‘You were going through the motions,’ Adam murmured, understanding.
‘Yeah. Exactly. But after some time, and the intervention of people who loved me, I resurfaced. I could breathe. And then I really looked around and I saw Adam. Still alone.’
‘By choice,’ Adam said, but even he didn’t believe his own words.
‘No,’ Isenberg murmured, shocking him. ‘He’s right. We own some of this too. But, Detective Currie, I have to hurry you along, because Hanson will arrive soon and I want to understand your position before I talk to him.’
‘I hope he does,’ Nash muttered. ‘Arrive soon, I mean. See, when I finally saw what was happening to Adam, I checked in with Hanson. And I didn’t like what I saw. He hadn’t missed a beat. Hadn’t seemed affected at all.’
Adam stared as Nash’s meaning sank in. ‘That doesn’t mean anything. Everyone responds to stress differently. You don’t know what happens when he goes home at night.’
‘Yeah, I kind of do,’ Nash said quietly. ‘Because I started to follow him.’
Adam was stunned. ‘What the fuck?’
Nash shrugged. ‘At first it was for myself. If he’d managed to sail on undamaged, I wanted to know how. So I watched him. And at first, it all looked good. Family man, all that good stuff. All the right stuff. Except for things I couldn’t explain. Like how he’d sometimes leave his house late at night.’
‘He’s a cop,’ Adam said, shaking his head. ‘That’s what we do.’
‘Maybe. But I was a little obsessed. And burned out at Personal Crimes. So I asked for a transfer. Into Narcotics.’
‘You followed him?’ Scarlett asked, intrigued.
‘Essentially.’ Nash turned back to Isenberg. ‘This part you can confirm with my boss, and I hope you do so quickly. The night Hanson showed up here and you thought it was because my boss had sent him? He hadn’t.’
Adam looked at Isenberg, confused. ‘I thought you said he had.’
She frowned. ‘No. I’d made the request. I assumed.’ She turned her narrowed gaze on Nash. ‘You’re saying I shouldn’t have.’
‘No. Actually, my boss hadn’t decided who he’d send. Or if he could even afford to free up anyone. He was a little surprised when you thanked him for sending Hanson.’
Isenberg made a wry face. ‘I thought he was surprised because I’d thanked him.’
‘Well, that too,’ Nash admitted. ‘But he went along with it to save face. He didn’t want you to think he’d been surprised because he didn’t have control over his squad. Wyatt told our boss about talking with you after he left your office that night. He’s been looking for more responsibility, because he wants to climb the ladder. Hanson told a group of us that over drinks once or twice. He’s ambitious. Even talked about applying for a transfer into your unit, Lieutenant. Anyway, our boss allowed it. He’d already planned to assign someone. Figured it might as well be someone who wanted the task. That’s what he told me, anyway, after I heard about it.’
‘Wyatt has always been something of an opportunist,’ Adam said. ‘That he’d totally run with it is completely consistent. But how did you get here?’
‘I heard he’d been added to the team and I asked to be added as well. Told my boss that my computer skills might come in handy and that taking down a prostitution ring would look good on all of our resumés. But it didn’t hurt that I could keep an eye on Hanson at the same time.’
‘You said you followed Hanson,’ Scarlett said quietly. ‘Where did he go?’
‘It was only a few times. Each time he left in the middle of the night and didn’t go to a recorded crime scene, he went to a garage out in Beechmont. It’s owned by a shell corporation. I’ve been trying to cut through the layers to find a true owner.’
‘Did you report this?’ Isenberg asked.
‘Report what? That Hanson visits a garage? I don’t have any evidence that he’s done something illegal. Hell, he might even be having an affair.’ Nash shook his head. ‘But I don’t know how he would have known that Mallory was at the hospital last night.’
‘He knew too,’ Isenberg said. ‘Adam told him.’
Looking up from his phone, Trip cleared his throat. ‘I have something.’ He looked at Adam with a frown. ‘Quincy just texted that the lab was able to raise the serial number off that rifle. It was recovered from a robbery thirty years ago, but was stolen from the arresting officers’ vehicle. The arresting officers were Dale Hanson and James Kimble.’
Adam gasped, a sick dread spreading within him. ‘Wyatt’s dad. And mine.’
Cincinnati, Ohio,
Monday 21 December, 9.45 A.M.
‘Oh, Shane,’ Meredith said softly. She was looking over Diesel’s shoulder, watching the video Shane had made to reach out to Linnie. ‘He looks so tired.’
Diesel was grim. ‘Knowing that this could get him investigated for covering up a murder? He’s damn brave. I’m about to upload it to the Ledger’s website. It’ll get picked up by the rest of the media quickly. I normally wouldn’t ask a cop’s permission but . . .’
‘It’s Shane’s life we’re playing with. I get it. I tried calling Isenberg again, but I keep getting voicemail. I’ll try again.’ Meredith dialed, surprised when the lieutenant picked up.
‘I was about to return your calls,’ Isenberg said crisply. ‘I was in a meeting. I knew you were wise enough to call 911 if there was an emergency.’
Meredith almost smiled. There had been a compliment in there somewhere. ‘Yes, ma’am. I’m here with Diesel Kennedy and we have two questions for you. The—’
‘You’re still at the hospital, right?’ Isenberg interrupted. ‘Where the officers I assigned can see you?’
Meredith walked to the door and waved to the officer on duty. He waved back and she returned to the table. ‘We are. I just made sure the officer knows we’re here in the waiting room. My grandfather’s nurse kicked us out, and Decker’s here with Kate, so . . .’
‘Good. Tell me your questions. I have things to do.’
Meredith did smile then. ‘Yes, ma’am. Can I put you on speaker?’
‘Do it,’ she said, impatience edging the words.
‘Okay. Diesel’s question first.’
‘Oh, okay.’ Diesel rubbed his head. ‘Adam asked Shane to make a video begging Linnie to contact him and asked the Ledger to upload it. You know about this, right?’
‘No, but it’s a good idea. Please continue.’
‘Well, we have the video here. Normally I’d never ask permission, but this is a special case. I want to be sure everyone’s still on board. Shane is risking a lot.’
‘Hm.’ Isenberg paused and Meredith’s phone buzzed with an incoming text. ‘I just sent Meredith my email. Send it to me right now. I’ll look at it before I go into my next meeting. While he’s doing that, ask your question, Meredith.’
‘Well, it’s about Shane.’ She told Isenberg what they’d learned from the Indianapolis social worker. ‘I’ve called the detective who appears to be instrumental in Bethany Row getting fired, but I haven’t heard back from him.’
‘Send me his number. I’ll call his CO. It could make a difference.’
‘Thank you.’ She did as requested. ‘I just sent you the detective’s info.’
‘I just got the video. Give me a minute.’ They could hear Shane’s voice, tinny on the other end of the line. When the video was over, Isenberg sighed. ‘Upload it, Mr Kennedy. Thank you for including me in your decision this time.’
Diesel bit back a smile, because once again there’d been a compliment riding on the barb. ‘You’re welcome, Lieutenant.’
‘Just one thing,’ Isenberg said. ‘Make sure you have our switchboard number scrolling across the screen. Also to ask for Detective Kimble. Can you do that?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘Then I’ll leave you to it.’ She hesitated. ‘Stay with Diesel, Meredith.’
Something in her voice had Meredith frowning. ‘There’s a cop on this hallway.’
‘I know. And I hand-picked him. Still, stay with Diesel. It will make Adam feel better. In the future, if you get my voicemail, leave me a message.’
She ended the call, leaving Meredith and Diesel staring at each other.