Promise Renewed Read Free

told his brother how he’d gotten Hunter’s call to meet, and everything that happened until someone bashed him in the head. How many more times would he have to tell this same story with the same outcome? He had a feeling every telling would bring on the same hurt.
    “That’s it. That’s all you know?”
    Darin didn’t like the incredulous lawyer-tone of Douglas’s voice. “Afraid so.”
    “You don’t know why Hunter called you instead of the captain? You don’t know how he knew about the warehouse space you claim was full of drugs?”
    “It was full of drugs. Most were in the truck when I got there. After I heard the shot I could tell they were speeding up the process. My guess is they were moving several million dollars worth. Maybe fifty million or more. And no, I don’t know how he knew about it. And I don’t understand, why didn’t he call it in? He was a damned good cop, so it doesn’t make sense. His being dead doesn’t make sense. Does Haley know? Has his family been notified?” Haley had been Hunter’s girlfriend for the past year. He’d been on the verge of asking her to marry him before he started acting so strange.
    “According to the chief of police, who I contacted when you were unconscious, the answer is yes. They’re taking it really hard. They have questions for you.”
    Darin groaned. “I’m sure.” What could he tell them? How could he comfort them when there was no way to accept Hunter’s death himself?
    “Can you tell me anything else?” Douglas asked.
    “It’s all I know,” Darin snapped. “Once I tell the captain what happened, he’ll understand.”
    “I hope you’re right. But this could be a lot more serious than you think.”
    “More serious than my partner getting killed and millions of dollars worth of drugs heading for the street? What could be more serious?”
    “You being held responsible.”
    Darin stared into his brother’s eyes and saw that this was deadly serious. “Tell me what you know.”
    “Captain Wells let me know in no uncertain terms you were going to be looked at for this. They found no drugs in the rental space. Only your partner with a bullet in his head.”
    “There were several shots.”
    “Hunter’s gun was out of his holster. He got a shot off. But they didn’t find any blood other than his so he must have missed. They’re still looking.”
    Darin shook his head only to have the room tilt around him. This couldn’t be happening. TJ stuck a glass of water in his hand, and he took a long swallow. “Do they think I hit myself in the back of the head? How could I do that?” He rubbed at the bump.
    Douglas shrugged. “They’ll say you did it for a cover after you shot Hunter.”
    For a moment, Darin was too stunned to answer. In a million years, no one would believe such a thing. “Do you think I did this?” he asked stiffly.
    “You know better than to ask. But what if your superior does? What then?”
    Up until now, TJ had been silent. “I’ll get Max on it. We’ll see if we can’t find who owned the space, how the drugs disappeared, and why your partner was there.” She put her arms around her older brother. “We’re here for you, Darin.”
    His sister had been so quiet Darin had forgotten she was there. But she could help. Together, TJ and her husband Max owned a consulting firm that fought fraud in the workplace. They had a couple of private investigators they called in on occasion. Plus, they had one of the most brilliant computer gurus on the payroll Darin had ever seen. He trusted his sister and Max implicitly. But he’d never expected to need their help. Still didn’t think so.
    Shaky, Darin stood.
    “Where do you think you’re going?” TJ asked.
    “I’m out of here. I want to get to the station and clear this up before it gets any worse.”
    Too late. The door swung open and Captain Wells, a frown on his face, walked in. Behind him was Detective Melanie Harris.
    Inwardly, Darin suppressed a groan. The