“So you aren’t surprised that I didn’t find anything here?” she said.
“Not really, especially since you professed being so close and you were his emergency contact.”
Harley sighed and placed a shaky hand to her mouth.
“Do you need anything while I’m here?” Brand asked.
“I’m good.”
“Carly called earlier to invite you to dinner but didn’t get you.”
“I turned my ringer off so I could rest. Then when I got up I took a shower and washed my hair. I’d just finished when you got here.”
“Sorry about that,” he said.
“No. I should have started my day at the usual time,” she said. “Instead, I was just being lazy and now it’s night and the sun has set.”
“You don’t need to apologize for anything right now,” Brand said gently. “You need to rest as much as you can. You’ve been dealt a harsh blow. If you should need anything we’re just a phone call away.”
“I know,” she said. “And thanks.”
“I won’t keep you longer,” he said, and she walked him back to the door. “By the way, what is Scottie’s address? I just realized Burns gave me yours, but not his.”
She rattled the address off and he silently repeated it as he headed back to his parking place until he had it memorized. Then he headed to Scottie Dugan’s apartment.
Scottie openedthe door surprised to find Brand Chambers standing there. He smirked. “Didn’t I just leave you at the arena parking lot yesterday afternoon? Are you stalking me?”
“Ha. Funny, Dugan. Can I come in?” Brand asked.
“Sure.” Scottie stepped aside to let him enter. “Can I get you something to drink? Maybe a beer?”
“I’m good,” Brand replied.
Scottie turned on a couple of lamps in the dark apartment. “It’s been boring as heck keeping the television off because when I turn it on one station or the other is broadcasting about Flynn.”
“I bet,” Brand said, sitting down in an armchair. “I just left Harley.”
“How is she?” Scottie asked, sitting on the sofa. “I really want to call and check on her, but I’ve been told not to reach out. That it’s not advised”
“That must really be hard when she’s your girlfriend.”
“How the–”
“She made the mistake of telling Carly she was seeing someone her brother didn’t like and I couldn’t let that stand. I had to question her,” Brand said. “Tell me what happened on the ice had nothing to do with the two of you dating.”
“No!” Scottie yelled, jumping to his feet. “Hell no!”
“Okay. I believe you,” Brand assured him. “I just needed to hear it for myself. Burns has asked me to head up a private investigation separate from the one Internal Affairs is doing.”
Curiosity tamped Scottie’s anger. “Doesn’t Burns trust Internal Affairs?”
“He does to a certain extent, but he knows how officers feel about IA and how they clam up around an IA investigation,” Brand explained.
“Isn’t that the truth. I know Monte didn’t get a fair shake when he was accused…”
“Accused of what?” Brand interrupted. “I don’t know what went down. All I know is I’ve heard Monte Adams was your partner at one time and now I’ve seen a security guard named Monte Adams hanging around the rink since we started practicing since last July.”
“Yea, he’s been there week in, week out throwing his presence in Reilly’s face,” Scottie said, a muscle twitched in his jaw. “It’s been opening up that old wound.”
