The Heart of the City Book 4, All The Smoke - Chapter 10

Chapter 10 – McDuffy & Stone Overplay Their Hand The Heart of the City Book 4, All The Smoke, Chapter 10. Chapter 10 shifts the battlefield from the streets to the inside of the department. McDuffy and Stone believe they have Mike James cornered. Through aggressive Internal Affairs tactics—late-night interrogations, procedural shortcuts, and intimidation disguised as oversight—they attempt to tighten the noose around him. But their arrogance becomes their blind spot. Instead of building a case, they build resentment. As they escalate pressure across the precinct, pulling detectives into hostile interviews and forcing warrants through questionable channels, their methods begin to draw attention. What they see as dominance, others recognize as misconduct. The fatal mistake? Sloppiness. A quiet IA investigator notices altered timestamps, incomplete recordings, and paperwork pushed through without proper authorization. Evidence is copied. Oversight is alerted. Federal eyes begin to look closer. And just like that, the hunters become the hunted. By the end of the chapter, McDuffy and Stone’s authority collapses under review. Badges are suspended. Cases reassigned. Power stripped without ceremony. Their attempt to control the narrative only accelerates their downfall. While the city edges closer to violent realignment, Chapter 10 removes two reckless players from the board—proving that in this war of empires, corruption doesn’t just live on the streets. Sometimes it wears a badge.