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"Why not? I would think that they’d want to see Roth taken down"

His face twisted in annoyance and frustration "They did But they also wanted significant financial restitution, and fairly soon Sa them They weren’t happy e had to tell theuarantee that restitution would happen and, even if it did, itis coroaned "So they resorted to blackuess"

I looked at him for several heartbeats "Whoever killed them is also our essence-eater But you’re not convinced that it was Roth who pulled the trigger, are you?"

He shook his head "Judge Roth isn’t the only one who stood to lose if the corruption was exposed and not the only one in a position to be blackn contributors, business associates … If we can ever get a break on this case, it’s going to be a pretty massive shitstorm"

"Welco spectator sport down here, isn’t it?" Ryan took another bite of taco "All right, let’s keep going with the brainstores twice against her husband for dorimace That one I knew about "Unfortunately, that’s not all that uncommon I can’t count the number of times I’ve done the paperwork to put soirlfriend--or boyfriend--come down and bail said jerk-off out"

Hislove, right?"

"So like that"

"Did Elena Sharp strike you as that type?"

"Not really Ilove part, at least Unless it was undying love of the lifestyle that she didn’t want to give up" I rolledaround that she was having an affair of her oith our dear Judge Roth--and that Davis Sharp threw her out" I gave a shrug "But ym, so who kno reliable the information was"

"Would that explain why she filed for divorce?" Ryan pointed out

"I don’t think so She enjoyed being married to money Why would she leave that to be Roth’s… or so to leave her comfy lifestyle"

"Maybe Davis wanted the divorce and had someone pressure her"

"Possible Let’s write it all down"

"I am, I am" He set the pen down after a moment and pushed the pad to me "So Connected?"

I looked down, then looked up "I have no fucking idea I can’t read your writing"

He let out a snort "Well, you’ve got three of the Roths connected"

"Carol and Brian, supposedthat scenario," I said, renewed annoyance flaring that I didn’t have those cases anymore I had very little faith that Pellini would push to find out who really killed theated by the FBI for misconduct, and one of his main supporters, Davis Sharp, was found ass end up in the shower Sharp happened to buy a piece of drug-seizure property for a song--property that was seized from the Galloways, who are also dead because they apparently tried to black" I frowned down at the piece of paper "So Harris Roth is connected to all of them, but ould he kill Carol and Brian? Or Davis Sharp? Even if he was boffing Elena, would that be worththe Galloways if he was trying to cover shit up But the others? And if it’s hi else doing it for hi to attack us?"

Ryan pulled the pad back to hi a few pieces"

"A few?"

His mouth twitched in a smile "Okay, a lot" He unwrapped another taco and started in on it "Have you been able to find out anything about what could suck down essences like that?"

I shook e of annoyance that I’d screwed upon that I’ll be spending my free ti stronger, or at least better at it Sa when the killer pulled their essence out"

Ryan picked up spilled meat and cheese and stuffed it back into the taco "Yeah, that’s not encouraging news"

"More research for h

"Well, be careful of that portal-thing"

I looked at the pile of empty wrappers in front of hih almost the rest of the dozen in the few rief, Ryan," I said with a laugh "Hungry?"

He grinned "I’th, in case all of this turns out to be anywhere near as nasty as the last case I worked on with you"

"Ugh, don’t even say that! I don’t feel like dying again"

"Yeah, I’d probably have to pay for the funeral hed "Take up a collection! All offans"