“Are you sure this is not going to be bad news?” Harley said.
“Brand didn’t really tell me one way or the other,” Hunter replied. “He only said that there was new information that you needed to hear and that Internal Affairs felt it was better to have you hear it at the police station than in a private setting.”
Harley frowned. “That sounds awfully suspicious to me.”
The elevator doors opened and they stepped inside, punching the button for the second floor, Hunter said, “I’d hate to think they were wasting your time and mine for something that could have been told over the phone.”
“I would too,” she said and the doors closed. They rode to their destination in silence. When they stepped off again, they followed the desk sergeant’s directions to the conference room. Inside they found Commander Burns waiting for them.
“Miss Flynn, so good to see you again and under better circumstances,” he greeted. “Can I offer you some water, coffee, or tea? We have an array of selections at the counter if you would like to help yourself.”
“Thank you, that would be lovely,” Harley said and she went to make a cup of herbal tea.
Hawkeye shook Hunters hand. “Any trouble on the way over?”
“None,” Hunter replied. “Should I leave?”
“Stay,” Hawkeye said, lowering his voice to a near whisper. “She might like the support.”
“Is it bad news?” Hunter asked, his voice nearly silent as well. “I thought it was good from the sound of Brand’s voice.”
“It’s complicated,” Hawkeye said, glancing at Harley as she approached them. He pulled out one of the tall back rolling conference chairs for her. “I’ve asked Hunter to stay if that is okay with you.”
“Fine,” she replied.
Hawkeye took a seat across from her and waited until Hunter was seated as well before he began. “The medical examiner finished his report today. I’ve read through it and I am glad to say that he will be releasing Reilly’s body for burial later this week. The bereavement coordinator will contact you tomorrow to begin the arrangement process.”
Harley nodded. “Is that all you brought me down here for?”
“No.” Hawkeye smiled weakly. “There is one item that is concerning to us that was discovered during the autopsy and I must ask you in all fairness before we go any further in our conversation.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
Hawkeye placed his hands in front of him on the polished table surface. “I don’t mean to upset you by asking this question,but I need to know was your brother suicidal? Could he have been trying to take his own life?”
Harley slammed her cup on the table, spilling some of its contents. “What kind of question is that?” she demanded. “No. Of course not. What makes you even …” She placed her hands on both sides of her head and stared at him.
“The empty jars of peanut butter, full jar, as well as the peanut butter he had ingested tested positive for being laced with rat poison,” Hawkeye explained. “If you recall, we told you at the hospital that the Warfarin in his lab work made his death suspicious. And the medical examiner said if we couldn’t prove Reilly was ingesting the rat poison on his own then he was ruling his death a homicide.”
Harley’s eyes widened and she slapped her hands over her mouth as if to muffle her guttural cry, “Oh my God.”
“At this point. We have no idea who did this to your brother, but we are certain that Scottie Dugan is not responsible for his death even if his actions on the ice leading to the accident were reckless, they were he is not the cause.”
“Will charges be brought against him for that?” She moved her hands to her cheeks, while eyes glistened with unshed tears and her body shook as she gasped for breath.
“At this time, I don’t plan to,” Hawkeye said. “Internal Affairs is doing their own investigation, and they will want to speak with you today as well.”
“I understand.”
“Trainor wasn’t happy to learn of your relationship with Dugan,” Hawkeye continued, and her eyes widening as she to meet his. “I had a duty to relay that information to IA even though I made it clear that it had no bearing on what happened.”
She slowly nodded, lowering her hands from her face to the table and folded them.
“I’ll leave you to collect your thoughts before you meet with Trainor,” Hawkeye said, rising and walking to the door.
Hunter moved his seat closer to her and covered her hands with his own.
“I know the task force will find your brother’s killer,” he said.
