He called Alex first but was forced to leave a message.He gave Alex the information on the steel-gray SUV and license plate number, asking for a call back as soon as possible.
Then he stared at the phone, dreading the call to Rex.His boss would not be happy that they’d left Madison without talking to the police.
With a sigh, he made the call.Because the number was unknown, Rex didn’t pick up.Micah left a message and ended the call.His new phone rang less than ten seconds later.
“What happened?”Rex demanded.“I’m being hounded by Lieutenant Krogan because you and Bryn haven’t shown up to provide your statements.”
“I know, sorry about that.”He debated how much to tell his boss.“The steel-gray SUV I noticed outside the rental property shortly before bullets started flying was parked at the side of the street leading to the police station.I crept closer to try getting a better look at the driver, but the angle was bad.But I was able to verify that it had the same license plate number.”
“How is that possible?”Rex sounded confused.“Are you insinuating the local police are in on this?”
“I didn’t say that,” he protested.“Bryn seems to think the gunman knew we’d have to go to the police station and was there waiting for us.”
“That’s possible,” Rex agreed.“But you could have gone around the block to approach the police station from another angle.”
He tamped down a flash of anger.“The driver saw me and tried to follow.I didn’t have many options, other than to get Bryn out of there.Especially when the driver of the SUV followed us.I was able to disable the vehicle with gunfire, and we barely escaped without being hurt.”
There was a long pause as Rex digested that bit of information.“The police really need to talk to you and Bryn.”
“Yeah, well, Bryn really needs to be safe,” Micah shot back.“That doesn’t seem like too much to ask.”
“Okay, but just because the car was nearby doesn’t mean you should drop the idea of talking to the police.”Rex’s tone was tense.“Where are you now?We’ll arrange for Lieutenant Krogan to meet you at the south district.”
“Not gonna happen.”He eyed the bedroom door, hoping Bryn didn’t come in and overhear their argument.“We’re not at the rental property.We’re somewhere else.”
There was another long pause.Then Rex sighed loudly.“Okay, look, there’s some information you need to know.”
“I’m listening.”He stood and walked to the other side of the room.The wooded landscape around them made it look peaceful when he felt anything but.The resigned tone of Rex’s voice made him tense.“What happened?”
“I learned the autopsy report on the man we presume to be Damien Rochester indicates the guy was dead before the fire started.”
“Yeah, we already knew that,” Micah said.
“What we didn’t know was that it appears that someone shorter in stature killed him.The angle of the bullet piercing the skull went in at the base of his head and exited through the top of his forehead.”
He frowned.“Maybe the shooter came up on Damien from a crouch.”
“No, the ME believes the shot was fired at close range,” Rex said grimly.“He’s convinced Damien was killed by someone short who pressed the gun against the back of his head, aiming upward.”
Short like Bryn, Micah thought.That’s what his boss was trying to say.
“Look, Rex, there’s no way Bryn did this.I was with her the entire time.”
“Micah, you weren’t with her until the two of you met up in Beloit,” Rex argued.“Just hear me out.It’s possible she killed Damien before running out of the house to call you.That would explain the gunshot the neighbors heard.She even could have started a small fire that took a while to burn out of control before leaving.And if I’m being honest, the local police are going to assume you would lie to protect her.You are her dead brother’s best friend.”
“I’m not lying.”He battled the urge to shout the words.“Don’t you see?The guys in the steel-gray SUV are framing her for this crime.”
“I hear you, and I believe you, but you need to understand why it’s important to get her side of the story on record with Lieutenant Krogan.”Rex didn’t back down.“The sooner the better.”
That still wasn’t happening, but Micah was smart enough not voice his thoughts.It was bad enough that Rex was pointing out the way Bryn could be considered guilty of this crime.“I appreciate the intel.”
“There’s more,” his boss warned.“I shouldn’t be sharing this with you, but I will.Several large sums of money were transferred from the company to Bryn’s personal bank account, then out to another account that belongs to an offshore bank.They’re running down the account numbers now, but they believe the bank is in the Cayman Islands.”
Stunned, Micah sank down onto the edge of the sofa.No way.He knew there was no way in the world Bryn would take money from the company for her own personal use.“You’re kidding.”
“I’m not.And while I’m inclined to believe your theory that Bryn is being set up to take the fall, the evidence is rather compelling.”Rex paused, then added, “If you don’t bring her in soon, there likely will be a warrant issued for her arrest.”
Warrant for her arrest.The words ricocheted through his mind.All this time, he’d assumed that his being her alibi would keep her safe from being thrown in jail.
