Chapter Forty-Three Harriet
Chapter Forty-Three
Harriet
I launch myself at him. “This is your fault!” I spit at him. “You told me you thought the investigation was being rushed. Why didn’t you fight it? Insist on investigating other suspects? Or, wait. Maybe you’re in on it too. I wouldn’t put it past you.”
I don’t care if he’s a cop. I don’t care if he arrests me.
He could have stopped this.
He should have stopped this.
He glances over his shoulder and then takes a step into the room.
“Harriet. Please. Stop.” His voice is low and urgent.
“I’ve been… Since our dinner, I’ve thought about reaching out to you.
I said too much. What I told you—I shouldn’t have.
But also—” He’s only about a foot away now, eyes pleading.
“Listen.” His voice drops. “Before they come in. What I’m about to tell you—you say you heard it from me, I’ll deny it. You got it?”
He waits.
“Fine,” I say through clenched teeth.
“Good. Look. LIPD is… It’s worse than I thought.
” He shakes his head. “The corruption runs deep. I’d heard rumors, sure, but seeing it with my own eyes—it’s something else.
Jones and I have tried pushing back against Sharkey and his crew, but we haven’t had any luck from the inside, and my hands are tied for now.
But listen to me: I do not think Sara Allbright is guilty. ”
“Detective Kozel?” Someone’s heading toward us.
Kozel stiffens, talking faster now. “I know you and Nic are looking into it. Jones and I both know. Normally, I’d tell you to stop. But don’t. Okay? Don’t stop.”
Through the open door, I see a cop.
Kozel clears his throat. “We have a man down in here,” he says loudly.
We lock eyes one last time, his pleading.
I give a small nod, and he turns to join the other cops.