Twenty minutes north of the city, she got a text message from Jerry Greenwood. Did you have to use my name when you talked to the widow?

Chapter 56

CHAPTER

56

CAITLIN COULDN’T FIND a parking spot close to the guesthouse. An FBI SUV and an unmarked sedan lined the curb. Mary stood on the porch next to Chief Renton and Special Agent Foreman.

Caitlin climbed the steps and broke the ice with a smile on her face. “Is this about the weed? ’Cause it’s medicinal, and it’s not mine, and it’s oregano, so who’s the pothead now? Also, can we order pizza?”

Mary was the only one who laughed.

The dour federal agent held out a document. “Caitlin Bergman. This is a court order for the return of all files related to the Bloomington Police Department’s Angela Chapman investigation.”

Caitlin let him hold it in the air like a paperboy. “Whoa there, Foreman. Chief Renton should have told you that our agreement grants me full access to the files in question.”

Chief Renton gave the slightest smile. “The FBI doesn’t recognize our agreement. My hands are tied.”

Caitlin grabbed the document from Foreman’s hand. Nothing like a court order to tell her she’d found the real story. Of course, this meant the open door policy with the BPD had ended. “Fine, this gives me carte blanche to write about the fine job your department’s doing.”

Renton shook her head. “Actually, our lawyer says that’s not quite true. You see, your agreement with the BPD stands. It’s simply been superseded by a federal investigation.”

Caitlin hated Renton’s smug expression. “You dirty bitch.”

Mary’s jaw dropped. Renton might have pooped. Foreman looked like someone had just punched his mother. “Miss Bergman, do you really think you can address a chief of police with that word?”

“That was for you, you inept bag of limp dicks. I know my rights.” Caitlin pushed past the agent. “Let’s get your files and get you the hell out of here.”

“The team’s already inside,” Renton said.

Caitlin turned back. “You went in without a search warrant?”

“We had the owner’s consent.”

Caitlin looked to Mary. Maybe it was the remnants of Doris Chapman’s whiskey, but a fire burned in her gut. She threw up her hands. “Did you screw me again, Mary?”

Mary stared back at her, confused. “Again?”

Jerry Greenwood came through the door with the box of Chapman files. “That should be everything.”

Another betrayal. Caitlin shook her head. “You too?”

He gave an apologetic shrug and handed Foreman the box. Foreman and Renton headed down the steps to their cars. Greenwood stayed up top, next to Mary.

Caitlin’s fire burned hotter and wild. She and Mary had anticipated losing the files, so this visit wasn’t a surprise. But having the BPD violate her safe space and treat her like a criminal?