Page 59 of Night Watch
Brynn Frost stood near the perimeter of the large scene with other bullet-ridden vehicles parked where the drivers had stopped. She spun to look at the team as they approached.
Erik tried not to look formidable, but his days as a patrol cop left him with a certain swagger that he’d never lost. He’d worked with Frost before, and at one point, she’d thanked him for being one of the few single patrol officers who didn’t hit on her. Little did she know he’d thought about it. She was an attractive woman, but with his trust issues, he didn’t think there was any point.
“Detective Frost,” he called out and waved. “Erik Byrd. One of the intended victims in this incident.”
Her big eyes widened, and recognition flashed on her face. She wore black slacks with a white blouse open at the collar that fit her trim figure well. She crossed the pavement and stuck out her hand to Erik.
“Good to you see you again, Officer… er, Mr. Byrd.”
He shook her hand, not surprised at all by her firm grip. “Just Erik.”
“I was surprised to learn you’d left the force, but then I heard it was for your brother’s health. Admirable.”
“I’m the brother in question.” Aiden offered his hand. “Aiden Byrd.”
As she shook hands with Aiden, Erik introduced the others.
She gave them a tight smile. “Not sure why you brought your forensics team along.”
“We wanted to offer our services for no charge,” Sierra said.
Frost tilted her head, her bluntly cut hair swishing over her shoulder. “Why would you want to do that?”
Sierra stepped forward, her shoulders back, her expression like their mother’s when she was determined, and Erik almost felt sorry for Frost. “Because I’m also a Byrd, and someone tried to kill my brothers. I need to do everything I can to make sure the shooter is found.”
“And because we have better facilities to process the evidence than your local lab.” Grady held up a hand. “And before you think I’m insulting your criminalists, I’m not. I’m just stating a fact.”
Frost eyed him. He’d seen the look before as she examined crime scenes. “So you really did leave, didn’t you?”
“Is that a problem? I know some officers don’t like dealing with those of us who go out on our own.”
“Not for me. Not at all. And I’d be glad for the expertise you’re offering, but I can’t authorize the Veritas Center’s services even if theyarefree.”
“But your LT can, right?” Erik knew her lieutenant would be the one to make the call. “Would you ask? Then my brother and I can give our statements from the shootings while these guys get to work.”
She ran her gaze over all of them again, and Erik was sure she was going to say no.
He couldn’t let that happen. “I’m not at liberty to say why, but this investigation is going to become top priority for your department.” He was thankful that he was told not to mention the potential anthrax to anyone else. If he did, she would immediately call the task force, and he’d have no hope of getting a look at the scene, much less processing it. “A proactive response that could get you noticed for all the right reasons. Could be a career maker.”
“And you can’t say why?”
“Sorry. No.”
She watched him for a long time. His former officer days told him she was running all the information she possessed through her filter before acting. Officers did that most every minute of their shifts, though their decisions could often be life-threatening, whereas on a case that was bound to be high-profile, hers could simply be career suicide.
“Fine.” She rested her hands on her waist. “Wait here. I’ll give him a call.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t repay me by trying to force your way onto the scene.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Erik said.
“Yes, you would. We all would.” She walked across the road, digging out her phone. She stopped just down the street from the drugstore that was an old-fashioned pharmacy with a soda fountain.
The two-story building was a drab beige stucco. Big picture windows held old-fashioned advertising signs, and the customers and staff were staring out the windows. But what Erik really cared about was the open window above where their shooter had taken a stand and fired off more bullets than Erik could count.
Grady stared up there too. “If you guys didn’t have the bulletproofing, you’d all be toast.”
