Page 8 of Sins or Secrets
He laughs and nods. “I’d say it was the latter,Rambo.”
We have this running joke about the characters from our favorite films.I got christened Rambo after my first contract with the precinct, and he bounces between Dirty Harry and John McClane.
“What’s up?”
“This affects both of us. Captain doesn’t want us to question Billy anymore.We don’t have shit on him and you know what these trust fund fuckers are like.”
I offer him a crude smile, because I know.I absolutely know what to expect from spawns of the silver spoon variety.The rich and wealthy who have more money than God and think they own everybody, or like they can treat people like shit.
The late Peter Cambray was exactly like that.
Billy’s father, Jackson Fairchild, is the attorney general for North Carolina.I don’t need two guesses to know that Daddy dearest spoke to Captain Brogan.I like the good captain, but he can be a real yes man at times.That’s not the way to be in a double homicide case where the suspect has clearly been framed.
Billy is a lead because we have it on good authority that he knows where to find the real killer.
“What do you want me to do?” I ask.
This is the part where I usually step up and tap into my above board skills and abilities that aren’t always sanctioned by the law.Thus bringing forth the reasons why I’m not a cop.I hate being kept under strict control and being ruled by authority figures on a power trip.
Being a marine was about having to make that judgment call and acting on my own initiative when I had to.It suited me, and so does being a P.I.
I have a contract with the police department but Ethan hires me for private work he wants off the record.This case started out as a contract but I have the feeling that it’s about to be one of those cases where I have to step outside the box and dabble in the unorthodox practices I'm known for.
“Follow his ass, and if the good captain asks questions, say nothing.”
“Well that goes without saying now doesn’t it bro?”
“Just covering my own ass.” Seriousness washes over his face, an indication of what we’ll be talking about next.“How about you start Monday, take the weekend off.Get past the funeral and everything else that might bring.”
“No,” I say short and to the point.
“Logan… it’s going to be a rough weekend just for the funeral alone.”
“I know, and I’ll be okay. It’s no excuse to delay doing my work.We know Billy was seen at the motel.I want to see if he’s still there and if he is I can get a tracker on him.”
“I’m just being mindful, Logan.You might not feel much in the working mood if you for example…see Quinn again.” I hate that he says that with such caution.
He’s the only one who talks to me about Quinn in that way.People rarely talk to me about her anymore.When he does, though it’s like he can see straight through me.He can look in and see the guy I was ten years ago who still finds it strange as fuck that his girl ditched him on a whim’s notice.
Everything that happened during that time was strange.Quinn left with her family never to return.But they also closed the door on everybody here including Lilly.
I wasn’t the stupid jar head her father called me once when he first got confirmation that I was sniffing around his daughter and told me to stay the fuck away.
I knew most of what happened was him.The other parts were her. What she said to me will always stay with me.
She didn’t love me when I’d done the stupid thing of falling for her.Maybe her father was right. I am stupid.
Only a fool would still be thinking about shit from ten years ago.
“Ethan, she’s in the past. We wouldn’t be talking about her if her family’s scandals hadn’t hit national TV” That’s a lie.
We would.
Lilly died three weeks ago. If the scandals hadn’t hit we’d be talking about Quinn because we’d both know that even though Lilly didn’t seem to be in contact with her brother anymore, or Quinn’s family,they’d come back to town for her funeral.
“Yeah I guess you’re right. She’s in the past.”
“Exactly.” I smirk. “Now Lilly’s funeral on the other hand is something that will be hard on me.She was like a mother to me.”
