Dead by Sunrise

by Richard Ryker

  But Bill was somewhere down in Arizona getting a tan and enjoying a cold drink. He’d retired early after his father-in-law had left Bill and his wife a ton of money.

  Brandon didn’t have a partner. He was on his own. But he had a good team—with one exception. They’d solve this case with the tools they had.

  His phone rang. It was the mayor. He let it go. Then against his better judgement, answered.

  “Mattson.”

  “Chief, if you have a few seconds—”

  “I’ve got a lot going on, in case you haven’t heard.”

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  She disconnected before he could respond.

  The mayor’s door was open. He scanned the room. The mayor was alone, for once. He closed the door.

  Mayor Kim stood as Brandon entered.

  “Working on a Sunday?” she asked.

  “I could ask the same of you,” he replied.

  “Not that we’ve agreed we’re both overworked,” she motioned toward the conference table. “Have a seat, chief.”

  “I’ll stand, thanks.”

  A flash of anger crossed her eyes.

  “Suit yourself.” The mayor sat on the edge of her desk, arms crossed. “We need to talk about the investigation,” she said.

  Brandon rested his hands on his duty belt.

  “If you’re going to—”

  She put a hand up. “I won’t tell you how to do your job.”

  He didn’t believe that, but he let her continue. Better to get this over with.

  “The word is that Ruby Taylor is the main suspect in the death of the two youngsters who were murdered.”

  “She’s a suspect, not the main suspect.”

  “And who would that be?”

  “Right now, there are a handful of people that had the means and desire to kill Lauren.”

  “And Justin?”

  “If it’s the same person, yes.”

  Brandon believed it was, but he was reluctant to share more information with the mayor. It wasn’t so much that he didn’t trust Mayor Kim, it was that he didn’t trust her ability to keep whatever Brandon told her private.

  “You’re not considering that young man Adam, are you?”

  “Of course I am.”

  “He seems like such a nice man.”

  “Mayor, the world of homicide is full of examples of nice guys who were serial killers.”

  “That’s different,” she said.

  “I got leads to follow today, mayor. Is there anything else?”

  “Only that I’m getting reports of issues among the officers.”

  “Issues?”

  “A loss of confidence,” she said. “In your leadership.”

  “Reports from where?”

  Most likely, Nolan because he was sore with Brandon about being placed on unpaid leave after the shooting incident. And the fact that Brandon had hired Jackson instead of his friend. And the noticeable level of disdain Brandon had for him. Come to think of it, Nolan had lots of reasons to be unhappy with Brandon.

  None of them held any merit, though.

  “The complaints are from within the department,” she said.

  “You mean Nolan,” Brandon said.

  She uncrossed her arms and moved behind her desk.

  “The person I talked to reported more than one officer is unhappy with the way things are going.”

  “It’s Nolan, and he’s lying,” Brandon said. “And what exactly do my officers supposedly have a loss of confidence about?”

  “This case, for one thing. The situation with Ruby—”

  “I thought you weren’t going to tell me how to do my job.”

  “You have a PR issue here.”

  Brandon shook his head.

  “Hear me out,” she said.

  She’d claimed the conversation would be quick.

  “Okay.”

  “Ruby Taylor looks guilty of murder. The vampire connection with the teeth—”

  “Nolan told you about that too?”

  “If you don’t figure this out soon, either charge Ruby with murder or find out who did this, you’ll have an uprising on your hands.”

  An uprising? Really?

  “This is a small town, Brandon. You know what that means. News travels fast and everyone has something to say about it. I can’t have a Chief of Police that no one trusts.”

  It wasn’t the first time in his career he’d heard someone suggest politics were more important than the truth.

  “I will continue to work on solving this murder. When you’re ready to relieve me of my duties, let me know. In the meantime,” he tipped his cap to her, “have a nice day, mayor.”

  Chapter 35

  It was a good thing Nolan was already out on patrol by the time Brandon got back to his office.

  Brandon had been too easy on Nolan. He had a mind to take the lazy, disrespectful officer out to the parking lot and teach him a lesson. The mayor wanted to threaten Brandon with losing his job? She could have it.

  He had a job to do, and first and foremost that was to finish out this murder investigation. He didn’t have definitive proof that Ruby had killed either Justin or Lauren. Maybe she did, but if he was going to ask the prosecutor to move forward, he had to be sure.

  When this case was over, he’d decide what to do next. Maybe he wasn’t cut out to be Chief of Police in a small town full of rumors, hidden alliances, and petty jealousy. But he knew how to solve crimes, and that’s what he would do.

  Brandon spent the morning ignoring his phone and email, going over the case files again.

  The DNA could be from Ruby—he was still waiting to hear back.

  It could be someone else.

  The coroner had said it was a woman, and the only woman whose DNA he didn’t have yet was Brooke.

  It wouldn’t be easy, considering her connection with the mayor’s Minister of Tourism, but he would get Brooke’s DNA if it took a court order.

  Brandon glanced up at the clock. It was almost one. He’d told Emma and his dad he’d stop by for lunch.

  Brandon climbed the steps to his dad’s house. His father opened the door.

  “You’re late.”

  “It’s barely one,” Brandon said.

  “One fifteen. Most people eat lunch at noon.”

  His father moved aside, letting Brandon in.

  Brandon found Emma in the kitchen washing dishes.

  “Hey, Em.”

  “Hey,” she said, not turning around.

  “Sorry I’m late.”

  “No big deal. We already ate.”

  She reached up to put a stack of plates away, then faced him.

  “I’m getting used to you not being around.”

  “What?”

  “Like yesterday, when you came home at like midnight,” she said. “And you didn’t show up to church this morning either.”

  “I called and said I’d be late. And I told you I might not be able to make it.”

  His dad sat down at the kitchen table. Brandon didn’t want to have this conversation in front of him.

  “We can talk about this later,” Brandon said.

  He glanced at his father.

  “Don’t mind me,” his father said.

  “I was worried about you,” Emma said.

  “Emma, I’ve been a cop for your entire life.”

  “And it’s no big deal, right? Just like you told mom.”

  “I was right, wasn’t I? Nothing bad has happened yet.”

  “Yet. Did you know studies show police officers have a life expectancy ten to twenty years lower than the average person?”

  “Where did you hear that?”

  “Research, dad. The National Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Center for—”

  “Okay, but this is Forks we’re talking about here.”

  “What about that construction worker guy who shot at your officers? And there’s been two murders. The graffiti says there will be more.”

/>   “That probably has nothing to do with the case, Em.”

  “Like that,” she said. “You don’t tell me anything about the case. Just let me sit and worry about you while I’m at home.”

  “I’m trying to protect you,” he said.

  “You think I can’t handle it?”

  “Well, yeah.”

  She shook her head. “See. You don’t need me at all. I’m just supposed to stay locked up in my room all day—.”

  “You can go back to your mom’s if that’s what you want,” Brandon said. “I told you there wouldn’t be much for you to do here.”

  “I don’t want to go back there,” she said, crying now. “That’s where Mattye died. And if I leave you here, you’re going to die too.”

  He wrapped his arms around Emma.

  “I’m sorry, Em.”

  “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “I won’t. Not anytime soon.”

  “You can’t promise that,” she said.

  He pulled back. “You’re right. I can’t. But I’m a pretty smart guy, and I’ve managed to do okay so far.”

  “Why can’t we move back home?”

  “This is my job now, Em. And it’s still safer than the city.”

  “But everyone hates you here.”

  Brandon took a step back. Why would she think that?

  “It’s in the paper.” She pointed to the kitchen table.

  Brandon’s dad turned his laptop so Brandon could see the local newspaper website.

  “I was going to say something,” his dad said, “but I didn’t want to interrupt your Hallmark moment there.”

  Brandon rolled his eyes and took the laptop.

  The lead headline read New Chief Fumbling Murder Cases, by Ted Nixon.

  The article outlined the case against Ruby, with quotes from Olivia about how Brandon had supposedly manhandled Brooke and Adam while letting Ruby, the real culprit go free. There was something else too—an anonymous source claiming Brandon knew he was wrong about Ruby but was too headstrong to admit it.

  The same thing Nolan had said to Brandon this morning.

  “Is all that true, about the vampire teeth and the Ruby woman giving the girl a ride right before she killed her?” Emma asked.

  “Sort of.”

  “He makes a good case, Brandon. She looks guilty as hell.”

  “The only reason Ted knows half of this is because Nolan leaked it.”

  “Is Nolan the one who used to date Misty?” Emma asked.

  “Misty Brooks? That girl you dated forever?” his dad asked.

  “Yes.”

  “She was a nice girl,” his dad said. “Even your mom liked her. How’d you let that one get away?”

  His dad knew Misty had been dating someone else—the father of her child—when Brandon returned from boot camp.

  “It doesn’t matter. None of this should be in the paper.”

  He was tired of the second-guessing, be it by the mayor, Nolan, the press…and now his family. Of all the people who could support him, his father should be one of them.

  He ought to know better than to expect so much from Buzz Mattson.

  “You say one of your officers leaked this, but no one cares about that,” his dad said. “What they care about is that someone who looks like a murderer is getting away with it—”

  “No one is getting away with anything,” Brandon said. “And I don’t need your advice on how to run an investigation. If people would just mind their own damn business…”

  His father glared back at him. “Eli never talked to me like that.”

  “Oh, hell. Here we go again. Let me tell you something. Eli was a great brother, and all-around good guy. They even want to build a statue or monument or whatever to him. Great. But Eli never solved a murder case in his life.”

  “Don’t talk ill of your brother,” his dad said. “If your mom was here—”

  “If mom were here, you’d still be the same hard ass you’ve always been. Hell, I’m surprised you don’t blame me for her death too.”

  “It wouldn’t hurt if you acted like you gave a damn about family.”

  “And if I hadn’t ever left home, Eli wouldn’t have got shot and mom would still be alive, right?”

  Brandon’s vision blurred behind the angry white specks that filled his vision. His father stared back at him, silent.

  “I’ll take that as your answer,” Brandon said. “You know, if you thought about someone besides yourself for once in your life…” Brandon took a deep breath. He’d said enough. “I’ve got to get back to work.”

  He turned to Emma, gave her a quick hug and pecked her on the cheek. “I love you. I’ll do my best to be home early.”

  “Okay.”

  “Brandon—” his father called out after him, but he’d already closed the front door.

  Chapter 36

  Brandon tugged on the front door of the Forks Journal Extra.

  Locked.

  He’d heard that Ted ran the paper on his own, a sign he wasn’t getting much as far as advertising revenue. Going after Brandon with the stories about a department in disarray and an allegedly mishandled murder investigation was no doubt Ted’s attempt to increase readership, and as a result, ad sales.

  Sales or not, Ted was compromising his case. And the shots he’d taken at Brandon in his article had upset Emma. If he were honest, that was what had pissed him off the most.

  He glanced up and noticed a Honda Civic approach the newspaper office. As the car came closer, Brandon could see it was Ted Nixon.

  Ted’s eyes widened and he sped up again, continuing down Forks Avenue.

  Brandon hopped in the SUV and made a U-turn. Ted turned right onto Calawah Way. Brandon flipped his lights on.

  Ted pulled over.

  Brandon approached the car. Ted rolled down his window.

  “Good afternoon, officer.”

  “Cut the crap, Ted.”

  “Why am I being stopped? Wait, don’t tell me—I have a taillight out? No. Not that. I failed to use a turn signal, nope. Speeding—I wasn’t doing that either.”

  Brandon pointed at Ted’s rearview mirror. A collection of press badges and various backstage passes hung from the post.

  “Your view is obstructed. You’ll need to remove those.”

  Ted rolled his eyes.

  “You need my I.D., registration, insurance?” Ted said, handing them to Brandon.

  Brandon checked Ted’s driving record. The only mark against him was a speeding ticket—10 miles over the limit—from five years back.

  He should give the reporter a ticket for the obstructed view. But that’s not why he stopped Ted. He would give the man a warning, but it had nothing to do with his driving.

  He handed the papers back to Ted.

  “No ticket?” Ted asked.

  “Stop being a smart ass before I change my mind.”

  “Is that a threat, chief? Should I pull out my cell phone and record this conversation?”

  “Record what you want,” Brandon said, leaning down. “But know this. I don’t appreciate being the target of a hit piece by some hack reporter.”

  “Nice one,” Ted said. “But I gave you a chance to tell your side of the story.”

  “And when exactly did you do that?”

  “Three or four times I asked you about the case and you refused to divulge any details.”

  “Because it’s an active investigation.”

  “And back in the big city, you didn’t share info with reporters?”

  Those were professionals who knew when to keep their mouths shut.

  “You know,” Ted said. “The town doesn’t trust you. Doesn’t think you’re doing your job. Letting Lauren Sandoval’s killer get away with murder.”

  “And how much of that is due to the crap you put in print?”

  Ted shrugged his shoulders. “I tell it like I see it.”

  Brandon stood, putting a hand on Ted’s car. “Well Ted, here’s how I see t
hings. You can tell your friend Nolan that he’s done being your mole in my department.”

  Ted’s smile faded. “Who said anything about Nolan?”

  “You did, by the look on your face right now.”

  Ted laughed. “That doesn’t prove anything.”

  “You’ve gone too far, Ted. That’s the problem. You lost your only contact within the department and you probably just got him fired too.”

  Brandon planned to wait for Jackson before approaching Brooke about a DNA sample. He hoped the female officer’s presence would help calm a potentially volatile situation.

  In the meantime, he would deal with Nolan. He asked one of the reserve officers to come in early and then called Nolan’s cell and told him to report back to the station immediately.

  Nolan stepped into Brandon’s office.

  “What’s up, chief? I have an hour left on my shift.”

  “Peterson will cover your area.” Brandon said.

  He considered Nolan carefully.

  “I take it Ted contacted you,” Brandon said.

  Nolan’s face reddened. “I…uh.”

  “Don’t lie. It will only make it worse.”

  Nolan rested his thumbs on his belt. “I’m serious. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Ted told me everything,” Brandon said. It was an old detective trick, but worth a try. A half-truth.

  Nolan wouldn’t budge. “Sorry, chief. I don’t—”

  Brandon stood. “Place your pistol and badge on my desk.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. Do it.”

  Nolan stared back at Brandon, whose hand was resting on his own pistol. He didn’t know Nolan well enough to trust the man, especially under pressure. He’d already shown, in the incident with Jackson and Doug Nevins, that he had trouble controlling his impulses.

  Nolan pulled the clip out of his pistol and placed it on Brandon’s desk.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Your badge.”

  Nolan shook his head, but placed the badge on the desk. Brandon took both and put them in the drawer beneath his desk and sat back down.