“Nathan.”
“You gave me two weeks off, and you can’t change that on me.”
“Your actions could interfere with the investigation. I know you don’t want this to end in a miscarriage of justice, do you?”
It was then that the waiter showed up with their food. Sergio gingerly placed Nathan’s steak in front of him, then set Erin’s hamburger in front of her.
Erin nodded and quietly thanked the waiter, who slipped away so he wouldn’t disturb the serious conversation. Nathan cringed at Henry’s words but waited until the waiter was gone to respond. Erin couldn’t believe he still had the cell on speaker, but Nathan apparently wanted her privy to this conversation. A witness, perhaps.
“Of course not.”
“Or worse, I might have to suspend you. You’re a good detective. You’re the son of one of my best friends, so please do not force my hand on this.”
Nathan leaned in and spoke in a hushed voice. “Henry, you gave me some leeway. Remember that? I haven’t tampered with anything. I’m not lying or hiding evidence or touching it or messing with it in any way. I’ve ... well, I’ve hired someone to help.”
Silence met him on the line.
“Why? Because you don’t trust your fellow detectives?” Both hurt and anger blasted across the distance through his cell.
Nathan sagged. “Look, I’m in a precarious position. We need to talk when I get back, and I’ll explain everything.” Nathan ended the call without another word.
Erin stared at him.
He shrugged and averted his gaze. “There’s nothing more I want to hear from him.”
Erin keenly felt his apprehension. She also heard his stomach rumble. Poor guy, because he probably wasn’t in the mood to eat now.
“Nathan, I’m sorry. Maybe you shouldn’t have taken the call, after all.”
“Yeah, well, I did.”
“Your boss is working off the same lack of information that you are. I suggest we get as much information as we can, and then when you return and face him, you can extend an olive branch in the form of a lead only you could have found, because only you knew what your father had said. If you ask me, he sounded more like a father figure who is worried about you, a man he considers like a son to him.”
“Yeah, well, I already have a father, and he’s lying in a hospital with a gunshot wound to the head.”