Page 51 of Brutal Prince

“That’s just not his style. Darryn’s not a killer. Why would he shoot you? What’s the motive?”

“You tell me. You’re his friend. What’s he got against me?”

“Nothing. He’s got nothing against you unless…”

“Unless what?”

I stalled analyzing his behavior in my mind. He’d been acting so weird lately. Normally a levelheaded, moderately tempered guy but since he returned from Grand Rapids, he’d been distant and in a bad mood.

“Unless,” she prompted, shaking me out of my thoughts.

“Unless the S and C ordered the hit which meant it came from a Platinum member.”

“He told you he was going to Grand Rapids to cover his back. Sounds like a set up.”

“I guess.” No matter how I looked at it, Darryn seemed guilty.

“Can you get me the names of all the Platinum members?”

I shook my head. “Vanderbilt has all that info on his laptop.”

“Right. Maybe it’s time I paid Mister Vanderbilt a call.”

“Don’t be too rash,” I warned her.

“Why?”

“You could ruin everything. We still don’t know who the ringleader or ringleaders are.”

“Yeah, but I bet Vanderbilt knows.”She sighed. “My patience is running out, Ollie.”

“Just give us a bit more time,” I pleaded.

“I’m worried someone’s going to get hurt. The next time someone fires a gun they might not miss their target.”

I stumbled. “You think Darryn was actually trying to kill you.”

“That’s what it looked like. What would you call it?”

“Um…a warning to stay away. I mean, if it was a hired job, maybe it’s one of your coworkers who doesn’t want you to investigate the S and C. You already said that evidence was contaminated and some of it vanished completely.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Seems to me that the culprits are right under your nose.”

“You could be right,” she said grinding her teeth, “the culprits are most likely under my nose. However, I want you to watch Darryn like a hawk and report back to me every single day.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “Every. Single. Day. Got it?”

“Got it.” Something wasn’t right. “Why aren’t you just arresting him? You said a witness noted his number plate, so…?”

“There’s a problem with the witness. I can’t go into details, but it complicates matters.”

“Oh. Right. Who are they? Like a criminal themselves or something.”

“Something like that.”

“I can’t say I’m going to sleep easy on this information,” I said, honestly. “He might target me next.”

“Lock your door at night and watch your back.”

“Lock your door and watch your back,” I repeated her words under my breath as I walked out of the station and down the stone steps. “Is that the best she can do? Attempted murder of a cop and she can’t arrest him? Fuck that. Usually when a cop is hit, the PD are all over the perp like ants on honey.

In the meantime, I’m sleeping a room away from the dude and she couldn’t give rat’s ass about it.”

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