Page 38 of Nowhere to Hide
“As it turned out, the owner still had records dating that far back.”
Finley settled back in his chair. While his body was doing all the right things, stretching out, his movements were stiff. The retired sergeant was far from comfortable. “Wow, that’s crazy.”
“I thought the same. But he had a copy of the requisition ordering the destruction of Susan’s car.” He brought up the photograph he took of it on his phone and walked it over to Finley. Holding the screen for him to see, he said, “That’s it right there. You don’t happen to recognize the signature, do you?”
Finley’s eyes narrowed, as if he were concentrating hard to resurrect some deeply buried memory. Eric saw it as the man scheming, trying to find a way out of this. Surely, he would recognize his own signature.
A few seconds later, he said, “How could I possibly know who signed that? It’s nothing but chicken scratch.” Finley sat back, his face plastered with another easy smile.
“That’s what I thought, and the strange part is the name field wasn’t filled in. See that?” Eric pointed at the blank line. “Hence, why I can’t tell who signed off. That is until the owner proved himself useful yet again. I had him look up other requisitions from that time to see if this signature was on any other ones that had a name.”
“And…?”
Finley deserved chops for his cool reserve. “And the owner pulled through again.” Eric swapped out the photograph for another requisition that showed Finley’s name along with thescrawled signature. He put this in front of Finley. “Isn’t that your name?”
“It is, but someone must have copied my signature. It’s not exactly unique.”
Eric could argue the point, but why bother? Finley had to see he was on the losing end.
Finley continued. “Why would the wreckers comply without a name?”
Now he’s trying to blame the wreckers.Finley was disappointing. He wasn’t even willing to take responsibility for his actions. The markers of a weak and pathetic man. “I think they were more concerned with a signature. But the point remains, only you and Todd worked this investigation.”At least the two of you who are still alive…Possibly the medical examiner was, too, but by all accounts they performed their job and that was all. As for whoever else but Simms touched the investigation from the Major Crash Investigation Unit, it was unknown. That’s if someone even had.
“Maybe Todd did this then, but even if he did, what’s really the big deal here?”
First it was the fault of the auto wreckers. Now it was all on Todd. Eric was getting tired of being diplomatic. He only had so much reserve. “It’s just that inconsistencies are stacking up.” Eric returned to the initial photograph and pointed out the date. “That was the day of the fatal crash.”
“Again, I’m not sure what you expect me to say.”
Eric pocketed his phone, disgusted by this man’s lack of loyalty and disregard for his badge. “You signed the acquisition.”
“I told you. Someone must have forged it.” Finley locked eye contact when he asked, “What are you insinuating?”
Eric remained silent. He hoped it would stir Finley to come forward, cleanse his conscience, because he sure as hell thought there was something he needed to purge.
Finley’s jaw clenched. “Forget what you think you know. You weren’t there, it was a long time ago, things were done, but it’s in the past.”
The skin tightened on the back of Eric’s neck. “What do you meanthings were done?”
“Just that. Leave it alone. It doesn’t matter.”
“Except that it very much does.”
“Right, because of some hostage taker. Who is this person anyway? What is their connection to the dead woman?”
Finley must have dehumanized her to live with what he did. “The HT is Susan Crawford’s son, the one that almost died that day along with her. He’s holding the Hanson family hostage in their home along with one of their security guards.”
Finley blanched. “The Hansons?”
“Yes.” Eric paused for a few seconds. “If there’s anything you could tell me that might help, please do.”
Finley shook his head. “It’s time for you to go, Detective.”
“I’ll see myself out.” Eric left feeling much the same as he did after every step he took in this investigation. Beaten up and broken down.
Finley’s words continued ricocheting in his head.Things were done…
Eric was determined to figure out exactly what, even if it meant overcoming near-impossible odds to do so.
