Lynn looked to him. “Tony knew what razzing was. He got razzed every day for being the kind of cop he was. And then some. He wouldn’t push it if it was just razzing. In the end, cops are cops. It’s a brotherhood, not a sisterhood. They give each other guff, and sometimes, it can seem mean. It’s a way to blow off steam. Build camaraderie. This was not that.”

For covert purposes, none of the cops on their crew had done any thorough questioning of officers.

Axl had a sense that was probably going to change.

“Lynn,” Hawk said gently, “something like this doodle of Dynamite might mean something. I know this is difficult, and it might not come to you right now. But if you remember anything like that, we’re in this until the end. We’ll follow it to see where it leads.”

“After this, I can’t…” she looked to Heidi, “we can’t—”

“With your permission, we’re going to have eyes on your houses,” Hawk announced. “All entries, including windows. They will be monitored, and recorded, twenty-four seven. We’ll also give you panic buttons to carry with you. And we’ll install panic buttons in your homes so you can push them and have protection rolling out before you can dial nine-one-one. We’ll do the same with cameras on the day-care center. You won’t have a protective detail. They won’t know any of this is happening. But you will have eyes on you and there will be someone to intervene within minutes if you face a threat.”

Both women looked uncertain.

So Hawk kept going.

“It isn’t just the people in this room who have your back. This team is larger. We’re motivated to see an end to this not only to put a stop to what’s happening in the DPD, but to make certain you two and your families are out from under this threat.”

When they both continued to appear unsure, Hawk gave them more.

“We don’t know who they are, but we know what they want. Now what we need to do is stop them before they get it and disappear. I know I don’t have to tell you that Tony needs justice. And Heidi, whatever your husband did, he didn’t kill his partner. What he did cannot be undone. But that’s what should be known about him. And what should be known about the ones behind this is that they’re dirty, they’re murderers, and it might not be innocent men who took their raps, but they were innocent of those raps. I understand your fear and that it might be difficult to trust people you don’t know. All I can do is assure you that we have significant resources, and they’re at your disposal to keep you safe if you choose to accept them.”

Heidi and Lynn looked at each other.