“So did Larry. Martha and Zach?” Eddie asked, and Brian nodded. “We need to check them out.”
“Let’s run some background on them before we knock on the door. I’d like to know what we could be walking into.”
They both got busy, running down what they could find before heading out once more. Eddie hated leaving Marty behind, just sitting at a desk waiting around, but he also wasn’t going to take him along. More than anything, he needed Marty to be safe.
Martha answeredthe door at her home with two kids crowded around her legs. She was very pregnant and said she hadn’t seen or heard from Kevin in a while. But she did say that if they found him, remind the bastard that he owed her money.
“Looks like we know where Kevin got the cash he was looking for.”
“Yeah. Let’s try Zach,” Brian said, driving to the address. No one was home, and the house was dark. They peered in the windows in case they could see anything, but there was no reason for them to go inside.
“Should we wait?”
“Let’s sit for a little while. It’s nearly five, and he might come home from work soon. I’d prefer not to have to come back if we can help it.” Brian got comfortable, and Eddie did the same, waiting until others in the neighborhood began arriving home. And still they waited. Brian reached for the button to start the engine when a pickup truck pulled into the drive.
Brian got out, and Eddie followed up the drive. “Zach Midas,” Brian said, and Eddie saw him tense and thought he was about to run. “We need to speak with you about Kevin Reynolds.”
“I haven’t seen him in more than a week,” he said. “I don’t know where he is, so if you’re trying to collect from him, get in line.” He stood in the doorway, arms folded over his chest. Eddie knew this guy was hiding something or someone. His gut screamed it.
“The back,” Brian cried, and took off. Zach looked like he was going to try to run as well. Eddie pulled out his cuffs, swung Zach around, and cuffed his hands, putting him under arrest for harboring a fugitive and accessory to murder. He called for backup, and Eddie got Zach in the back of the car and waited for Brian to return. Sirens sounded, coming from both directions. Brian continued his pursuit, giving instructions over the radio. But the guy was too fast and backup didn’t arrive in time. Brian returned to the patrol car, covered in sweat and fuming. “At least we have you.”
“Hey, he’s my friend…,” Zach said as though that were an excuse.
“Maybe. But now your friend has you involved with his crime, and he’s wanted in connection with a murder. So maybe we’ll just hold you.” Brian glared before returning to the house.
“I’ll stay with him,” a fellow officer offered, and Eddie joined Brian inside, looking for anything that might tell them where Kevin had gone.
“We shouldhave had him.” Brian trudged into the station, mumbling under his breath.
“At least you saw him too,” Marty said. Brian humphed as he went to his desk. They had Zach in an interview room and were letting him stew a while.
“I can interview him if you want,” Eddie offered.
“No. You go on and take Marty home. I don’t think we’re going to get a lot of useful information out of him. Kevin is going to go to ground, and we’re going to have to flush him out again.” He slumped in his chair. “I should have taken more units.”
“You couldn’t have known he’d be there,” Eddie said, feeling just as bad as Brian did. But those were the breaks. At least they were certain they were on the right track.
“Go on home. I’ll talk to Zach and see what he can tell us.”
“Are you sure?” Marty asked. “I can stay if it’s going to help you with the case.” Marty was wearing down, though. Hours of filling time will do that.
“It’s all right,” Brian said, and Eddie took Marty to find on officer to give them a lift back to the house.
“Thanks, Davis,” Marty said as he got out of the Toyota. The house was dark, but Eddie cleared it just to be safe before allowing Marty inside. That might have been overkill, but he was becoming more and more protective of him as time went on.
“I don’t know what we’re going to have for dinner.”
“How about I order a pizza and we get comfortable?” Eddie offered. “Just let me get out of this uniform, and I’ll place the order.” He went to the bedroom, changed clothes, and got dinner ordered before returning to find Marty in sweatpants and a T-shirt, sitting on the edge of the sofa.
“I’m sorry for all this mess,” Marty said softly.
Eddie sat next to him. “You did the right thing, and none of this is your fault.”
“Yeah, but I should have just called the police instead of putting this on your doorstep.”
Eddie scoffed, and Marty turned to him. “You do realize that I am with the police and that it was going to end up on our desk anyway.” He rolled his eyes. “This isn’t your fault.”
“Maybe not. But it’s still a real pain in the neck.”
