Cast the First Stone (The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone 1)

“I did a check on the US distributor of Good Earth coffee. It’s out of Chicago, but their offices are closed.”

“I need a list of coffee shops that use this brand.” I shake my head. “We could use a hacker.”

She laughs. “Right. You and my brother—he’s always trying to ‘hack’ into things. This isn’t the movies, Rem.”

I didn’t know that about Asher. But then again, he died before he could show the world who he was.

Not this time.

My phone buzzes. It’s Burke, texting to tell me that he’s on his way to Ramses’ house.

I glance at the clock. After eleven. We have eight hours, if my sketchy memory is

even remotely correct.

Eve stands up. “I’m heading home, but let me know how it goes with Ramses.”

I stop myself from reaching out and tugging on a strand of that twisty red hair, and instead nod. I grab my jacket and am about to start searching the city’s coffee shops when Burke texts me again to meet him at the precinct office.

The parking lot is dark save for the puddle of light from the overhead streetlight. Moths dart through the glow, shadows against the pavement. The air is balmy, seasoned with a hint of freshly mowed grass and the slightest tinge of late night moisture. A breeze lifts my shirt.

I’m leaning against my car when lights stripe the lot and I make out Burke’s Integra. He pulls up behind me, not in a space, and leaves the car running.

His expression is gnarled and edgy when he gets out, and it occurs to me that maybe I did interrupt something.

Naw. Burke is even more of a loner than I am. He works out, reads, and come to think of it, loves time travel books.

Ironic.

“What?” I ask, before he can attack.

“He’s not there.” He shuts the door to his still running car.

“What—?”

“The house was lit up, so I knocked, and Mariana Vega answered the door. Said Ramses had gone out—she didn’t know where.”

I stifle a curse but Burke frowns at me. “So we get him tomorrow—”

“No, we gotta stake out his house, grab him the second he gets back.”

Burke is giving me a look like he did this morning, or even last night. “What’s going on, Rem?”

Doggone it. “I just think…it’s a—”

“I swear to you if you say this is a hunch, you’ll lose teeth.”

I close my mouth. Finally, “I was right last night. Why won’t you just trust me?”

I’ve done it now, because I just might be the only person Burke trusts. And he has his reasons, but I know I’ve delivered a jab.

“Fine.” His mouth tightens “Let’s go.”

“No. I have to…well, I have to figure out how to hack into a database in Chicago.”

Burke just stares at me. Shakes his head.

Gets in his car without a word.