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“Really?” She looks at me like she doesn’t believe me. But I think she wants to. Otherwise, why would she be here with me?
"I understand your frustration with the department," I say carefully. "And I appreciate your honesty. It can't be easy opening up to a cop."
Lana's eyes narrow. "I'm not opening up. I'm desperate. There's a difference."
I nod, acknowledging the distinction. "Fair enough.”
Our dinner and her second martini arrive, giving us both a moment to catch our breath. She sips her drink while I taste the food. I nearly groan. It’s fucking delicious.
“So. What do you know?” she demands.
I pause, weighing my options. The information I have isn't much, but it's more than she's had in years. "I've been reviewing old case files, including the one on your brother's disappearance. There might be a connection to another case we're working on."
"What kind of connection?"
I hold up a hand. "Before I go any further, I need to know you're willing to work with me. Really work with me."
"What, exactly, are you proposing, Detective?"
I take a deep breath. This is it. "A deal. I'll help you find Lazaro. Use department resources, follow up on leads, the works. In exchange, I need information."
"Information," Lana repeats, her voice flat. "About my family, you mean."
I nod. "Nothing that would directly incriminate anyone. But I need to know what's really going on."
I watch as Lana's expression hardens, her eyes flashing with sudden anger. The vulnerability I'd glimpsed earlier vanishes, replaced by cold fury.
"You bastard," she hisses. "You're using my brother as bait? Dangling the possibility of finding him just to get information on my family?"
I hold up my hands, trying to defuse the situation. I actually look around me, wondering if she has a goon somewhere ready to take me out. "That's not what I'm doing, Lana.”
"Isn't it?" The way she looks at me with disgust—no, disappointment—makes me feel like shit. “I’m not going to betray my family to help you.”
“What about Lazaro?—”
“Lazaro would be the first to tell you to go to hell for proposing such a thing.”
I’m worried she’s about to leave. I need to salvage this. "Look, I understand why you'd think that. But I'm going to pursue thislead on Lazaro regardless of what you decide. I'm not holding it hostage."
Lana's eyes narrow, searching my face for any sign of deception. "Then why offer the deal at all?"
"As I said, his disappearance could be related to another case. But even if it isn’t, you know things about your brother, about your family, that could be crucial to finding him." I hold her gaze. "I'm not asking you to betray your family, Lana. I'm asking you to help me find your brother. Anything else is secondary."
The tension between us is palpable as Lana considers my words, the conflict warring in her eyes.
I wait, knowing that her next words could make or break this fragile alliance we're forging.
7
LANA
Itake a deep breath, willing the fury bubbling inside me to subside. Detective Lutz's manipulative ploy to use Lazaro as bait ignites my rage. But I can’t lose control again like I did last night with Elio. Anger won't get me anywhere with this man. He's waiting for me to explode, to give him a reason to dismiss me as just another hot-headed criminal or overly-emotional woman. I won't give him the satisfaction.
Instead, I lean back in my chair, a playful smirk dancing on my lips. "I see. So in order to get justice, it needs to be tit for tat.” I laugh. “Turns out your world isn’t so different from mine.”
Henry’s jaw tightens, his lips pressing into a thin line. Inwardly, I give myself a point as it’s clear he doesn’t like my insinuation.
“To find your brother, you need to give me more information.”
