“I’m not talking about them.” Releasing his hand, she walked over to the mounted screen. Standing before it, she pointed to a man standing several steps up from Santoro and De Luca.
A man Jax didn’t recognize.
“What is it, Poppy?” He went to her side.
“That’s him.” She lifted her chocolate gaze to his. “That’s the man I saw in the alley. The taller one I described to Dr. Garcia.”
Every muscle in Jax’s body tensed, and his eyes flew to his brother’s. Declan pushed himself to his feet and made his way over to where they stood.
“Uh, Pop.” Declan shared a look with Jax before softening his expression. “I hate to say it, but I think you might be mistaken.”
“I’m not.” She shook her head emphatically. “That’s him.”
“Not that I’m doubting you,” Noah joined them. “But in your original police report, you stated that you couldn’t see the men’s features enough to give any sort of detailed description. If I remember correctly, the only thing you told the reporting officer was that one was taller than the other, they were both white, and one had dark hair and the other was bald or balding. Now—”
“Look, I know how it sounds, okay? And you’re right. That night I couldn’t remember the men’s faces or what shape their noses were. But after meeting with Isobel, I—”
“Isobel?” Noah looked to him for more, but it was Declan who responded.
“Dr. Isobel Garcia.” Declan rested his hands low on his hips. “She’s DPD’s new department psychiatrist. She’s had a lot of success using forensic hypnosis with past witnesses and victims to help unlock otherwise unattainable memories. Stuff that’s actually held up in court. On a hunch, I had Poppy meet with her this morning before coming here.”
“And this Dr. Garcia…” Noah returned his focus onto Poppy. “She helped you remember what the men in that alley looked like?”
Crossing her arms as if to hug herself, Poppy offered Noah a slight nod. “I know it sounds crazy, but it worked. I don’t know how or why, but as she walked me through the events of that night, I started to remember things I didn’t even realize I’d seen. Including that man’s face.” She pointed to the screen again.
Raking a hand through his dark hair, Noah looked to Jax.
“What?” Jax sent his brother an expectant look.
Pointing to the man Poppy had just identified, the other man explained his hesitation to take what she had stated as fact. “This guy’s name is Dylan Moore.” The FBI agent slid Jax a glance. “DetectiveDylan Moore.”
Fanfuckingtastic.
“He’s acop?” Poppy sounded utterly shocked by the news.
Noah nodded. “And a damn good one, too. Guy’s been with the department’s organized crime unit for the past two years. In fact, he’s worked with us on multiple cases against De Luca. But like I said, we keep coming up short.”
“Well, I don’t care who he is or what he does for a living…” Poppy stood her ground. “That’s the man I saw that night.”
Always the good cop, Grady attempted to appease her by saying, “I know you think that’s him. But maybe your guy just looks a lotlikeDetective Moore.”
“I know what I saw.” The tough-as-nails woman jutted her perfect chin. “I’m telling you, that man helped carry David Santoro’s body to the trunk of that car, and then he and his partner gave chase after me when they heard my phone ringing beneath that dumpster.”
When Poppy looked up at him with a pleading gaze, there was only one thing Jax could say.
“I believe you.”
Relief seemed to pour over her in waves from that one simple statement.
“I mean, it wouldn’t be the first dirty cop the department’s ever had,” Declan pointed out.
“Sure would make for a great cover.” Grady shrugged. “Pretend to investigate the man you’re working for, meanwhile tipping him off on everything the investigation has uncovered.”
The room went silent for a few seconds as everyone processed what this new theory meant.
“Sure would explain how De Luca always seems to be one step ahead of us,” Noah conceded.
“You ask me”—Wade added his two cents—“the guy’s an arrogant prick. But that doesn’t make him dirty.”