said. “This is unfortunate timing.”
Elias straightened. “Is it?”
Vale’s gaze dropped to the silver case. “Mr. Kade, we received a credible tip that your vehicle contains evidence connected to the murder of Samuel Rook.”
A murmur moved through the watchers.
June knew Samuel Rook’s name from the news. He was the city auditor found dead near Pier 6 the previous week. Reporters said he had been investigating freight contracts. Captain Vale had stood at the press conference and promised justice.
Now June understood what the silver case was for.
It was supposed to make justice point at Elias Kade.
Vale lifted his hand. Uniformed officers stepped from the cruisers.
“Open it,” Vale said.
Elias did not move. “You seem certain what’s inside.”
“I’m certain enough to have a warrant on the way.”
“On the way,” Elias repeated. “But not here.”
Vale’s jaw tightened for the space of a blink. “Probable cause doesn’t wait for your convenience.”
The phone rang again.
June’s breathing grew shallow.
Vale turned to her. “June, your mother must be worried. Why don’t I have an officer take you home?”
“No.”
The word came out louder than she expected.
Every adult looked down at her.
Vale’s smile faded.
Elias’s eyes sharpened. “Why not?”
June clutched her schoolbag. Her mother had told her to forget. Her mother had told her the world punished people who saw too much. Her mother had hidden the bakery’s spare cash in a coffee tin, just in case they ever had to leave quickly.
But Captain Vale had sent two cruisers without sirens.
And now he wanted to know where she was.
“My mom has the recording,” June whispered.
Vale went very still.
Elias noticed. So did Vin. So did one of the younger officers standing behind Vale, a woman with rain dripping from the brim of her cap, whose eyes flicked from the captain to the child.
“There is no recording,” Vale said.
June’s fingers dug into her schoolbag strap. “You broke the alley camera.”
Vale exhaled through his nose. “Children imagine things.”
“But you didn’t break the old delivery camera inside the flour room.”
The captain’s face changed before he could stop it.
Only for a second.
Long enough.
Elias turned to June. “Do you have it?”
June opened her schoolbag with trembling hands. She pulled out the cracked tablet wrapped in a dish towel. Flour dust clung to the towel’s corners.
“My mom copied it before she made me go upstairs,” June said. “She said it might be the only thing keeping us alive.”
The younger officer behind Vale stared at the tablet.
Vale took one step forward.
Vin moved faster.
He placed himself between Vale and the child.
“Careful, Captain,” Elias said.
Vale’s eyes were cold now. “You are interfering with an investigation.”
“No,” Elias said. “I am witnessing one become interesting.”
One of Vale’s officers, a heavy man near the curb, touched his shoulder radio. “Unit Twelve,” he said quietly. “Proceed to Bluebird Bakery.”
June heard it.
So did Elias.
“Mom!” June screamed.
Elias turned to his youngest man. “Nico.”
The man was already moving.
But Vale smiled again. “Too late.”
For the first time, Elias Kade lost his calm.
It did not come as shouting. It came as silence so complete that even his own men
