“Did you hear the spiel I gave Loverboy if Rogers gives you flack about coming into the station?”
“Nice touch throwing Internal Affairs in there,” Rookie said.
Brand shrugged. “I thought it couldn’t hurt. Especially with Rogers and Adams.”
“We’ll get going then,” Jett said. “It won’t do for everyone to arrive back here all at once.”
“No. It won’t,” Brand agreed as he dialed Hunter to see if he could pay Harley a visit..
“Sure. I’ll head out now and meet up with you at the police station,” Hunter said. “Should I just ask for Commander Burns when we arrive?”
“Yes,” Brand said. “Thanks. And tell Harley we have new information we want to share with her, but IA wants to do it at the station. That’s why she has to come down.”
“I’ll let her know.” Hunter rang off.
That done, Brand headed to the parking garage. It was after ten now and work traffic had eased up so getting around town was easier than during rush hour so would finding parking near Dugans apartment than last time.
He entered Dugan’s building, took the elevator to his floor, and knocked on his door. The man answered, the same surprise as before narrowed his eyes. “Again? He asked and there was no mistaking the sarcasm in his voice. “Really?”
“We have new information and Commander Burns would like you to come down to the station to go over it before Internal Affairs gets involved,” Brand said and decided to offer him some enticement. “Harley should be there by the time we arrive so you may get to see her.”
“It must be huge if you came all this way to get me instead of just calling and asking me to come down on my own.” Scottie folded his arms over his chest and his gaze became challenging.
Brand shrugged. “We believe it is.”
“Come in and let me change into something more professional,” Scottie said, pulling at his old, faded t-shirt. “And I need to shave. I should be long. Grab a seat.”
“Sure. Take your time.”
Scottie hesitated. “I got a call from Adams after you talked to him. He was pissed at me.”
“Sorry.” Brand shrugged. “He took what I said the wrong way and my trying to explain it to him didn’t make it any better.”
Scottie nodded and strode from the room. He returned less than five minutes, wearing a button-down shirt tucked into belted dress slacks, running an electric razor over his face. “I get it. So, can you tell me anything before we get there?”
“Sorry, no.” Brand shook his head.
“Do you still think I need a lawyer?” Scottie asked, turning off the razor and putting it on a side table.
“Not as much as I did the last time we spoke,” Brand told him.
Scottie sank down onto the arm of the sofa visibly relaxed. “That’s a relief.” He sighed. “Because I didn’t know where I was going to come up with the money to afford a good defense attorney. I’d be signing my death wish if I went with a public defender.”
“I hear you,” Brand sympathized.
Scottie walked to the hall tree in the corner and grabbed his jacket. “Let’s get this over with.”
Hunter openedthe police station door for Harley and she entered before him. She’d been easy enough to convince to come with him especially when he’d told her there was a new development in her brother’s case.
He led her to where the desk sergeant sat and said. “We’re here to see Commander Burns, I’m Hunter West.”
The man nodded. “Let me give him a call. He said to be expecting you. Miss Flynn, it’s good to see you again.”
“You too, sergeant,” Harley said.
The sergeant dialed a number on his old-fashioned desk phone and spoke into the receiver before looking back at them. “Commander says to meet him in the conference room on two. It’s to the right once you get off the elevator. You can’t miss it.”
“Thanks,” Hunter said and led the way to the elevator.
