Chapter 3 #2
“It seemed like the most private place to speak,” Mitchell said. “Besides, any officer that wasn’t on patrol was already at the hospital showing their support to Flynn’s sister.”
“And what about Clint Rogers? Why wasn’t he held for questioning?” Trainor asked. “He was in the scuffle too.”
“In hindsight…maybe I should have brought him in,” Mitchell said. “But it was Dugan’s skate that cut Flynn’s neck guard and subsequently cut his neck which caused him to bleed, putting his life at risk. That is what I was concerned about the most as the union rep.”
“Got it,” Trainor said. “Just getting the big picture officer. But I want to speak with Rogers so can you go get him down here.”
“Sure,” Mitchell said. “But shouldn’t I be here for this meeting?”
“I’m here, Officer Simpson,” Commander Burns said. “Officer Dugan will be fine.”
“Okay then,” Mitchell rose and left.
After he closed the door, Scottie turned to the IA officer, “He told me that Flynn arrived at the hospital dead. I don’t know how a scuffle over something Rogers said could turn deadly.”
“So Rogers started it?” Trainor said.
“He made a comment about how good an officer my old partner Monte Adams had been,” Scottie explained. “This didn’t set well with Reilly Flynn because he’d found the evidence that Internal Affairs needed for their investigation. The evidence that later got Adams kicked off the force.”
“Shit,” Commander Burns said.
“Is Rogers an egg head?” Trainor asked. “He had to have known that was a dumbass move?”
Scottie shrugged. “Flynn came at me demanding I keep my partner in line and of course Rogers joined in because he had my back as my new partner. I don’t know why Flynn went down, but I’m sure that must have been when my skate cut his neck guard and his neck got cut as well.”
“It all sounds like an accident,” Commander Burns said.
“I want to hear Rogers side of things before I make my ruling,” Trainor said. “In the meantime, Dugan, you should go home and get some sleep. Don’t talk to anyone. Not even your girlfriend if you have one. I’ll reach out to follow up after I talk to Rogers.”
Scottie nodded and rose to leave. “Thank you. Officer Simpson thought I needed an attorney. Are we at that point yet?”
Commander Burns came around and opened the door for him. “No, we aren’t. I believe Simpson is being overly cautious as your union representative.”
“Thanks, commander,” Scottie said and walked out into the hallway where he met Brand again. “Have you been waiting for me?”
“I thought you might need a ride home.”
“I do or at least to the arena to pick up my car,” Scottie said. “Have you spoken to Flynn’s sister? How is she doing?”
“Carly did earlier today. Said she was dealing. About as well as you would expect under the circumstances.”
“Yeah. I guess you are right,” Scottie said. “Did that Internal Affairs guy question you?”
Brand nodded. “He did because I broke up the scuffle between you and Flynn. I didn’t have too much to tell him, but I told what I saw and then what I learned at the hospital.”
“What did you learn?” Scottie asked.
“I can’t tell you that,” Brand said. “It might jeopardize the case. Not that I believe you had anything to do with it.”
Scottie quietly thought about what Brand said as they walked out of the police station. “The case? Are you saying something else is going on besides an accident on the ice?”
“No. You’re reaching there, Dugan. Come on, let me give you a ride over to the arena to get your car and you go home and shower. You’re getting a little ripe,” Brand said and laughed.
Scottie sniffed his shoulder and frowned. “I guess I am. Sorry.”
The phone woke Harley late in the afternoon and it was Commander Burns calling to check on her. “I hope I didn’t wake you?”
“That’s okay,” she said “I needed to get up. Do you have any news for me?”
“I heard from Reilly’s doctor, and he confirmed that he wasn’t taking any prescription medication with Warfarin in it or a blood thinner.”
“Exactly like I thought,” she said. “I even searched the cabinet and his room today to make sure there wasn’t anything hidden here that I didn’t know about.”
“And there wasn’t?”
“No. Nothing.”
“Well, if there had been it would have made things easier,” Commander Burns said, regret evident in his voice. “But since there wasn’t, we will open an investigation. Be prepared to have questions asked about Reilly’s personal life as well as your own.”
“I understand. It’s part of the job.”
“I’m sorry, Harley,” he said. “But at least you will know the one’s investigating. Brand and Loverboy will be leading up the investigation unless you have to speak to the Internal Affairs officer Robert Trainor.”
“Okay. Do you have any idea when we will be able to hold Reilly’s funeral?” she asked.
“Not for a few days yet. We’ll let you know when the Medical Examiner or prepared to release the body,” Commander Burns said.
Harley sighed and they chatted briefly before the call ended.
She got up and went to the kitchen to fix herself something to drink and then watched a little television but had to switch stations when the news came on reporting about Reilly’s death.
She reached for her phone and dialed Scottie’s number, but it just rang and rang without an answer.
When the voice mail came on she didn’t leave a message afraid that if he didn’t answer it meant he was warned not to speak to her, and she shouldn’t leave him one.
She deleted his number from her call log and his contact from her address book.
Then she felt silly for doing so. Did that make her look guilty? Him?
They weren’t.
All they were doing were dating.
Reilly didn’t like Scottie.
It was a simple fact.
A fact she should have respected.
And yet, she’d gone out with him. And fell in love.