another state for questioning, or you would have brought him in by now,” Polly said, hitting the ground running, even though she hadn’t been expecting Derek. “Nothing will stick to him. And then you’ll have lost your chance to punish him for breaching Chicago city limits.”
Austin slapped a hand over his heart. “This woman.”
Polly was silent a moment, cogs turning in her gorgeous head as she formed conclusions and filled in answers. She would have gotten there sooner, but she’d likely been too stunned in the squad meeting over Reitman to notice Derek’s behavior. “You gave Austin the case for a reason. You need us to get Reitman.”
Derek lifted a dark eyebrow. “And you both needed me to stay out of prison. Cutting me out to settle some fucking vendetta isn’t an option.”
“What would you like to know, Captain?” Austin asked slowly. “If you’re not putting the kibosh on our operation, am I correct in assuming you want in?”
The captain nodded in Polly’s direction, smirking when Austin tightened his hold around her. “You’re not going along with this for Austin’s sake. You’ve got skin in the game, too.” A beat passed. “Reitman appears to be the one thing you two have in common. It took some digging since you erased your fathers’ financial records going back twenty years, Polly, but Reitman’s name was listed in the physical police report. Not everything is stored in a database.”
“I don’t like the way you’re speaking to her,” Austin said, his voice cracking like a whip. He was showing a weakness—his feelings for Polly—when they needed a solid front, but protecting her came first. Apparently his protectiveness extended to her feelings. The idea of her aching on the inside was intolerable.
Derek split a look between them, his cop mind working overtime. “Well played, Polly. Using Austin’s little crush on you to help settle a score.”
“That is bullshit. You insult us both by suggesting it,” Polly responded, hitting Austin with a meaningful look. He knew what she was asking, so he gave a simple, stiff nod, trying not to acknowledge the tidal wave of insecurity spurred on by the captain’s claim. “This is for Austin as much as it is for me. Reitman is using his proximity to Austin’s daughter to bring Austin out of the woodwork.”
Derek’s surprise was brief, but there nonetheless. Everything clicked into place on the captain’s face, like a blurry pond going perfectly still. “Gemma Klausky is your daughter,” he muttered, his attention on Austin. “I’m assuming you’re not close.”
That statement hit his mark, not that Austin let it show. “No. But Reitman has already stolen a small fortune from her family. The least I can do is not let it happen again.”
“Especially since you helped steal it the first time around. Am I right?” Derek tacked on, nodding when Polly stiffened against Austin’s side. “Right.”
Derek checked his watch and returned his arm to his side, the movement stiff. “What was the desired outcome tonight?”
It was obvious what Derek wanted to know. Were he and Polly planning on retaliating against Reitman by ending his life?
Good question. Justified, too, considering they were a pair of ex-cons. Unfortunately, it was a question Austin didn’t have an answer for. Yet. Because Austin knew Charles Reitman better than anyone in the world. And there wasn’t a chance in hell of the man being taken alive.