24. Addison
CHAPTER 24
ADDISON
All of my training slips away, and fear like I’ve never felt rises to the surface.
“Get your gear, and let’s go.”
I quickly jump to my feet and rush around my desk, snagging my badge and gun as I go.
“Where are we headed, Gary?”
“I’ve been doing some thinking since we talked yesterday, and I decided to reach back out to that witness. He’s agreed to talk to us, but he’s only got a short window of free time today.”
“Seriously? You believe me then?”
“I don’t know what I believe other than it warrants another interview,” he says.
Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I quietly follow him out to the squad car.
“Does my dad know about this interview?” I ask once we pull out of the parking lot.
“No, Addi,” he admits. “I didn’t want to tell him until I actually had more information to give him. Don’t want to get his hopes up, ya know?”
“Makes sense.” I watch our surroundings as he heads west. “Where are we meeting this guy?”
“His house.”
“Okay.”
The further away from the precinct we get, the more hopeful I become. Is today the day I finally prove who killed my mom? Or at least, who didn’t?
My cell vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out to see who’s calling. Crow’s name flashes on the screen. I tap the side button to stop the vibrations and make a mental note to call him back later.
When Gary turns on Corner Street, a thought niggles at my brain.
“Did the witness move?”
“No, why?”
“Because I studied that file, and I could’ve sworn he lived on Torrence Ave,” I explain.
“So?”
“Wouldn’t it have been quicker to stay on Fir?—”
“Jesus, shut up!” he shouts, shocking me into silence. “Why couldn’t you just keep your nose out of shit?”
“What are you talking about? Gary, what’s going on?”
“You couldn’t let sleeping dogs lie, could you?”
“I don’t know wha?—”
“I had things handled,” he continues as if I hadn’t even spoken. “A few unsolved cases weren’t going to hurt the department, and I was making bank so I could retire early.” His cell phone rings, and he yanks it out of his suit jacket pocket to glare at the screen. “Leave me the fuck alone!”
“Who, Gary?”
“Ya know, I knew you didn’t have the flu,” he says casually. “I knew Crow and his brothers were keeping you at the clubhouse.”
“But how?”
“I’ve served numerous search warrants at that place.” He chuckles, but there’s little humor in the sound. “It’s funny… I never find anything worth taking, but I always manage to leave a little something behind.”
“Bugs, Gary? Did you bug the clubhouse?”
“Of course, I did. I couldn’t very well work with them and not know exactly what’s going on behind my back.”
So many thoughts swirl around, so many questions. But I have no clue where to start or what to say. Wrapping my head around the fact that this man isn’t at all who I thought he was is going to take more than a few minutes.
Does my dad know?
“Where are you taking me, Gary?” I ask, trying to distract him so I can send a nine one one text to Crow.
It doesn’t work. Gary whips his duty weapon out and points it at my head. “Throw that out the window,” he orders. “Now!”
Groaning, I do as I’m told. I have no desire to die today.
“Where are you taking me?” I repeat.
“Somewhere you won’t be found.”
That thought isn’t at all comforting, but then he turns on Baker Road. Suddenly, I know where we’re headed.
“You really think they won’t find me at your house, Gary?”
“Shut up.”
“C’mon, Gary. Be smart about this,” I cajole. “I’m the police chief’s daughter. This isn’t going to go away. My dad will never stop looking.”
As long as he’s not dirty, too.
“Yeah, he will,” he insists. “I got him to stop looking into your mom’s death, didn’t I?”
A thought hits me like a freight train, and bile rushes up the back of my throat.
“I’d have gotten away with it. Hell, I have gotten away with it so far.”
I’m afraid to ask, somehow already knowing the answer, but I don’t let that stop me.
“Gotten away with what?”
“I could’ve sworn I had the patches right,” he mutters. “A few minor details, and all I’ve done comes crashing down.”
“You killed her, d-didn’t you?”
“Yes!” he screams maniacally. “I killed her. I killed her and those fucking bikers at that warehouse. And I’m gonna kill you next.”
All of my training slips away, and fear like I’ve never felt rises to the surface. This crazy man is really gonna kill me.