Page 90 of Night Moves
“I know. And don’t feel bad. I’m just a grouch to begin with.”
“You hungry?”
“Nah,” he said looking at the plate and noticing the lingering smell of fried chicken. “I brought back Mom’s fried chicken and potato salad from the beach.”
“And you didn’t share? Now look at who’s being heartless.” She laughed.
“Stop by. There’s plenty for you and Reed.”
“Don’t think I won’t. Gonna head out in thirty minutes or so.”
“I’ll expect you then.” He ended the call and was cheered by the thought of a visit from his sister, even if it was for only long enough to pick up the food. He could give her a hug and think about becoming an uncle. Take his mind off other things. Other people. Natalie.
But not yet. He dialed the PPB detective division and asked for Archibald. Thankfully the guy was working the night shift and Drake waited for him to come on the line.
“Archibald,” he answered, his voice booming.
“Drake Byrd of Nighthawk Security.”
“Ah yes, the new agency embraced by celebrities.” His sarcasm was rife in his tone.
Okay, so this was going to be a bigger challenge than Drake had first thought.
“What do you want?” the detective asked.
Drake explained their involvement in capturing Gentry and how they’d been trying to find Tracey. “I was hoping you could share the DNA results that my sister just gave you for Tracey’s blouse.”
“Like I’m going to tell a civilian that.”
“Way I figure it, we work together, find the woman, and you can take all the glory. You’re retiring soon, and what if this info was just the thing to nail Gentry’s coffin too? You’d go down as the one who put him away. Would be a huge win for you. You’d be a legend in the office.”
“I could just tell Detective Steele.” His deadpan response didn’t give Drake a lot of hope. “Same result.”
Drake needed to do some fast talking. “Would it be or would she try to take credit for the task force?”
“She’s not like that.”
“You don’t know how anyone is until a high profile situation like this presents itself.” He felt bad the minute the remark came out. Londyn wasn’t that kind of detective, but he had to use whatever he could to help Willow find closure.
“After all of your years on the force, you have to know that,” Drake added for good measure.
“Ha!” Archibald spit through the phone. “You’re right about that.”
Good.The guy was coming around. Drake just had to go in for the kill. “I can be sure the media knows all about your role when they interview you.”
“Might not interview me.”
Ah, yes. He was biting. “I have several contacts I can call who’ll be glad to talk to you. Once one media outlet picks it up, the others are bound to follow.”
He hemmed and hawed for a moment before he cleared his throat. “We have a deal, but don’t you dare renege on me or I’ll make you wish you hadn’t.”
“You have my word.”
“Fine. The blood belonged to a Laura Zimmer.”
“What?” Drake tried to process the news, but his brain couldn’t even comprehend it. “Are you sure? Laura Zimmer?”
“Why?”
