“I just want a minute to think before we push on it again,” I tell him. “That’s all.”
“Doyou know who did it?”
If I say yes, I’m implicating us both in a crime by not reporting it. But if I tell him no, I’m lying to my best friend.
“Fletch, I—”
“Was it Tim?”
“My brother?” Stunned, I shake my head. “No, I—”
“No, I mean your father. Is this connected to all that mess, and the vigilante is nothing but a mafia hit wrongly labeled by the media? I’m not here to rain on your shit and tell the brass who you are, Arch, but if he’s bringing his hits to Copeland, we have to—”
“It wasn’t him. It…” I draw a deep breath and close my eyes. Exhaling, I shake my head and open them again. “It has nothing to do with Malone. It’s just something I wanna follow up on my own. Fabian isn’t pressing it, and neither is the chief. So, just… can we let sleeping dogs lie for a bit while I think?”
He considers my words for a moment, his brows furrowed and his mind likely spinning too quickly.
He might act like a goofball idiot most of the time, but beneath that is a hardened cop. He made it through the academy just like every other cop in here, and his closing rate is better than average. He might smile and act stupid in front of the ladies, but only a moron would underestimate the power and grit he possesses.
“What do you want to do about Garzo?” he finally asks. “Want me to call him off?”
I exhale a breath of relief and clap my partner on the shoulder. “Just walk away for now. I’ll catch up with Garzo and take it from there. If I have something to bring to you, I’ll bring it to you. But in the meantime, I want it to be left alone.”
He nods. Small and subtle. “Only because I love you. You know that?”
I choke on a soft laugh. “I know.”
“And because you’re my brother. I wouldn’t let any other asshole get away with half the shit I let you do. And if you didn’t call first dibs on Doctor Delicious, I’d have already knocked on her door to see if she wants to play.”
“I appreciate your selflessness,” I snarl. “Are you actually going to see Jada this afternoon?”
“Yeah,” he chuckles. “I’ll spend a few hours over there once we squeeze these guys for what we can today. Doesn’t seem they’re in a rush to tell their story.”
“No.” With the coast clear and the subject of the vigilante successfully set aside, I open the door and step into the hallway to move back toward Interview Room One. “But why did a couple of young guys go and tear a good man apart, then hand themselves in?”
“Guess we’ll find out.” He stops at the interview room door and pauses. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” Drawing a deep breath, I nod and step through the doorway when he opens it.
Taking the device from my pocket and switching it on, I set it on the table and look to Garret, who watches me with genuine fear in his eyes.
He’s a killer—of that, I’m certain. But he’s not the hardened type we’re so used to processing here.
When this is all said and done, I’m not sure I’ll feel any pleasure in locking him and his buddy up.
“Let the record show Detectives Archer Malone and Charlie Fletcher have re-entered Interview Room One. Garret?” I take a seat across from him and clasp my hands together. “Is there anything I can get you before we begin? Water?” I note the lack of coffee or snacks between us. “Anything at all?”
He shakes his head and drops his gaze. “I’m not hungry. Thanks.”
“Alright. Well…” I glance to my right as Fletch pulls up a chair beside me. “Why don’t you tell us what happened after you pulled into McGregor’s driveway and let yourselves into the house? What were you carrying? What were you wearing? How did you come to have a key?”