“Bizarre.” Caitlin saw two additional BPD cars near the farmhouse, a sheriff’s van, and a dark SUV. “Since you brought it up, please tell Detective Greenwood that Caitlin Bergman is here.”

The officer keyed his radio, relayed the message, got a response. “Wait here.”

An unmarked sedan came down the drive and parked behind the cruiser. Mary raised her lens.

Detective Jane Maverick passed between the vehicles, lit cigarette in mouth. “Are you kidding me with that camera shit?”

Caitlin moved closer. “Not feeling a lot of gratitude here, Jane.”

“This is bigger than your feelings, Bergman.”

“Like we don’t know?” Mary said. “You guys wouldn’t even be here if Caitie hadn’t figured this out.”

Maverick gave Mary her eat-shit stare. “Who’s this?”

“Mary, relax. What’s the deal, Jane?”

“You may have started this, but the feds are here. They’re going to grab Michelson in LA. Right now, this is contained.”

“You think I’m gonna talk? I just want to know what’s happening.”

“Sure, and you happened to bring the head of the journalism department with you.”

Mary snapped another photo. “So you know who this is.”

Maverick flipped her off. “Here’s what’s gonna happen. You’ve got the exclusive—”

“Which I’m going to use through the Daily Student,” Caitlin said.

“Fair enough. But not until we have all the players. Off the record, you’re my hero, Bergman.”

Caitlin looked to Mary, got the nod. “Fine. We agree to keep this quiet for now.”

“Including your protégé?”

Mary got out her phone. “Yeah, we can control Lakshmi.”

She made the call on speaker. Lakshmi promised no word without clearance under penalty of obstruction of justice.

Caitlin looked back to Maverick. “Off the record, is it the jackpot or not?”

Jane’s stern lips broke around the edges. “Most of the top floor is a growhouse, just rows and rows of plants, then a drying room. Even better, they’ve got a little coke factory in the works, special for Little Five.”

“What about arrests?”

Maverick went back into protection mode. “Lots of pieces in motion. Do us a favor—get lost before the feds figure out you’re here.” She walked back to her car.

Mary lowered the camera. “Lots of pieces. What’s that mean?”

They’d picked Frodo up on the traffic stop, and Gooch was small-time. That only left one piece in motion. “They don’t have Amireau.”

In the car, Caitlin called Mike. “Roman, where are you?”

“In a cab, fifteen minutes from home. What’s up?”

She filled him in.

He laughed. “As much as I’d love to take more of your money, I’m not sure I can do much in Friday rush-hour traffic back to Hollywood. Plus I’m not getting in the way of the feds.”

“I don’t need you to get in the way, just get eyes on Kieran.”