“Why do you think it’s me?” he asked after taking a cursory look.
“Right height and build,” Hawkeye explained. “We also have a different angle of you talking with Rogers at the back door of the arena before the exhibition game the day you were off work.”
Brand watched Adams’ expression closely to see if it gave away anything. Hawkeye was really going out on a limb making that connection. Good thing Detective Graves hadn’t arrived yet or they’d be in hot water if this approach backfired.
Monte shook his head. “Sorry, but you’re mistaken.” He tapped his index finger on the photo. “That’s not me.”
“Really?” Jett said and he pressed play on his phone, to show the video of Rogers leaving the locker room dressed for the game flashing on the monitor at one end of the conference room. He hit pause, and added, “While there isn’t any sound to this feed, it sure looks like he’s meeting up with you at the back door and trying to get you to come inside.”
“You’re all full of shit is all I got to say.” Monte jumped up and walked to the monitor. He pointed to the picture. “You can’t even see that guy’s face. All you get is a forearm with a tattoo.”And he pulled up the sleeves on his work shirt and showed he didn’t have tattoos on either forearm.
“Well then,” Hawkeye said. “That’s good for you.”
“How many times am I going to be jammed up for something I didn’t do?” Monte shouted. “Is IA saying I did this too? Just like they said I took bribes from those drug dealers that got me thrown off the force?”
Hawkeye held up his hands. “Look. We’re sorry. Our evidence was faulty. And Rogers was less than cooperative. We had to be sure.”
“Can I go now?” Monte’s voice returned to a normal level, but his tone was surly. “I need to get back to my job.”
“Sure.” Hawkeye conceded, looked grim. “We may have more questions later.”
“Make sure you have a leg to stand on before you haul me down here if you do,” Monte said. “Or I’ll file charges for harassment against the police department. This is getting old.”
After Adams stormedout slamming the door behind him the men exchanged glanced. This put a new spin on things.
“What did that accomplish?” Will asked.
“How can he have a tattoo in the photos and not now?” Brand asked. “That has to be him.”
“Temporary,” Don Juan said. “He could have been trying out a temporary one to see if he liked it.”
“But he had one every time he went to the Flynn’s’ brownstone?” Brand shook his head. “I can’t see him doing that. Unless he wore one on purpose for deniability.”
“Speaking of deniability,” Jett said. “When you went to pick him up, was there any time he was out of your sight that he could have used a coverup on his forearms?”
Don Juan narrowed his eyes in concentration. “He did take a phone call, although it was brief. I suppose that could have been from Rogers warning him.”
“And he did speak with his boss alone,” Loverboy said. “We didn’t follow him into the man’s office, but the door was open. We could see them talking.”
Someone knocked again, and Hawkeye went to open the door. Detective Graves had finally arrived. He was a young man and he was dressed in a conservative winter suit that would withstand a Chicago winter even if he were chasing down a criminal.
“I was told you wanted to see me, Commander.”
“Come in, Graves,” Hawkeye said. “I have an assignment I would like you to take on personally. Walk with me back to my office and I’ll get you the background files on the former officer I want you to investigate. We believe he’s responsible for the death of Officer Flynn.”
“And you think I’m the best detective to take this on, sir?” Graves said. “But I’m new to the force. I haven’t been here as long as some of the other detectives.”
“Exactly the reason,” Hawkeye said. “The officer in question knows everyone else. And while you are new to this precinct and Chicago, you have the experience from your years serving in New York.”
Graves nodded.
CHAPTER 10
Harley wokefeeling like a load had been lifted off of her. She rolled over and smiled when she saw Scottie lying beside her. It had been wonderful to be able to come back to the brownstone last night together after he finished talking with IA. They’d never been able to spend the night together before all this happened. And despite what it meant that they were able to now, she didn’t relish her loss. They had opened a bottle of wine and celebrated his being officially reinstated to his position next Monday since Commander Burns had given him a few extra days off to spend with her during the funeral preparations.
She groaned softly at the thought of all that was going to entail today when the bereavement coordinator finally reached out to her. But she would be glad to get it over with. She had no idea what planning a funeral for a fallen officer would be like, even though she’d planned the funerals for her parents and her grandmother.
“What’s wrong, baby?” Scottie whispered, reaching an arm our for her, his eyes still closed.
