Oath of Honor

by Lynette Eason

  “Those are the three I saw,” Izzy said. “The one on the left is the one who shot Kevin.”

  “The one who must have gone into hiding, since we’ve heard nothing about anyone spotting him,” Ryan said.

  The camera panned upward and Izzy heard a gasp sound over the speaker. Kevin. “Derek?” he whispered.

  Izzy gasped and Ryan paused the video to look at her. “Derek? Derek was there? This is what you’ve been struggling with, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And you didn’t think you needed to mention it to me?”

  She bit her lip and met his gaze. “I wanted to, but I promised I wouldn’t. I didn’t know he’d be on the video, but figured it was a possibility.”

  “Izzy. He’s an eyewitness to Kevin’s death. We needed to be talking to him!”

  She didn’t flinch at his accusatory tone. “Good luck with that. I can’t get him to answer my calls or texts. I doubt he’s going to answer yours.”

  Ryan narrowed his eyes. “Is he undercover?”

  “He said he was, but I’m not sure.”

  “When did you talk to him? I thought you said he wouldn’t answer your calls.”

  “The night Kevin died, when I texted you about someone in the warehouse. That was Derek.”

  “What was he doing there?”

  “Looking for anything that might reveal he’d been there, I guess. I don’t really know.”

  “No. He was looking for the cameras,” Ryan said. “He was checking to make sure he stayed out of sight of them.”

  “Maybe.”

  “You should have told me.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Why do you think he might not be undercover?”

  “Because my mom didn’t seem to know anything about it.”

  “Could she just be keeping it quiet?”

  Izzy shrugged. “Of course, but I don’t think she is.” She coughed and drew in another ragged breath.

  Ryan could tell she needed to rest, so he dropped the subject. For now. He looked down at the phone. “Let’s finish this,” he said.

  He pressed play once more. Derek stood on the balcony, looking down, taking pictures. Then he turned, seemed to listen for a brief second, and disappeared again behind one of the stacks of crates. The door at the top opened and shut, and the guy Izzy recognized as the man Derek eventually shot stepped inside. He’d missed seeing Derek by a fraction of a second.

  Then the camera panned back over to the office. “Look,” she said. “Someone’s in there.”

  Ryan took the phone and squinted at the screen. “We need to zoom this.” He looked up with a frown. “I don’t remember anyone else being there. No one else was caught.”

  Izzy leaned her head back against the pillow. “No, there were only the three on the main floor and the guy on the balcony with Derek. If someone else was in there, where did he go?”

  They were at the point where the voice shouted, “You a cop?”

  Then Ryan shut it off. “I don’t need to see him get shot again,” he said gruffly. “We’ll take it to David and let him see what he can pull off of it.”

  “And zoom in on the person in the office. He must have slipped out as soon as the gunshot sounded,” Izzy said. “When I ran inside, I never saw anything but Kevin. Then Derek.” She rubbed her eyes. “Now what?”

  “I want to know what Derek was doing at the warehouse and if he’s undercover,” Ryan said.

  “Me too. I’ve been thinking about that.”

  “And?”

  “I have a plan.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “Well, I thought about trying to hack into Derek’s computer to see if he had an ops plan on there somewhere, but I think it might just be easier to break into his office.”

  Ryan started. “Seriously?”

  “Yes.”

  “Izzy, we need to go to Captain Bonner with this.” Captain Pierce Bonner, Derek’s supervisor.

  “After I see if there’s an ops plan. It’s not like I can just walk up to him and ask him.”

  “Iz—”

  She climbed down from the bed. “But for now, I’m going to face my family.”

  Izzy slipped out of the room and down the hall toward the exit, bracing herself for the reunion with her family.

  It went about how she expected. After being smothered with hugs and offers of a place to live until she could figure out what she was going to do about her burned-out home, she finally spotted Chloe rushing through the automatic doors.

  Brady held her a bit longer than the others. “You scared me, sis.”

  “I’m fine.” She hoped the rasp in her voice went away fast.

  “Yeah. Now. And what’s this I heard about you getting tossed over the side of a parking garage?”

  “Shh!” She shot a quick glance at her parents, who had moved back to give the others room to reassure themselves that she was still breathing. “That’s not for everyone to know about.”

  “They’ve already heard about it. Mom forbade us to mention it to you, though.”

  “And yet you did.”

  Brady shrugged. “Just giving you a heads-up that you’re going to have to face the music soon.”

  Izzy sighed. “I’ll cross that bridge later when I have more energy. And for your information, I was not thrown over. I was … dangled.” And it had been terrifying. She planted a kiss on his cheek. “Go back to work and stay safe.” She detached herself from the rest of her family and allowed Chloe one quick hug. “I’m exhausted. Please, take me to your place. I need a shower and some clothes and some sleep.”

  “Roger that.”

  “Where’s Hank?”

  “In the truck.”

  Hank had his own temperature-controlled area in Chloe’s vehicle and would be fine for as long as Chloe needed to be away from the truck.

  “Where are Mozart and Mrs. Spade?”

  “Her daughter came and picked her up. Mozart is at Mom and Dad’s house.”

  “Okay, good.” A place he was familiar with. She often took him with her when she was going to be spending several hours there. He loved the big yard.

  With that taken care of, Izzy was ready to go. “After you.”

  Her mother hugged her one more time, then looked into her eyes. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

  “What?”

  “Besides the fact that someone tried to throw you off a parking garage?”

  Izzy winced. “He didn’t try to throw me over. He just—”

  “I’ll come back to that,” her mother said. “Ryan said you called him and thought someone was trying to kill you.” She lifted a brow. “Again, apparently. And then the fire happened. I’m not speaking as your mother, I’m your chief. What’s going on?”

  Izzy rubbed her head. The ache that had started at the base of her skull in the ambulance had now spread to her temples. “I’m honestly not sure what’s going on.” She sighed. “I had Kevin’s phone. He asked me to hide it the night he died.”

  A low gasp left her mother’s lips. “And you didn’t bother to tell me that?”

  “No. We just managed to get into it like fifteen minutes ago. There’s a video on there from the warehouse and everyone who was there. Ryan and I are going to take it to David and let him pull what he can off of it.” Izzy debated telling her about Derek’s involvement, but his urgent—almost desperate—plea for her to keep quiet stilled her tongue. “Can you give us some time to figure it out?”

  Her mother stared at her, her jaw tight, eyes narrowing. “Yes, but only because I don’t feel like you’re simply putting me off. Let me know what David says. Come by my office tomorrow and we’ll talk.”

  “Tomorrow?” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Seriously?”

  The woman grimaced. “No, of course not. Take the day—or two or three—and see how you feel.” She pressed a hand to her forehead. “I think I’m in denial. You just lost your home and this is going to take some time to straigh
ten out. I’ll contact your supervisor and let him know you’re going to be off for a bit. Rest and heal, understand?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Got it.”

  “But we will talk.”

  “About the—”

  “Yes. The parking garage. It’s all over the news.”

  Izzy grimaced. “I figured it would be. People were recording it.”

  “Fortunately, your face isn’t shown. What were you thinking?”

  Izzy scowled. “You said we’d talk about it later.”

  Her mother sighed. “Fine. I’m going to let you put me off for now, but don’t think it’s forever.”

  “I know, Mom, but for now, I just really want to go to bed.”

  Her mother’s features softened and she reached for Izzy one more time for a bone-crunching hug. “You scared me tonight.”

  “I scared myself.” She paused. “I’m sorry.”

  Her mother cleared her throat and nodded to Chloe. “Take care of her.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  Izzy rushed Chloe out of the hospital, desperate to get away from the questions and worry, even while she knew how blessed she was to have so many people who loved her. She did know that, and she was grateful, but she just wanted to be alone so she could think.

  Ryan pulled Izzy to the side while Chloe went to get her vehicle. “You’re thinking of doing this tonight, aren’t you?”

  She nodded.

  “You’re not doing it alone.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  He raked a hand through his hair and saw the chief watching them, a speculative look in her eyes. He glanced back at Izzy. “What time?”

  “Late. Or early, depending on how you look at it. Like 1:30. The office is busy, but not overrun.”

  “All right. I’ll pick you up at 1:15.”

  “Thanks, Ryan.”

  “Of course.”

  Chloe pulled to the door, and Ryan walked out with Izzy, staying right at her side.

  “What are you doing?” Izzy asked.

  “Making sure no one takes a shot at you while you’re walking to the car.”

  She grimaced. “Thanks.” She opened the passenger door and climbed in, but left the door open so she could finish her thought. “But if this guy is after Kevin’s phone, then you’re the one in danger now.”

  “Maybe, but he doesn’t know I’m the one who has it, so …”

  “True.”

  “Kevin’s phone?” Chloe asked.

  Izzy fastened her seat belt. “It’s a long story.”

  “You can tell me after you get a shower. Be sure to roll your window down, would you? I don’t want the smoky smell to linger.”

  Izzy gave a low huff. “I almost died and you’re worried about me stinking up your truck? Thanks so much. I appreciate the love and concern.”

  “Well, you didn’t die and I’m very glad for that. But roll down the window. Please.”

  In sync with the roll of her eyes, Izzy let the window down and cool air rushed in.

  Ryan shut the door, watching them. He’d always been slightly envious of the easy relationship the two of them shared. It had been that way as long as he remembered.

  He’d been so much older than Kevin that, while they got along and hung out occasionally, they hadn’t had that deep sibling bond. Not like he and Chris had shared. Chris. How he missed him. He cleared his throat. “Be careful, will you?”

  “Of course,” Chloe said. She cranked the SUV and Ryan watched them pull out of the hospital parking lot. Right behind them were two unmarked cars.

  Breathing a bit easier knowing Izzy was in good hands, Ryan decided to head home and see if he could grab a little sleep before taking the video to David.

  Kevin’s face swam before him and he pressed a hand to his eyes. God, I don’t like this new normal. Give us all strength to get through the next few days. And years.

  Kevin’s death only made Chris’s memory that much more fresh, and Ryan tried to close his heart to the renewed pain. Two brothers gone. And now he had to find a way to get through another funeral.

  After he helped Izzy break into her brother’s office.

  19

  1:30 A.M.

  Izzy’s palms itched. Ryan drove in silence, his tension rolling off of him, so Izzy just kept quiet and concentrated on not coughing. The inhaler helped fight the urge.

  Kevin’s funeral was less than twelve hours away, and she almost felt like she wouldn’t be able to rest without answers to Derek’s involvement in what had gone down at the warehouse. He still wasn’t responding to her pleas to contact her.

  So maybe this would set her mind at ease. As long as there was an ops plan.

  Ryan sat in the driver’s seat while Izzy pulled her hair into her usual work ponytail. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” he finally said.

  “Just keep an eye out for me. If anything happens, I’ll take the blame. I don’t want you implicated in any way.” No, she definitely didn’t want to bring trouble down on his head.

  “I’m not worried about that,” he said. “I want to help. I’m just not sure that this is the way to do it.”

  “I’m not either, but nevertheless …”

  “We’re doing it.”

  A flash of guilt shot through her as his phone buzzed. He read the text and frowned.

  “Who is it?” she asked.

  “Linc.”

  “My brother Linc?”

  “Yeah. I asked him to see what he could find out about Tony Bianchi.”

  “What did he say?”

  “That they’ve opened a Preliminary Inquiry of RICO and will get back to me.” The RICO Act. Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act. “That means they’ve got enough evidence on him for multiple crimes.” He shrugged. “I guess we’ll see what shakes loose.”

  She nodded, then paused. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I should just talk to Derek’s supervisor and be done with it.”

  “It’s definitely the less risky option.”

  “Is it? Less risky for who? Derek said to keep my mouth shut unless I wanted him dead.”

  Ryan scrubbed a hand down his cheek and drew in a breath. “Then let’s get this over with. Do you have the earpiece?”

  “Yes.” She shoved it in her ear and he did the same.

  Ryan parked across from the Midtown Region office and Izzy climbed out of the car, eyes darting. She was pretty sure she was out of range of any cameras. At least she hoped so.

  Ryan had decided to stay out of the building for as long as possible. They both knew there was no way he’d be able to go in without being recognized, since he worked out of this office. He’d watch the door and tell her if someone he thought she knew or might know was headed inside, but she was going to have to take her chances with the people already in the building.

  Columbia was a large city and had been divided into several regional areas. East, West, North, South, Metro … and Midtown. Derek worked out of the Midtown region. If there was an ops plan tucked away in a drawer or a file cabinet somewhere, it would be in his office.

  Or on his computer.

  She was already considering passwords he might use for that, even though she’d originally discarded the idea. He’d probably use “Elaine” or the date they met. Or something related to her.

  But first things first.

  At this time of night, the place wouldn’t be as busy as daytime hours, but it was still active and she’d have to be careful. She didn’t visit Derek at his office often and did her best to keep a low profile when it came to her last name.

  Hopefully, dressed in her uniform, she’d blend in and no one would question her presence. She pulled her cap lower over her eyes and punched the code into the pad next to the door.

  Derek gave her the code each time it was changed so that she could bring him lunch on the rare occasions they got together while on duty—or so she could drop it at the desk.

  “You okay?”

 
Ryan’s voice came through the earpiece crystal clear. “I’m fine.”

  Izzy walked through the door and kept going. She lifted a hand in acknowledgment to the receptionist, but didn’t turn her head or give the guy a chance to get a good look at her. He might wonder for a second who she was, but hopefully the ringing phone would distract him.

  Passing several other officers, she kept her head down and eyes averted.

  Finally, she reached Derek’s cubicle. Izzy casually peered around the corner as though looking for Jasmine in case anyone was watching her and wondering what she was doing. Jasmine and Derek shared cubicle space.

  With a glance back over her shoulder, she realized not a single person was paying her the slightest bit of attention. She slipped behind the partition and drew in a relieved breath.

  Out of sight of the open area where most of the cops were, she went straight to Derek’s file cabinet and pulled.

  Locked.

  Of course.

  She tried his desk and the middle drawer slid out with a slight squeak. She cringed at the sound and froze. It didn’t seem to spark anyone’s curiosity, so she searched the contents looking for the key.

  Nothing.

  When it came to an ops plan, she knew every detective and every person involved in the undercover operation got a hard copy they all used in the briefing meeting. Then a copy was placed in the case file and stored with all the other ops plans. There was also a copy on the computer, but hacking into Derek’s desktop would leave a trail and she’d rather avoid that if at all possible.

  Which brought her full circle. There had to be a key to the file cabinet somewhere in this office. Derek was notorious for asking people to do things for him.

  Like bring him lunch.

  No doubt, at some point, he’d asked Jasmine to bring him a file from the locked cabinet. So, he’d either made her a key or stashed one somewhere.

  Izzy pressed fingers to her tired eyes. Think, think. She grabbed one of the many pieces of candy from the jar on the desk, unwrapped it, and popped it in her mouth.

  She resumed her search. Five minutes later, she sat back in Derek’s chair and let out a defeated sigh as she ran through all kinds of possibilities of what he might do with the key. He wouldn’t keep it on his key ring, as he’d want someone else to be able to have access to it. Like Jasmine or someone else he trusted.