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“I’m suggesting that my brother was murdered.”
When he shrank back, narrowing his eyes, I moved closer, enough so I could tell I was making him uncomfortable.
“You need to take a step back,” he snarled.
I remained where I was, staring him in the eyes. There was no doubt he either knew something or suspected there’d been foul play.
“Your brother got himself into some bad shit,” he said nervously.
“Why don’t you explain it to me.”
“He was under investigation for extortion. Let sleeping dogs lie.”
Laughing, I shook my head. “That’s bullshit and I have no intention of letting this go.”
“You should reconsider.”
Why did I have a feeling that was a threat?
I took a step away but remained close enough to keep him on edge. “I checked this morning. You and your partner were also the officers on duty the day Galen’s wife, Marissa Masters, was run down in the middle of the street. My brother called you at least once a week trying to get an update on your investigation. Didn’t he?” I didn’t know that for certain, but from what I’d seen of his cellphone records, he had made several calls to the officer’s number in days and weeks after her death.
“What are you insinuating?”
“I’m not insinuating anything, Officer. I’m the kind of man who comes out straight with my beliefs. So, I’m just going to say it. You covered up her murder, reporting it as a hit and run, when several witnesses identified the car given the time of day.” The police report regarding the hit and run I’d found in the same locked file had remained a ticking timebomb inside my brother.
Since finding the ugly information, I had an entirely different take on what Galen had been doing by working for Michael Azzurri.
And what he had planned.
I was surprised when his jaw dropped but he recovered slowly, his body stiffening. “We investigated that case thoroughly, Mr. Masters. Unfortunately, the three witnesses who came forward only managed to notice three digits on the license plate, all versions of the make and model different. We tried to locate the owner but couldn’t locate one with any confidence.”
“And you don’t find it very strange that Galen died in another accident?”
“I’m just providing the facts, Mr. Masters. While both incidents were tragic, my partner and I did the best we could under the circumstances. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
I snapped my hand around his arm, keeping him in place. As I removed my sunglasses, I noticed a hint of fear in his eyes. “If I find out you’re covering up my brother’s murder for any reason, my next visit won’t be nearly as pleasurable.”
“Are you threatening me, Mr. Masters?”
Grinning, I dropped my face to his chest and back up. “I don’t make idle threats, Officer. I make promises. You can tell that asshole, Michael Azzurri, who’s paying you for looking the other way that I’m coming for him. Very soon.” I let him go, holding up my outstretched hand for several seconds. I wanted the message delivered this afternoon.
As he brushed by, I bristled. The fucker was lying through his goddamn teeth. I waited until he walked back inside the precinct before heading to my truck, immediately dialing Matt.
“Matt Jones.”
“Was my brother being investigated for extortion?”
“Hunt? What? What the hell are you talking about?”
“I just had a meeting with the police officer who handled his accident.” I jumped inside, immediately starting the engine. As I pulled out of the parking lot, I barely avoided hitting on oncoming vehicle.
He exhaled. “That’s not true in the least. That much I would have known.”
“That’s what I anticipated you’d say. Did he ever mention the police report on the hit and run?”
“Involving Marissa? He showed it to me once over drinks. I know he fixated on it for a few months. Why?”
“It wasn’t just for a few months.” I glanced into the rearview mirror, noticing a goddamn cop was following me. I guess the officer didn’t like me insinuating he might be a dirty cop.
