Chapter 2 #2
Brand, Will, and Commander Samuel Burns came in and joined their circle.
The tears Harley had been holding back finally came and she wept in Don Juan’s arms when she saw them.
Scottie wasn’t with them, and she knew he had probably been instructed to stay away by his union rep.
She wondered if there would be an internal affairs investigation.
If so, their relationship would be public knowledge.
She just hoped their secrecy would not be seen as a motive.
Scottie Dugan sat in the interrogation room at the police station and listened to his union representative, Mitchell Simpson.
“I don’t understand why I can’t go to the hospital like everyone else,” Scottie told Simpson.
“It isn’t advised,” Mitchell said. “You were in a fight with Flynn when your skate cut through his neck guard, cutting his neck. We still don’t have word on his condition. The last thing you want is to be at the hospital if …”
Recalling the blood smearing the ice and Reilly’s uniform, Scottie shivered and had to pause before saying the unthinkable, “He dies.”
Mitchell nodded.
“But his sister… I really need to talk to her,” Scottie said, knowing he needed to be there to support his Harley at a time like this, but the fact they’d kept their relationship secret because Reilly hated his guts… Hell, this was a mess. Anyway you looked at it.
“What will happen if he dies?” Scottie asked.
‘There will be an investigation into your fight with him,” Mitchell said.
“One has already started. The rink has been cordoned off and the public has been prohibited from entering the arena. The exhibition game had to be cancelled. You really screwed the pooch, Dugan. Why were you and Flynn scuffling?”
Scottie raked his fingers through his thick brown hair, frowning as he looked at Mitchell.
“My old partner, Monte Adams. Flynn was one of the officers behind his suspension. We’ve hardly said a cordial word to one another since then.
And it doesn’t help that Monte now works security at the arena.
He had been hanging around there watching the team practice for weeks leading up to the game.
I could tell it set Flynn on edge and then today my new partner Clint Rogers made the mistake of spouting off about what a great officer Monte had been and how he didn’t deserve to lose his job, but some people had vendettas. ”
“So it was Rogers who instigated the fight?” Michell said.
“Pretty much,” Scottie admitted. “I tried to get him to shut up, but he knew Flynn was responsible.”
“But according to witnesses, Chambers and McLeod, it looked like you and Flynn were the ones fighting,” Mitchell said.
“Yea, we were. Flynn came at me for not keeping my partner in line,” Scottie said. “And of course, Rogers jumped in because he had my back– like a partner should.”
“What did Monte do that caused Flynn to play a part in his suspension?” Mitchel asked. “I wasn’t the union representative then, so I didn’t know what went down. I just knew Monte Adams was on the squad and then he wasn’t.”
“Another officer accused him of taking bribes from drug dealers to look the other way,” Scottie said.
“I rode with him for five years and I never saw him do anything like that, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t.
I never believed the accusations, but higher ups did.
Internal Affairs got involved and he was proven guilty. ”
“Did Flynn make the accusation against Monte?” Mitchell asked.
“No,” Scottie said. “But he was the one that found the evidence that sank him. As I heard it, Flynn spotted Monte with a known drug dealer and he snapped photos of them talking, exchanging an envelope, which was later found in Monte’s locker at the department by IA.”
Mitchell fixed an assessing gaze on Scottie. “Yet, you don’t believe he was guilty?”
Suddenly weary from the day’s events, his lack of knowledge of what was happening and his worry over Harley had Scottie’s temper at the breaking point.
“It could have been a setup,” he practically shouted, as old feelings of injustice returned.
“Why would Monte leave evidence like that in his locker? I mean how stupid is that? Especially for a cop with Monte’s years of experience when he already knew that IA was looking into him? ”
“That’s a good question that only he can answer,” Mitchell said dryly. “Did he?”
“He was my partner. I felt I knew him as well as my own brother. I never asked him then and I haven’t asked him since.” Scottie shook his head. “He had my back, and I had his. I’d have taken a bullet for him and I believe he’d have done the same for me.”
“But that doesn’t mean he was innocent,” Mitchell pointed out.
“Maybe not, but in my book brothers in blue should stick together,” Scottie said.
“Flynn obviously felt brothers in blue should live by higher standards or he wouldn’t have turned in the evidence he collected,” Mitchell countered.
“Heaven help me, but I didn’t mean for Flynn to get hurt,” Scottie said. “I really need to talk to his sister.”
“Why is it so important to you right now?”
Scottie looked at him. “We’re dating.”
Harley was consoled by Commander Burns who walked her away from the group to speak to her in private.
“We’ve opened an investigation against Dugan and Rogers,” he told her. “We’ll get down to the bottom of what happened. Why they were scuffling.”
“It won’t bring Reilly back,” Harley managed to say without choking on her words. “It was a foolish accident.”
“Not if it was intentional,” Burns argued.
“I can’t imagine any officer would intentionally try to hurt another,” Harley said. “Even if they were fighting. I’d really like to know what that was about.”
“We’ll find out. I assure you,” Burns said. “Do you have anyone who can stay with you tonight? Is there anyone I can call for you?”
Harley wiped her eyes; grateful she still held the pack of tissues and shook her head.
“Reilly and I were alone. Our parents, who were both only children, died years ago, so no aunts or uncles, or cousins. No grandparents either. We might have a distant relative out there somewhere, but they wouldn’t be someone I’d know how to contact. ”
He nodded. “Can I give you a ride home then?”
“Thank you, but Jules drove my vehicle over from the arena.” She thought a moment before asking. “Will Reilly’s belongs go into evidence?”
“Yes.”
“The doctor said they took his body for autopsy.” Beneath her coat sleeves, Harley’s pulse began to pound. “How long before I’ll be able to plan his funeral?” Harley asked.
“Let the department handle the arrangements for you,” Burns said. “We’ll want to do the end of service ceremony.”
“I think he would appreciate that,” Harley whispered. Wiping tears streaming down her cheeks.
“It may take a few days for the ME to make his findings,” Burns continued. “Our bereavement coordinator will reach out.”
“Hawkeye,” Brand called, walking toward them, urgency tightening his expression. “The Medical Examiner would like to speak to you.”
Burns signed and said, “I’m sorry, Harley. If you’ll excuse me.”
“Of course,” she said. “I’ll be waiting with the others.”
She went back to the group, surprised to see they’d been joined by several more uniformed officers as the hour indicated shift change had occurred.
They many men and women clustered around her, before she was able to sit, offering their condolences and describing her brother as the best of the best. But all she wanted to do was go home and crawl into bed with the covers over her head.
Instead, she graciously listened to the many tales about Reilly and his accomplishments as an officer, smiling and nodding where appropriate.
Half an hour passed before she saw Commander Burns and Brand coming back to the waiting area. The frown on their faces told her something wasn’t right. She excused herself from the officer who was speaking with her and hurried over to them.
“What did the Medical Examiner say?” she demanded.
“Was your brother on a blood thinner for any reason?” Burns asked.
Harley scrunched her nose and shook her head. “Blood thinner? No. He was as healthy as a horse except for his addiction to eating peanut butter.”
Burns looked at Brand and then back at her. “Then why would his blood screen be positive for Warfarin?”