“I assure you, Captain, one thing Internal Affairs trains us in is discretion.”

The man snorted. “You’ll have to excuse me if I don’t buy that. I’ve been around longer than you have, and I’ve seen a lot more. I don’t believe for one second that Cruz Martinez is involved in the supply of illegal weapons, or that you’ll find one shred of evidence to prove otherwise. But I am warning you, Casey-” he pointed a finger at her “-not to botch this case. Because if even a hint gets out that the job is looking at Martinez, I’ll hold you personally responsible. Do I make myself clear?”

She returned his stare calmly. “Perfectly.”

He frowned for a few more moments, but when she said nothing else, he waved her away. “You can go. I understand your captain at Internal Affairs wants to see you this afternoon.”

With his warning still ringing in her ears, Madeline rose and left the room.

As unpleasant as the final scene with Ritter had been, Madeline would rather have relived it than meet with Captain Brewer. Although the meeting was set for three o’clock sharp, she cooled her heels outside his office for almost half an hour before he was ready for her. Chronic tardiness was only one of Brewer’s less endearing traits. Even worse was his tendency to brief her on a case by presenting her with the file, then proceeding to lecture her on its contents. She’d never been able to figure out whether he did it to all his officers, or if he did it specifically to annoy her. She suspected the latter.

Once she’d been ushered into his office he had her report on every detail of her meeting with Martinez and Ritter that day. Twice.

“So you found him playing basketball, eh?” Brewer repeated. “How’d he look to you?”

Madeline’s face was blank. “Look?” Her powers of observation and her memory were legendary in the department, but she had a feeling that this man’s appearance wouldn’t have escaped even the dullest-witted woman. There was definitely something about Cruz Martinez that left a lasting impression.