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The pleasant recording responded to nize your entry If this is an e up and dial nine-one-one If it is a noneency, please enter the extension number now To reach our company directory…"

I pressed a series of numbers from memory I needed to talk to Alex

She picked up on the first ring "Detective Alexander"

"Alex, it’s lad to know you’re happy to hear from me"

"Celia, I like you I really do But every time you call, there’s trouble, and not just little trouble, either Your trouble usually comes with a body count So don’t be surprised if I’m not thrilled to hear from you"

"Well, crap" There was an uncomfortable pause

She was the one to break it "Well? What is it?"

"I have a probleh "Of course you do Tell ht on going until I reached the present, with OkalaniHell, I hope I’ I like the kid And I don’t ever like to think about there being crooked cops in the departreed Her voice was serious "Rick’s not with the departo"

That shocked , co internal affairs and board hearings "He was asked to resign?"

For a long moment we sat in silence I’d just co to answer"Several very valuable things wentfrom evidence Everybody froraph Anyone who refused would be put on suspension, pending investigation"

"I take it the investigation went badly for hih proof to satisfy the DA But, yeah He did it We don’t know exactly how he did it But we knoas hiood idea how he’d done it I didn’t like getting Okalani in trouble with the cops, but this would give Alex a great excuse to bring the kid in for questioning if she found her It et to, in police custody Assu of course she’d stay there

"Did you know Clarke has a kid?"

"Had He had a son Kid got drained by vao"

"Has," I corrected her in turn "A daughter, as raised by her siren mom on Serenity She’s the teleporter who helped us e put Dahlmar back on his throne She moved to the mainland to live with her father She’s adical barriers Youher in and talk to her about it, and while you’re at it, you ht ask her about her father’s anti-siren sentiments and their connection to Jan Mortensen"

Alex’s breath whooshed out in a low hiss "Why are you bringing this toto want to talk to her"

"So are King Dahlht I had her stashed safely away, but she bolted I think she’s trying to save her father That’s the first place Mortensen and the others will look for her She’s in trouble, a lot of trouble You may be her best shot"

Alex paused "So, find Ricky and we find the girl?"

"I think so"

The thu on the desk "I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I heard he’s gotten hi movie studios outside of LA But we’ll check it out No civilians on this one"

"Thanks, Alex"

"Whatever" She hung up on h to matter Not today