Chapter Sixteen #4
“I tracked the truck when it left Akiko’s neighborhood,” Navarro said. “Those guns had to go somewhere. I used the traffic cams until I found it going into the storage facility.”
“We were going to ask you to get one of your analysts to do that,” Kit said.
“Or Detective West,” Sam said smoothly, watching Navarro’s expression.
“I didn’t tru—” Navarro stopped himself and shook his head. “Well played, Dr. Reeves.”
“You didn’t trust West to do it right?” Kit asked.
“Or at all,” Navarro said. “Just let me get there, okay? I’ll explain what I can.”
Kit leaned back, giving him her full attention. “Why did you come here yourself, sir?”
“Because there’s another article by Tamsin Kavanaugh. It lists the name of the shooter and his father. Discloses that they are related to Akiko.”
Kit closed her eyes against the wave of rage that filled her. “Tamsin Fucking Kavanaugh. How did she know?” Her eyes flew open. “Is West feeding her information?”
“I think so,” Navarro said, his tone back to heavy and sad. “I’ve suspected him for a while but couldn’t pin anything on him.”
“Have you something to pin on him now?” Harlan asked, his voice harsh and cold.
“Yes, I believe so. The same article states that there was an anonymous tip that led us to the storage unit where we found the guns.”
“You fed that information to West on purpose,” Kit said. “That’s why you did the tracking work yourself.”
Navarro nodded. “Yes.”
“Does Lennox know?” Kit asked.
Navarro hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. She’s the one who had the idea to set West up.”
For a moment Kit could only stare. “I’m not sure if I’m annoyed or impressed that she bamboozled us. Either way, we were led.”
“Only in that,” Navarro said. “She’s been telling me for a while that West is shirking his duty and that he often fantasizes about taking you down a few pegs.”
“That’s why you told her that I should be her mentor?”
“Not entirely. Lennox asked to be partnered with you while Connor is recovering. I told her I’d take it under advisement, then this case erupted.”
Kit kept her focus on a fake plant in the corner of the room, because she was too angry to look at Navarro. Sam came to stand behind her, his hands on her shoulders, enabling her to see through her rage. “Is that why you put West on this case?”
“No. He was next in the queue, just like I told you. But it was an opportunity I couldn’t ignore. I needed to weed out a dirty cop.”
“And you suspended Kit in the process,” Harlan said, clearly as angry as Kit was.
“No, I suspended Kit because she defied a direct order.”
Kit’s gaze flew to his. “An order you knew I would defy.”
“It’s played out pretty much the way I figured it would.”
Sam stroked her hair. “Easy, Kitty-Cat,” he murmured. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”
“I’m not.” She leaned into his touch. “I’m so angry.”
“You have every right to be,” Sam said, his voice a balm to her frayed nerves. “I thought it was the brass who wanted Kit taken down a peg.”
“I never said that,” Navarro said. “I only stated that we couldn’t show favoritism to Kit by assigning another detective.”
“So you set her career back,” Harlan said, not a bit mollified. “By engineering this…whatever this is. You knew what she’d do and you kept West on the case anyway. When this is over, what is a suspension going to do to her career, Rey?”
“It’ll be negotiated down to a minor infraction,” Navarro said, looking exhausted. “It will not interfere with Kit’s career. The higher-ups had already decided that Kit is to be fast-tracked for promotion. That has not changed.”
Kit blinked. “What?”
“They want you to take the sergeant’s test. They think you’ll be a lieutenant before your thirty-fifth birthday.”
Kit stared at him. “What?”
Sam lightly gripped her neck. “Sounds like they approve of you, Kit.”
“But…” Kit frowned. “I’m perfectly happy being a detective. I don’t want a promotion.” She looked over her shoulder at Sam. “They can’t make me do this.”
“Of course they can’t,” Navarro said, sounding relieved. “But they’ll try. I’m not supposed to tell you any of this, but…” He sighed. “I hated suspending you, Kit. I wish you’d just done what I asked.”
“But you know why I couldn’t.”
“I know. And I did the next best thing by having you mentor Lennox.”
Kit shook her head. “I just…I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, act surprised if the captain brings it up,” Navarro said dryly.
Akiko raised her hand. “I’m truly thrilled that the department values my sister. But let’s go back to guns being found in a storage unit rented in my name. Do I need an attorney?”
“Yeah,” Navarro said. “Just to be sure.”
Akiko sighed. “I don’t know any except for Sam’s ex.”
“Georgia knows some,” Kit said. “We’ll call her.”
“What next?” Sam asked. “And did Lennox really have to take a call?”
“Yeah,” Navarro said. “From me. We’re going to meet with the two LAPD detectives working Ito’s assault. Sam, I’d like you to come along. Kit, please stay here.”
Kit gritted her teeth.
“Please,” Navarro said quietly. “I keep hoping that Nicchi will show up here. Last we saw, his car was headed north on the 5. Please be here to talk to him if he shows up to see Ito.”
Kit gritted her teeth harder. “Fine.” She looked up at Sam again. “You’ll update me?”
“Of course I will.”