Jesus, West. Knock it off.
I rub at my temple, trying to stave off an impending headache from staring at this screen for too long.
“West. You’re up,” Captain yells from the doorway leading to his office.
I lift my chin in confirmation that I heard him and will be there shortly. If there’s one thing you don’t do, it’s keep the captain waiting.
I shut down the ancient desktop, close my notebook containing all the information I found, and make my way to Captain’s office.
“Close the door.”
Nothing good typically comes after those words, but I’m not nervous. I asked for this meeting.
He’s typing away on his own computer, an upgrade from the one I’m forced to use. He lifts one finger into the air, signaling he needs a moment.
I kill the time by taking in the small space that I hope will one day be mine. File cabinets line every gray wall, holding important case files. Many are just waiting to be cracked back open and finally closed for good. Sitting in a display case hanging behind Captain’s head is his Medal of Valor, a representation of the man he is.
Fifteen years ago, Captain almost lost his life trying to protect a woman being kidnapped by armed men. His quick thinking and action saved them both, and that medal represents his bravery.
Captain Tyler Grayson is one of the best men I’ve ever known, and I’m proud to serve under him.
He finishes typing and looks up at me.
“You wanted an audience?”
“Yes, sir. I recently was presented with some information regarding the Garet case.”
His eyes narrow as he likely tries to recall the details of that specific file. “You mean the accident the mayor himself made apointedrequest to close?”
I was wrong.
The captain’s tight features were the first sign I was about to get my ass handed to me, but I promised Alyssa I’d attempt to get the case reopened, and I’m not backing down.
“The very one, sir.”
He murmurs something unintelligibly, lips forming a thin line. Captain’s not a fan of the mayor and his requests. There’s no love lost between the two men, and I have to side with Captain. The mayor sticks his nose in cases he has no business messing with. But it’s above my pay grade, and I know better than to comment on it.
“What was this tip and who was it from?”
Captain doesn’t have time for games. If you want his attention, you get to the point fast.
“I filed a report recently about a break-in that occurred next door to me. The intruder claimed to be Billy Garet.”
Captain rubs at his chin. “Now that you mention it, I do remember that. What’s this got to do with the tip about his case?”
“The woman who gave the account said the intruder claimed to be Billy Garet, and stranger still, she described Billy to a tee when giving the description of the suspect.”
He twists his mouth. “Very strange.” He shakes his head but doesn’t comment further. He’s likely wondering why I’m bothering.Break-ins are something the local sheriff’s office deals with, not the homicide unit.
“I bring that part up because that same woman gave me an additional tip. Her source told her to have the department look into Clementine’s the night of both Garet’s death and another death, Jackson Moore. They claim the person responsible for both accidents was there both nights.”
I fabricate a tad, hoping it’ll be enough to get the green light to investigate the tip.
“Did she give you the name of this source?”
“No, sir. She refused.”
He chews on his cheek, mulling things over. “Mayor Dunbar asked that we permanently close that case because his family found a suicide note. On top of that, Jackson Moore was the person the family originally blamed. I can’t see how dragging up those cases now would do any good.”
