Chapter 8
Brand called Loverboy and told him about Hawkeye wanting Rogers brought in for questioning. “Do you want to do the honors since you already made that house call?”
“No thanks,” Will said. “I’d rather bring in Adams.”
“Okay then,” Brand said. “He may be working at the arena today. I’m not sure what time his shift starts, but Hawkeye wants him brought in as well.”
“You’re shitting me?” Will said. “I was only joking.”
“Today is not the day to joke around,” Brand warned. “A lot of stuff is about to go down.”
“Do I have to go alone?” Will asked. “Can Don Juan go with me? In the event Adams gives me a hard time?”
“Sure. I was going to have him go pick up Harley, but I’ll see if Hunter can do that,” Brand said.
“Let’s try to make this as painless on everyone as possible.
We’re doing some follow-up questions on new information that has been brought to our attention.
IA feels that we need to do this round in house rather than in a less formal setting if everyone asks why they need to come to the police station. ”
“Sounds like a plan,” Will agreed. “And a good save if Adams gives us shit since he’s dealt with IA.”
“My sentiments,” Brand said. “See both of you at the station.”
Call ended, he turned to Jett and Rookie.
“I think I should go bring in Dugan. After my last conversation with him, I owe the man that much. I’m going to have Hunter pick up Harley and bring her down here.
Liam said she related to Hunter well the day they searched the brownstone.
Why don’t the two of you pay Clint Rogers a call? ”
“Sure,” Jett said.
“Did you hear the spiel I gave Loverboy if Rogers gives you flack about coming into the station?”
“Nice touch throwing Internal Affairs in there,” Rookie said.
Brand shrugged. “I thought it couldn’t hurt. Especially with Rogers and Adams.”
“We’ll get going then,” Jett said. “It won’t do for everyone to arrive back here all at once.”
“No. It won’t,” Brand agreed as he dialed Hunter to see if he could pay Harley a visit..
“Sure. I’ll head out now and meet up with you at the police station,” Hunter said. “Should I just ask for Commander Burns when we arrive?”
“Yes,” Brand said. “Thanks. And tell Harley we have new information we want to share with her, but IA wants to do it at the station. That’s why she has to come down.”
“I’ll let her know.” Hunter rang off.
That done, Brand headed to the parking garage. It was after ten now and work traffic had eased up so getting around town was easier than during rush hour so would finding parking near Dugans apartment than last time.
He entered Dugan’s building, took the elevator to his floor, and knocked on his door. The man answered, the same surprise as before narrowed his eyes. “Again? He asked and there was no mistaking the sarcasm in his voice. “Really?”
“We have new information and Commander Burns would like you to come down to the station to go over it before Internal Affairs gets involved,” Brand said and decided to offer him some enticement. “Harley should be there by the time we arrive so you may get to see her.”
“It must be huge if you came all this way to get me instead of just calling and asking me to come down on my own.” Scottie folded his arms over his chest and his gaze became challenging.
Brand shrugged. “We believe it is.”
“Come in and let me change into something more professional,” Scottie said, pulling at his old, faded t-shirt. “And I need to shave. I should be long. Grab a seat.”
“Sure. Take your time.”
Scottie hesitated. “I got a call from Adams after you talked to him. He was pissed at me.”
“Sorry.” Brand shrugged. “He took what I said the wrong way and my trying to explain it to him didn’t make it any better.”
Scottie nodded and strode from the room. He returned less than five minutes, wearing a button-down shirt tucked into belted dress slacks, running an electric razor over his face. “I get it. So, can you tell me anything before we get there?”
“Sorry, no.” Brand shook his head.
“Do you still think I need a lawyer?” Scottie asked, turning off the razor and putting it on a side table.
“Not as much as I did the last time we spoke,” Brand told him.
Scottie sank down onto the arm of the sofa visibly relaxed. “That’s a relief.” He sighed. “Because I didn’t know where I was going to come up with the money to afford a good defense attorney. I’d be signing my death wish if I went with a public defender.”
“I hear you,” Brand sympathized.
Scottie walked to the hall tree in the corner and grabbed his jacket. “Let’s get this over with.”
Hunter opened the police station door for Harley and she entered before him. She’d been easy enough to convince to come with him especially when he’d told her there was a new development in her brother’s case.
He led her to where the desk sergeant sat and said. “We’re here to see Commander Burns, I’m Hunter West.”
The man nodded. “Let me give him a call. He said to be expecting you. Miss Flynn, it’s good to see you again.”
“You too, sergeant,” Harley said.
The sergeant dialed a number on his old-fashioned desk phone and spoke into the receiver before looking back at them. “Commander says to meet him in the conference room on two. It’s to the right once you get off the elevator. You can’t miss it.”
“Thanks,” Hunter said and led the way to the elevator.
“Are you sure this is not going to be bad news?” Harley said.
“Brand didn’t really tell me one way or the other,” Hunter replied. “He only said that there was new information that you needed to hear and that Internal Affairs felt it was better to have you hear it at the police station than in a private setting.”
Harley frowned. “That sounds awfully suspicious to me.”
The elevator doors opened and they stepped inside, punching the button for the second floor, Hunter said, “I’d hate to think they were wasting your time and mine for something that could have been told over the phone.”
“I would too,” she said and the doors closed. They rode to their destination in silence. When they stepped off again, they followed the desk sergeant’s directions to the conference room. Inside they found Commander Burns waiting for them.
“Miss Flynn, so good to see you again and under better circumstances,” he greeted. “Can I offer you some water, coffee, or tea? We have an array of selections at the counter if you would like to help yourself.”
“Thank you, that would be lovely,” Harley said and she went to make a cup of herbal tea.
Hawkeye shook Hunters hand. “Any trouble on the way over?”
“None,” Hunter replied. “Should I leave?”
“Stay,” Hawkeye said, lowering his voice to a near whisper. “She might like the support.”
“Is it bad news?” Hunter asked, his voice nearly silent as well. “I thought it was good from the sound of Brand’s voice.”
“It’s complicated,” Hawkeye said, glancing at Harley as she approached them. He pulled out one of the tall back rolling conference chairs for her. “I’ve asked Hunter to stay if that is okay with you.”
“Fine,” she replied.
Hawkeye took a seat across from her and waited until Hunter was seated as well before he began.
“The medical examiner finished his report today. I’ve read through it and I am glad to say that he will be releasing Reilly’s body for burial later this week.
The bereavement coordinator will contact you tomorrow to begin the arrangement process. ”
Harley nodded. “Is that all you brought me down here for?”
“No.” Hawkeye smiled weakly. “There is one item that is concerning to us that was discovered during the autopsy and I must ask you in all fairness before we go any further in our conversation.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
Hawkeye placed his hands in front of him on the polished table surface. “I don’t mean to upset you by asking this question, but I need to know was your brother suicidal? Could he have been trying to take his own life?”
Harley slammed her cup on the table, spilling some of its contents. “What kind of question is that?” she demanded. “No. Of course not. What makes you even …” She placed her hands on both sides of her head and stared at him.
“The empty jars of peanut butter, full jar, as well as the peanut butter he had ingested tested positive for being laced with rat poison,” Hawkeye explained.
“If you recall, we told you at the hospital that the Warfarin in his lab work made his death suspicious. And the medical examiner said if we couldn’t prove Reilly was ingesting the rat poison on his own then he was ruling his death a homicide. ”
Harley’s eyes widened and she slapped her hands over her mouth as if to muffle her guttural cry, “Oh my God.”
“At this point. We have no idea who did this to your brother, but we are certain that Scottie Dugan is not responsible for his death even if his actions on the ice leading to the accident were reckless, they were he is not the cause.”
“Will charges be brought against him for that?” She moved her hands to her cheeks, while eyes glistened with unshed tears and her body shook as she gasped for breath.
“At this time, I don’t plan to,” Hawkeye said. “Internal Affairs is doing their own investigation, and they will want to speak with you today as well.”
“I understand.”
“Trainor wasn’t happy to learn of your relationship with Dugan,” Hawkeye continued, and her eyes widening as she to meet his. “I had a duty to relay that information to IA even though I made it clear that it had no bearing on what happened.”
She slowly nodded, lowering her hands from her face to the table and folded them.
“I’ll leave you to collect your thoughts before you meet with Trainor,” Hawkeye said, rising and walking to the door.
Hunter moved his seat closer to her and covered her hands with his own.
“I know the task force will find your brother’s killer,” he said.
She nodded as tears streamed down her cheeks. “Why?” she managed to choke out. “Why would anyone do this to him?”
“That’s something we’re uncertain about at this time,” Hawkeye called from the door as he made his exit.
“Good luck with Internal Affairs,” Hunter said. “I can’t stay with you for that part.”
Harley looked at him and drew in a slow breath. “Thank you.
He got up and left as well, closing the door behind him.
Hawkeye headed down the hallway to a smaller conference room and found Brand, Dugan, and Mitchell Simpson the union representative waiting for him. “Gentlemen,” he said when he entered.
“Commander,” Scottie replied.
“Commander,” Mitchell echoed.
“The medical examiner returned his report on Reilly Flynn this morning. He ruled the death a homicide.”
“What?” Scottie’s gaze went from Hawkeye to Brand. “But you said I didn’t need an attorney?”
“You don’t,” Brand said.
“He’s right, Dugan,” Hawkeye said. “I’ll explain the situation if you stay quiet and let me finish. The fight on the ice that resulted in Flynn getting cut by your skate didn’t kill him. He was killed by ingesting rat poison that was laced in the peanut butter he was eating all the time.”
“Say that again?” Scottie demanded.
“Someone tampered with his peanut butter and mixed in rat poison which caused his blood not to clot when he was cut,” Hawkeye explained. “That’s what killed him.”
Scottie exhaled a sharp breath and then began to laugh softly. “We always told him that peanut butter was going to kill him one day.” He gasped. “No body could eat as much of it as he did without something going wrong, but we had no idea…”
“I know,” Brand said. “You should have seen that goo Dr. Holland removed from his…”
“Brand,” Hawkeye called and shook his head.
“Sorry.”
“As far as I’m concerned, my investigation into your part in this incident is over,” Hawkeye said. “I believe what happened was an accident. However, Internal Affairs wants to speak with you again this afternoon so it might be best if you stuck around.”
“Sure,” Scottie said, the anxiety fading from his face.
“I also had to inform Trainor about your relationship with Harley after I found out, even if it had no impact on the incident,” Hawkeye said.
“I understand,” Scottie replied.
“And since I have you here,” Hawkeye began. “I was wondering if you could look at a photo and see if you recognize this tattoo. We’re trying to identify the man who has it.”
He took the photo from a folder on the table and handed it to Scottie. Both he and Simpson Studied it for several long minutes.
Finally, they both shook their heads. “It looks pretty common to me,” Scottie said. “Nothing special about it, but I don’t recognize it.”
“Me either,” Simpson admitted.
“That’s what we decided,” Brand said. “Even Rookie thinks that maybe Don Juan has that same tat and that is why we think it looks familiar.”
“Have you checked with him?” Scottie asked.
“Haven’t seen him yet today to do that, but I will,” Brand assured.
Mitchell stood. “There’s one thing that hasn’t been mentioned in this meeting. When can Dugan be taken off of administrative leave?”
“That will depend on what IA says this afternoon,” Hawkeye replied. “But Trainor’s initial meeting with him was favorable and if today’s goes as well, let’s plan on Monday.”
“Why so long?” Scottie asked.
“As I told Harley when I met with her before coming in here, the Medical Examiner will be releasing Reilly’s body by this weekend and she can have the funeral. I thought you’d want to be there for her during that time unless you would rather work?”
“No, sir,” Scottie said. “I appreciate your consideration and giving me the extra days to be with her.”
“She’ll need you. Her not having any other family,” Hawkeye said. “Now if you will excuse me, Officer Dugan, I need to go talk to two others. Union Representative Simpson, I will need you to join me for one of those meetings.”
“Of course,” Mitchell said. “Will I have time to get back here before he meets with Trainor?”
“You will,” Hawkeye assured him. “Scottie, we’ll talk to you later.”