“What do you think?” he asked.

“Wait, you didn’t break in here. You realize that’s a crime, not to mention you doing that would threaten the legitimacy of my investigation. I could have you arrested,” he said, getting angrier as the possible ramifications sank in.

If he was charged, Amarok knew he could wind up suspended, or worse. Considering the situation, the DA would be unlikely to act on the charges, but there was always the risk that he would.

Amarok loved his job, had never been in trouble before, but every moment he waited for that warrant was another moment Evelyn had to endure whatever she was going through. Five or ten minutes, one or two hours, could be the difference between finding her alive and finding her dead. “You wanted me to sit around and wait?”

“That wasn’t my choice to make! According to the law, it wasn’t yours, either. Don’t you care if what we find here is deemed inadmissible? Thrown out of court?”

“Hell yeah, I care. But I have to save my fiancée’s life! We don’t have the luxury of time—or of being too cautious.”

Although Amarok knew the rules and, under any other circumstances, would’ve obeyed them, he refused to let proper procedure—or anything else—cost him Evelyn’s life and the life of his unborn child.

Still, he’d put the detective in a terrible position, and he knew it.

Lewis turned to the officers behind him. “Please escort Sergeant Murphy off the premises.”

“Nothing’s here,” Amarok told them as the men stepped forward. “So at least I can save you some time.”

That he’d found no evidence made the whole inadmissible thing a moot point, but Lewis was so angry he wouldn’t let it go. “I’m done working with you!” he snapped. “Get your ass back to Alaska.”

“Look, if there’s a fall, I’ll be the one to take it,” Amarok said. “I’ll freely admit that I broke in without your knowledge, that you had nothing to do with it. And if it costs me my job, so be it. I’ll do whatever it takes to find Evelyn, and you’d do the same if it were the woman you loved.”

Lewis scratched his neck as the other officers glanced at one another in indecision. It took a moment, but finally, the detective released an exaggerated sigh. “I probably would. We probably all would. Them too.” He gestured at the men surrounding him. “That’s why this is so hard. I sympathize, Amarok. I really do. But I can’t let you break the law. How’d you get in, anyway?”

Amarok lifted his eyebrows as he turned to look at the broken window. “Do you really want to know?”

Lewis shook his head in exasperation. “No, I guess I don’t.” He pointed at the door. “Go.”

Amarok didn’t move. “What about Virtanen’s car?”

“What about it?” he snapped.

“Did you include it in your warrant?”

“Of course. Along with his computer and his mail, which the manager is bringing as we speak.” He narrowed his eyes. “Why? Did you find a computer?”