Symphony of Bones by L.T. Ryan (most romantic novels .TXT) 📗

Mannis crossed his arms. “You know how this works. You need to get us solid information on Apex, something we can convict someone with. Something bigger than your murder charge. Then we can talk about immunity.”

“Even if you hadn’t assaulted me, held Cassie at gunpoint, and confessed, what do you want to bet we’d have enough to convict you? Apex will let you rot in prison if they don’t send someone to kill you first. All that security footage that was missing? All those records someone wiped clean? I’m sure they’ll show up sooner rather than later.”

“Don’t you think I understand that?” Davenport threw up his arms. “I’m not stupid. I know what kind of shit I’m in here. I’m trying to stay alive. Be in witness protection. I don’t care if one of you watches me wipe my ass every day for the rest of my life. I just want to be alive to do it.” He looked at Mannis. “You know what Apex is capable of. You understand what they can do. Help me.”

Mannis shrugged his shoulders. “Give me something I can work with.”

Davenport licked his lips like he was thirsty for the chance to prove himself. Cassie hadn’t seen him so desperate. “I can give you every corrupt officer in the precinct. I can give you the names of at least five of them who are on Apex’s payroll. Anastasia Bolton? She’s a lot more important than you think she is. She’s in charge of some of Apex’s biggest clients. Grayson was supposed to be the next President of the United States. They don’t let just anyone take on a client like that.”

“Did Bolton order you to kill Connor Grayson?”

Davenport chuckled, but he had that same desperation in his eyes. “I have no idea who ordered me to do it. It came through anonymously.”

“Then how did you know it was them?”

“Trust me, I know.”

“Start at the beginning.” Viotto’s voice was still short, but he sounded invested now. “How did you even get involved with them?”

“One of my colleagues approached me. Thought I’d be good for a job they had lined up.”

“What kind of job?”

“Security for one of their clients. Some celebrity. A singer. I can’t remember her name. I don’t listen to that crap.”

“That’s it, just security?” Viotto sounded as doubtful as Cassie felt.

“Just security. Got a few more jobs like that. It paid good money. I had an inkling I was being felt out, and I was right. A couple months later, they asked for something bigger. And a little less legal.”

“Like what?”

“I’m not going to tell you that. Maybe when I get a little more insurance that you’ll give me what I want.”

Mannis held up a hand when Viotto protested. “That’s fine. This illegal job, how did that go?”

“Went off without a hitch. No problems. They were trusting me more and more, but I knew there were bigger jobs out there. I kept asking my buddy if they had anything else. He told me to be patient.”

“Did you ever come into contact with anyone other than your buddy? Anyone you can tie back to Apex?”

“One person. Huge guy. Didn’t talk much. I didn’t get a name, but I could spot him in a lineup, no problem.”

“We’d need to know who he was to put him in a lineup,” Viotto said.

“What about Bolton?” Mannis asked. “Did you have a working relationship with her?”

“Only once I got the Grayson job.”

“How did that go down?”

“A courier handed me a letter. It had specific instructions. I followed them.”

“Could you identify the courier?”

“He was a nobody. Not involved.”

“How do you know?”

“I just do.” Davenport rolled his eyes. “Apex is smart. They won’t get caught up on details. The courier won’t be someone they employ. There won’t be a return address on the envelope. They’ll send it out of a random city so it’s not tied back to anyone specific. This is the big leagues, guys. You won’t catch them on a technicality.”

“Do you still have the letter?”

“Obviously not.”

“Do you have anything?” Viotto’s gun never wavered, but Cassie could tell he was getting antsy. “Can you prove Apex told you to kill Connor Grayson? Can you prove Apex is anything more than a top-tier publicity company?”

“That’s your job, not mine. But I have a name that will be of particular interest to you.”

“We’re listening.”

“My buddy let it slip that he’d done a job for this particular individual. I didn’t believe him at first. Didn’t think Apex was that bold. But now I know better.”

“Are you gonna make us guess?” Mannis sounded tired. “Because we might be here for a while.”

Davenport let the silence hang in the air for a moment. “Ashcroft. Stanley Ashcroft.”

Cassie didn’t know the name, but Mannis and Viotto exchanged a look. “Who’s that?” she asked.

Davenport was first to answer. “The Director of the FBI.”

“What makes you think we’d believe this?” Viotto asked. “How do we know you’re not here on Apex’s orders, trying to get us to chase our tails?”

Davenport threw his head back and laughed. “Now you’re thinking like Apex. Now you’re getting it. I can’t prove that he was there or how much he’s involved, but a machine this large isn’t idiot-proof. Rome got too big for its britches, and so will Apex. Someone just needs to be brave enough to catch them unawares. Then they’ll fall to pieces.”

39

Cassie was still trying to process what Davenport said and what it all meant when Mannis cuffed him and put him in the backseat of his car. Cassie and the two agents stepped under the shade of a tree far enough away that the detective wouldn’t be able to hear them, but close enough so they could keep an eye on him.

Mannis put his hands on his hips and stared into the backseat of his car like he could will himself to turn into a telepath. “I’m not sure if I believe Davenport, but given how far Apex has reached,