Confusion flared in Bowen’s eyes.
“All this song and dance better have a point.”
“Let me start from the beginning,”
Troy said. “Through the information Sera collected in Hogan’s office, she discovered that her brother had been taking payouts from Hogan before his death. Her uncle was aware of it and covered it up. Hogan had a financial paper trail to back that up.”
“What? ” Bowen sat up straighter in his chair as if he’d been reanimated.
Sera watched as the wheels started turning in his head. “Are you telling me he knew Sera was going to put herself in danger? Hoping she’d find what he needed?”
“Yes.” Troy shot to his feet at the same time Bowen did, holding up a hand to ward him off. “We weren’t told the truth. Newsom had already destroyed the ledger Sera retrieved by the time we found out. Luckily, Sera had recovered a hard drive off Hogan’s laptop and kept it to herself, instead of turning it over. It forced Newsom to make a full confession and as of an hour ago, he has been relieved of his position.” Troy paused. “He had already confessed to Sera last night. It’s why she wouldn’t go with him. And rightly so since he was willing to protect himself at all costs.”
“I…” Bowen’s jaw clenched. His fists shook at his sides. Even without those visible signs of rage, Sera could tell how much effort it cost him to remain in control. “I tied her up and left her for you. For him. You’re telling me I left her…unsafe?”
Troy hedged. “She was technically never in danger. As soon as you left her with Ruby, they called me and told me everything. I contacted the deputy commissioner
immediately.”
He
lowered himself back into his chair.
“We brought in Mr. Bannon and asked him to cooperate. It’s a good thing we did or we never would have known the shipment date had been moved. Sera had originally told us May ninth.”
Bowen flinched and Sera felt an answering pang in her chest. He still thought she’d set him up. She consoled herself with the reminder he wouldn’t think that for much longer.
“What does he mean by cooperated?”
Bowen asked Connor dully.
“They offered me a way out of this place and I took it.” Connor looked uncomfortable, the first time Sera had ever seen him anything but confident, apart from the night he’d been shot. “I’ve got people to look after besides myself, and the way things were headed, I wouldn’t have been around much longer to do it.”
“Way out?” Bowen asked.
Troy
nodded.
“It
took
some
convincing, but between Sera and me, we managed to persuade the deputy commissioner.” He flipped the file back open. “I have a contact back in Chicago.
My old lieutenant. Derek Tyler. He’s a captain now with the Chicago PD and he needs men like you and Mr. Bannon. I’ve spoken to him, informed him of your backgrounds, and he thinks you’re exactly what he’s looking for. He’s rarely wrong about anything.”
Bowen raised a single eyebrow. “You just arrested us for transporting stolen goods, probably breaking at least twenty different laws, and you’re deputizing us?
What am I missing?”
“Nothing. But I’d refrain from repeating that little recap outside of this room,” Troy said drily. “This is why you two were a package deal. You’re all heart, Bowen. Connor’s the thinker. If you can work together, you’ll do well.”
Connor threw an arm over the back of his chair. “They’re forming a new squad, from what I understand. They need us because we think like criminals.” A muscle jumped in his cheek, obviously disliking that description of himself. “At first, I said no deal. But they made me an offer I couldn’t turn down. Guess I’m a Cubs fan now.”
“Chicago,” Bowen mouthed. “What’s my other option?”
“Prison time.”
“Go Cubs.”
A smile tilted one end of Troy’s mouth. “Don’t act so grateful. I might blush.”
Bowen sat back down, looking far less satisfied than he should have been at receiving his get out of jail free card.
“Thanks,
man,”
he
said
quietly.
“Although we both know if you put me in prison, Ruby would have had your ass.”
“That played a part. It always does.
But it was mostly Sera. As of now, the brass has managed to keep this quiet.
They’ve sent Newsom out as if he’s resigned for health concerns. But she raised hell, threatening to go to the media
about
corruption
in
the
department, unless they gave you a chance. They can’t afford the scrutiny.”
Troy paused, watching him closely. “She was something else.”
Bowen didn’t speak for a long time.
Sera could see he wanted to believe it, but was still not ready. When he seemed to realize both men were waiting for a response, he tossed an absent glance at Connor. “So which one of us gets to be Batman and who’s stuck playing Robin?”
“I’m Batman,” Connor said.
“You wish.”
“Actually,” Troy started slowly.