Chapter 3

The little interview room at the police station seemed warmer than usual, or maybe it was just that Athena Madero was hot under the collar. The lingering odor of the many suspects who had spent tense hours here didn't help. Jodi Farrell, a young, blonde, blue-eyed political intern sat in the chair across from her, head bowed, fists clenched together, as she related the details of her experience in a halting voice.

"I'm going to ask you a question," she said in a soft voice. "It in no way impacts on my belief in your story, but I am compelled by procedure to ask."

"You want to know if I mistook what he did," she guessed, in a defeated voice. "Or if I gave him a come-on of any kind."

"You have to understand." Athena kept her voice low key. "This is a serious charge against a high profile individual. We want to make sure to cross all our Ts and dot our Is carefully."

The girl looked up, eyes filled with tears. "You want proof? Start with this." She pushed up the sleeve of her sweater to reveal ugly bruises along her forearm. "And this." She pulled the scarf away from her neck, a scarf she had wound tightly despite the heat. A row of bruises that could only have come from fingers pressing hard dotted the slender column.

"Jodi," Athena began.

"Would you like me to strip for you, too?" Tears spilled down her face. "I know in cases like this you're supposed to go to the hospital for a rape kit, but I didn't think anyone would believe me. I mean, because, you know…."

"Because of who he is," Athena finished for her, the words bitter in her mouth.

She knew all about the clout local politicians wielded, some of them with statewide and even nationally based power. This particular one was especially evil. There were rumors he bought drugs from the cartels and sold them to purchase guns for terrorists, selling those at an inflated price. How many American fighters had died because of that? The thought turned her stomach.

Jodi nodded and blinked against her tears.

Anger seethed through her body and gripped her in a hard fist. She was so fucking tired of playing politics and letting assholes get away with whatever because of who or what they were.

"I believe you." She reached out and took the girl's hand in hers, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "You can count on that. Now. Let me get some information I need and then we'll take a trip to the hospital. And rest assured, I will be with you every step of the way. Promise."

"Th-Thank you." Jodi gave her a weak smile.

"Okay, let's get started."

Athena opened the report folder in front of her, but before she could even write the girl's name in it, there was a heavy rap on the door. It opened and her boss, Chief of Detectives Lieutenant Amos Padrone walked in, tall, thin, his lined face set in a blank expression. Right behind him came the hulking figure of Captain Cliff Marcel, his beefy body straining at his shirt and slacks, his narrowed eyes focusing on the young girl sitting at the table.

Athena's stomach knotted. If ever there was anyone who played politics, it was these two.

They spent more time feathering their own nests than solving crimes. Except when they were sweeping those crimes under the rug.

"I'll take over, Detective." Marcel stood over her as if by his very presence he could intimidate her into doing his bidding.

"But we haven't even gotten started," she protested, trying to stay calm for Jodi's sake.

"I said I'd handle it." The smile on his face was as false as his conciliatory tone of voice.

"Come along, young lady." He reached a hand to Jodi. "I'm going to make sure you are well taken care of."

Athena wanted to snort. Yeah, she'd just bet she knew what kind of care Jodi Wilson would get. She gritted her teeth as Marcel led the girl out of the room, his grip tight on her arm. She gave one last scared look over her shoulder at Athena before she and the captain disappeared.

"Fuck." She slammed her hand down on the table.

"Come on, Athena." Padrone urged her from the chair. "You know who calls the shots around here."

"Yes." She curled her hands into fists at her side. "And it's not any decent cop, either."

Padrone shrugged. "He owes the people who made him. He's on the line to be chief next, you know."

"Don't make me throw up." She shook her head. "That poor kid he dragged out of here. I know his method. She'll get a barrel full of money and enough threats to keep her quiet. And the captain's fucking asshole friend is like Teflon—nothing sticks. Again."

"Come on," Amos said again. "You need to let it go."

Athena glared at him, fists clenched by her sides. "You know what, LT? I'm fucking sick of

'letting it go' all the time. I'm a policewoman. A detective. I'm sworn to uphold the law and that…that…that animal makes a mockery of it." She gave him a hard look. "Don't you ever get tired of playing his game? Of doing your job based on who needs to be protected?"

A muscle twitched in the man's cheek. "Better watch your mouth."

"You know it's the truth. You didn't get that fancy car or that upscale house on a lieutenant's pay." She couldn't believe she was actually confronting him on this. "Or do you just have some really good 'investments'?" Sarcasm laced her words.

Amos shook his head. "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that, or you might find yourself out on the street."

"Maybe a better place than in here where I have to watch disgusting garbage like what just happened," she challenged him.

"I said to let it go, Athena. You'll only buy trouble you don't want. Meanwhile, you've still got a job to do."

She stared at him. "Do I? What kind of job is it when everyone from politicians to money launderers to drug cartels gets a pass because they grease the captain's palm? How many others in here are on that slug's payroll?" She shook her head. "I can't handle this anymore."

He gave a strained laugh. "Maybe you just need to get laid."

Of course that would be his comeback. That's who he was. Athena had to bite her tongue to keep back the scathing retort bubbling up.

"Maybe. And maybe I just need to find another job." She stared at him for a very long moment, trying not to let her disgust show. "Listen, LT. I've got leave time I haven't used. I'm taking it now, starting right this minute. You want to do something nice for me? Fix the paperwork." She stormed off toward her desk and her purse.

"Hey!" he called after her. "You can't just walk out like that. When will you be back?"

She shrugged. "Who knows?"

"Damn it, Athena." Frustration edged his voice. "You can't do that."

"Watch me," she muttered under her breath and just kept on going. What could he do, fire her? Would that even be so bad?

Right now, the only thing she knew for sure was she had to get out of this place before she either threw up or killed someone. In the locker room, she washed her face, scrubbing as hard as she could. She wasn't sure, however, if even a full-body shower would wash away the dirt sticking to her from this place.

She took a moment, hoping to cool her temper, and tugged her thick black hair into a ponytail. She grabbed her purse and jacket from her locker and headed out the back door of the police station. In her car, she rolled down the windows to catch the breeze as she drove.

Unfortunately, it didn't blow away the rage she still felt.

She just hated leaving Jodi Farrell in Cliff Marcel's clutches. The girl had been traumatized enough. To end up being a pawn in a political game was disgusting. It frustrated her beyond belief she could do nothing about the situation. It would all get swept under the rug, and Jodi would get paid off. Athena snorted. As if money could fix the damage done to her. But she did have choices. She could no longer turn a blind eye to what was going on with Marcel and her lieutenant.

Quitting the department had been at the back of her mind for some time. This episode was turning out to be the one that pushed her over the edge. But she wasn't leaving money behind.

No, sir. She had vacation time coming, and she'd take up every day of it.

And use it to get the goods on the asshole politician who was a disgrace to the city, the state, and the country. As she drove through the warm Tampa night, her mind whirled with ideas. Tomorrow, she'd begin to plan.