Page 74 of The Fire We Make

Curtis shook his head. “Nah I didn’t notice anything.”

“So you didn’t notice the cameras were down and you didn’t notice the missing product. What exactly do you do?” Joy asked.

“The fuck you tryna say?”

“I’m not trying to say anything, I’m just trying to gain some clarity. It seems a lot of things snuck past you so I’m trying to figure out what your job is.”

Curtis smacked his lips. “Look things usually run perfectly fine.”

“So you usually neglect the functions of your job?” Joy asked, tilting her head a fraction.

“You putting words in my mouth?” he snarled. “Yo Ace what the fuck is this?”

Ace looked down at him with hard eyes. “Answer the question and watch how you speak to her.”

Even Joy could hear the threat in his tone.

“There’s no reason to get defensive. We all just want to get Blue out. Right?” she confirmed, softening her bad cop approach just a little.

Curtis nodded slowly and Joy put on her best fake smile.

“Good,” Joy said standing. “Look, it seems that the security footage was tampered with. If it’s okay with you, I’m gonna take a look at your system and see if there’s any evidence that can invalidate the raid.”

Curtis nodded but his throat bobbed with a rough swallow. “That’s cool.”

“Good,” Ace said, lifting off the door. “Let’s go.”

“Wait you want me to leave?”

“If you’d be so kind,” Joy smiled.

“A-aight.”

Joy waited until Ace and a reluctant Curtis left before she set her belongings down on the desk and opened up the computer’s security system.

Sure enough, the frames were edited and closer inspection showed that the time stamps on the evidence log didn’t match up with the security footage of the raid.

She began writing down her observations and adding evidence to the drive she’d brought.

Heavy footsteps sounding off behind her alerted Joy of a presence joining her. Her spine didn’t tingle and her skin didn’t heat with awareness so she knew it was the other King brother.

“Find what you’re looking for?” Von asked.

“Not yet but I think we’re getting there,” she answered without turning from the stack of files she was inspecting.

“Hm. And how did you say you learned how to do this again?”

“I interned in the DA’s office back home.”

“Interesting. Didn’t know they were so… informed.”

“Guess we’re just advanced in Texas.”

He took a step towards her, all humor and friendly pretense draining from his expression as Joy finally turned to face him.

“You’re full of shit and I see right through you. Usually my brother would too, but for some reason he has the wool pulled over his eyes when it comes to you. Just know that I’m watching you and if I find out you’re on some funny shit, I’ma put you down myself regardless of what my brother has to say about it.”

Joy matched his step forward. “I don’t take kindly to threats.”