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“I can’t believe you’re here,” Brian said, his voice trembling. “I didn’t think you’d come.”

Jim noticed the boy wouldn’t meet his eyes. “When a trusted employee of mine is arrested for something, I want to know the story.”

Tears spilled down Brian’s face. “I never did drugs in my life. Never. I swear. I didn’t even once try pot. I’ve seen too many people killed by that s-stuff.” His voice cracked. “Jeez, I wouldn’t sell them, either. It’s not just wrong, it’s stupid.” He sniffed and finally raised his gaze to meet Jim’s. “Someone set me up.”

Jim wasn’t sure what he’d expected the kid’s story to be, but he hadn’t thought it would be that. “Someone set you up? Why?”

He heard the skepticism in his voice. Brian did, too. He slumped back in his chair and shook his head. “What does it matter? You’re not going to believe me. No one is. I’m just some punk kid, right? No dad, no important family, no money. No one cares.”

But Jim knew that he did care—very much. Brian was lost and didn’t know which way to turn.

Jim leaned forward, resting his hands on the rickety table. “Tell me who set you up, and why?”

Brian raised his shackled hands and swiped at his tears. “Bernie.”

Jim straightened in surprise. “The charter pilot?” He pictured the short, hard-edged man. “He’s a pain in the neck, but why would he do something like that?”

Brian’s pale face flooded with color. “I caught him in the hangar. He was using one of the helicopters as a hotel room. It happened a couple of times. The first time, I didn’t say anything, but the second, I told him I was going to tell you. He said if I did, he would make me pay big time.” He gave a sob. “That was last week.”

Jim swore loudly. Bernie wasn’t his favorite guy in the world and one of the reasons was that the pilot liked to live life a little too close to the edge. He’d been reprimanded for unsafe flying a couple of times and had a reputation for hard drinking and lots of women. With any other pilot, Brian’s story would have been crazy, but with Bernie it could be true.

Jim rose to his feet. “I don’t know how long this will take, so you’ll have to sit tight. I know a couple of lawyers. I’ll call one of them and find out who I talk to first. You might have to spend the night here, but I will get you out, Brian. Don’t worry.”

“You believe me?”

“Sure. Why wouldn’t I?”

Fresh tears spilled down Brian’s cheeks. “No one ever has before.”

Jim felt an uncomfortable tightness in his chest. He pulled the boy to his feet and hugged him. “Well, I do, and I’ll make damn sure that Bernie gets what’s coming to him.”

As Jim hugged him goodbye, harsh, shuddering sobs tore through his thin body. “I was so scared,” Brian said, his voice muffled against Jim’s jacket.

“I know. Believe me, I know about being scared. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”

The teenager sniffed and looked up. “Thanks. I wouldn’t want Heather thinking I was, you know, a wimp.”

“She doesn’t. In fact, she believed in you from the beginning.”

“Yeah?”

Jim smiled to himself. So the seventeen-year-old had a crush on Heather. He couldn’t blame him. What man wouldn’t be tempted by such an alluring woman?

He ruffled the boy’s hair. “Hang tight, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I know something. With a little luck, we’ll have you out first thing in the morning.”

* * *

“I can’t believe you got him out the same day,” Heather said later that night. She tucked the phone between her ear and her shoulder and shifted Diane so the baby could rest against her. It was nearly ten in the evening and her daughter was drifting off to sleep.

“Everything fell into place,” Jim said. “The authorities thought there was something odd about the tip, but with all the planted evidence, they had no choice but to take him in. When they searched Bernie’s apartment, they found drugs and a record book. Apparently, he’s been doing this for years.”

“It’s amazing the man could still fly.”

“Scary is more like it,” Jim told her. “The police want to search the facility to see if he stored drugs there, but we’re not considered part of the investigation.”

“What happened when you confronted him?”

“He crumpled like a wet sheet.”