Page 39 of Secrets Bared
“Yep.” He had to stop his foot from tapping as he waited for the badge to print. She peeled it off the backing paper and handed it to him.
“There you go. Come in and have a seat and I’ll get someone to take you back.”
A buzzer sounded, and he pushed the door open, finding a small waiting area with four plastic chairs in an alcove. It must be a typical slow day for crime, because only five minutes passed before another officer came up to him.
“Mr. Graham? I’m Officer Delaney.” Shaking his hand, he noted that the officer looked slightly younger than Luke’s thirty-five years. “Come on back and we’ll talk.”
Luke followed him into an interview room. Usually, he was on the other side of the table, but this time he was the one sweating putty balls.
He settled into the hard plastic chair and laid the manilla envelope on the table between him and Officer Delaney.
“What seems to be the problem?”
Luke licked his lips, and then just went for it. “My little brother is caught up in some trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?”
With a sigh, Luke poured the photos out of the envelope. “He’s caught up in a drug dealing ring.” The map he’d printed with the trailer’s location and the photos of the trailer he’d got online didn’t want to come out.
Officer Delaney frowned as he picked through the evidence. “Sir, with all due respect, why are you turning him in?”
“Because I also work in law enforcement, just at the federal level.” With a shake of the envelope, the map and the final photos dumped onto the table.
Officer Delaney froze. Slowly, he looked up at Luke. “Where do you work?”
Luke pulled out his wallet and flipped the special insert with his government ID out to show him. “I work for the Bureau.”
The officer pulled a scowl. “You’re a Fed?”
Great, one ofthosepolicemen. Luke raised his hands in the universal sign for surrender. “I’m on leave, Officer Delaney. Plus, we can’t get involved unless they’re crossing state lines, which I don’t have reason to believe they are, yet. Believe me, if I had that kind of proof, then I’d have my supervisor on the phone faster than you could order a milkshake at The Busy Bee.”
Delaney flipped through the pictures again, then shoved them back into the envelope. “This trailer is outside our jurisdiction. We can’t help you.”
“My mother’s house isn’t.” He pointed at the photo of the drugs in Aaron’s crate as Delaney put it away. “That’s where this photo was taken.”
His face reddened and he spat his next words. “I said, we cannot help you, Agent Graham.” He handed Luke the envelope, then opened the door and gestured for Luke to go. “Good day, sir.”
“Let me speak to your chief.”
“Chief MacNeil is in a meeting with the mayor and can’t be disturbed.”
“Perfect. I’m sure the mayor would be interested in this as well.” As he stood to make good on his threat, Delaney grabbed his arm and practically threw him towards the front door.
“As I said, this is out of our jurisdiction. The Chief will not speak with you. Nowleave.”
What the hell? Confused, and a bit dazed, Luke watched as Delaney spun on his heel and walked back the way he’d come.
“I don’t understand,” he murmured to himself.
“Luke?”
He turned toward the familiar voice and caught sight of a tall man in a sheriff’s uniform. “Gabe?”
“I thought that was you.” His former football teammate clapped him on the shoulder, then dropped his voice. “We can’t talk here.”
Now Luke was really confused. Gabe leaned back a bit and threw an arm around his shoulder.
“It’s been forever, man,” he spoke at a normal volume. “I didn’t know you were in town.”
