Even as Bull barked a laugh, Baumer’s face went red. Satisfying as hell.

Gabe leaned back…and laid his hand on the pistol lying in his lap. Because he wasn’t an idiot. “I have to wonder, are you off your meds, Officer Baumer?”

Baumer froze before giving a light laugh. “Very funny. I take it you want me to look for your attackers?”

“No, I’m looking at the leader. Nice brass knuckles you own, Baumer.” Not that he’d used them much. No, the officer had stayed back and let his comrades do most of the work.

“There’s no way—” Recognizing his mistake, Baumer smoothed his expression. “Why in the world would I attack you? Tell me more about what happened, and we’ll look for the perpetrators.”

“You’re fired. Hand over your badge and keys.”

“You can’t do that. I… You don’t have any reason to fire me. No proof.”

Oh, proof they had, but why waste it on this asshole. Gabe smiled grimly. “You’re on a ninety-day probation, which means I don’t need a reason.”

Baumer’s gaze turned from Gabe to Bull and back as he tried to figure a way out of the hole. Then he pulled his badge off, dug out the station keys, and tossed everything onto the desk. “I didn’t like working for a pussy like you anyway.”

Ignoring the insult, Gabe said, “Tell Parrish the next time his Zealots—including you—overstep, I’ll show up at the compound with a warrant and search the place from top to bottom.”

Most certainly, the asshole reverend had munitions out there that weren’t legal. “Tell him to keep his people in line.”

Baumer froze. “I’m not one of them.”

“Save it,” Bull rumbled. “We know you live on the grounds.”

Gabe didn’t bother to add that Audrey’d found pictures of Baumer and his wife socializing with Parrish and other known Zealots. The dumbass’s wife had posted the pictures on Facebook. “Isn’t it a shame I didn’t leave anything interesting in my office for you to pass to him?”

A flush reddened Baumer’s face.

Yep, the asshole was the one who’d gone through the papers on Gabe’s desk.

When Baumer didn’t move, Gabe motioned to the door. “Dismissed. Regina has a box with your personal effects.”

“Fine.” Baumer’s face turned purple with anger. “At least I’m not a bleeding-heart liberal kissing up to the bunny-huggers. This town will never amount to anything, and that’s what we like. No one wants a trumped-up city cop here.”

Baumer stomped out. The door to the station slammed a minute later.

Bull shook his head. “Bad loser.”