Chapter Thirteen #2
He glanced at Heather for confirmation. She nodded. “It was over in a matter of minutes. They checked his identification, read him his rights, then took him away. None of us knew what to say to them or what to do.”
He stared at the two frightened women. Heather held little Diane in her arms as if to protect her from all that had happened.
Rage and frustration bubbled inside him.
What the hell was going on? One minute he’d been flying a couple of executives over to LAX to catch their flight back east and the next Flo had radioed him with the news that Brian had been arrested for dealing drugs.
He raked his fingers through his hair and paced to his desk. “There’s nothing you could have done. They had a warrant for his arrest. You couldn’t have stopped them. I’m just sorry I wasn’t here.” Not that he could have done anything, either.
“They searched his locker for drugs,” Heather said quietly.
Jim turned to her. “Did they have a warrant for that?”
She nodded. “Several other police officers arrived as they were taking him away. They didn’t find anything. They’re going to be in touch with you later. I think they want to search the whole place.”
This wasn’t happening, he thought grimly. It couldn’t be. “How could I have been so wrong about that kid?” he asked, not expecting an answer. He thought he knew Brian.
Heather crossed to Flo’s desk and handed her the baby, then she moved next to him.
“Something’s not right,” she said firmly.
“We all know Brian. He’s a bright, sweet kid and I don’t think he’s involved with drugs.
Maybe I’m a fool, but I don’t think so.” She frowned.
“The police said they had an anonymous tip from a witness. Someone who knew Brian’s name and where he worked.
Even if he was involved with something like that, he’s too smart to get caught that way.
Some kind of police operation, like a sting or something, would make sense, but not this. ”
“She’s right,” Flo said. “You’re going to have to do something.”
What he wanted to do was forget he’d ever met the kid.
But Heather’s words rang true. Some of the rage cleared out of his brain and he was able to think.
“Brian wants to fly helicopters,” he said slowly.
“That’s all he talks about. He has a steady girlfriend he’s devoted to and he gets good grades in school. ”
“Exactly,” Heather said. “When he’s not with her or at school, he’s here. When would he have the time? You have to go talk to him.”
He looked at her, then cupped her cheek. “You’re right, I do.”
The second his hand touched her soft skin, he was reminded of all that had happened the night before.
Of the way they’d made love over and over.
This was not the morning greeting he’d planned.
But they had more pressing matters than their personal life, and he wasn’t about to say anything intimate in front of Flo.
He grabbed his car keys from his desk and headed for the door. “I’ll call when I know anything,” he said as he left.
It took some fast talking, but the police finally let him speak to Brian. Jim was ushered into a small room with no windows and only one door. A worn table surrounded by three chairs nearly filled the small space. He had to wait thirty minutes until the door opened and Brian was led inside.
The teenager was still in his own clothes—a T-shirt and jeans—but there the similarities to the young man he knew ended.
The boy was pale and obviously terrified.
Tears streaked his face. He was shaking and smelled as if he’d recently thrown up.
And handcuffs bound his bony wrists. He looked young and alone and scared.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” Brian said, his voice trembling. “I didn’t think you’d come.”
Jim noticed the boy wouldn’t meet his eyes. “When a trusted employee of mine is arrested for something, I want to know the story.”
Tears spilled down Brian’s face. “I never did drugs in my life. Never. I swear. I didn’t even once try pot.
I’ve seen too many people killed by that s-stuff.
” His voice cracked. “Jeez, I wouldn’t sell them, either.
It’s not just wrong, it’s stupid.” He sniffed and finally raised his gaze to meet Jim’s. “Someone set me up.”
Jim wasn’t sure what he’d expected the kid’s story to be, but he hadn’t thought it would be that. “Someone set you up? Why?”
He heard the skepticism in his voice. Brian did, too. He slumped back in his chair and shook his head. “What does it matter? You’re not going to believe me. No one is. I’m just some punk kid, right? No dad, no important family, no money. No one cares.”
But Jim knew that he did care—very much. Brian was lost and didn’t know which way to turn.
Jim leaned forward, resting his hands on the rickety table. “Tell me who set you up, and why?”
Brian raised his shackled hands and swiped at his tears. “Bernie.”
Jim straightened in surprise. “The charter pilot?” He pictured the short, hard-edged man. “He’s a pain in the neck, but why would he do something like that?”
Brian’s pale face flooded with color. “I caught him in the hangar. He was using one of the helicopters as a hotel room. It happened a couple of times. The first time, I didn’t say anything, but the second, I told him I was going to tell you.
He said if I did, he would make me pay big time. ” He gave a sob. “That was last week.”
Jim swore loudly. Bernie wasn’t his favorite guy in the world and one of the reasons was that the pilot liked to live life a little too close to the edge.
He’d been reprimanded for unsafe flying a couple of times and had a reputation for hard drinking and lots of women.
With any other pilot, Brian’s story would have been crazy, but with Bernie it could be true.
Jim rose to his feet. “I don’t know how long this will take, so you’ll have to sit tight. I know a couple of lawyers. I’ll call one of them and find out who I talk to first. You might have to spend the night here, but I will get you out, Brian. Don’t worry.”
“You believe me?”
“Sure. Why wouldn’t I?”
Fresh tears spilled down Brian’s cheeks. “No one ever has before.”
Jim felt an uncomfortable tightness in his chest. He pulled the boy to his feet and hugged him. “Well, I do, and I’ll make damn sure that Bernie gets what’s coming to him.”
As Jim hugged him goodbye, harsh, shuddering sobs tore through his thin body. “I was so scared,” Brian said, his voice muffled against Jim’s jacket.
“I know. Believe me, I know about being scared. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”