Page 22 of Rules of Engagement

"Several of your neighbors have security cameras and our tech guys are looking through the recorded footage. We'll run any vehicle we can identify against traffic cam footage in the area. Sis, it would help if you could..."

"I didn't see anything, except a motorcycle that sped past, and I don't even know if that had anything to do with the shooting."

"You told the detectives yesterday that you thought it was blue. Do you remember anything else about it? Was it parked on the street when you got home? Do you remember the model by any chance?"

"I don't remember if it was here because I wasn't looking for it. I was just happy to get home. I remember it was big, bigger than one of those narrow bikes that people usually ride on dirt tracks but I don't remember anything else."

"How many riders?"

"One, I think. Did you get anything from the ballistics report?" I asked.

"I picked up the recovered bullets from the surgeons and took them into MPD myself. They're being run today."

"Will you tell me as soon as you get something new?"

"Yes, but anything I tell you is strictly off the record, okay?"

"Okay," I agreed. Who was I going to tell anyway?

"Let's go inside and get your stuff. Do you know what you want?"

"I have no idea." I got out, slightly guilty for my short, snappy answers. My brother was only trying to help but my frustration wasn’t just because there was so little I could tell him, it was also because I was so confused. Not only that, but hurt too. Knowing that Solomon was compelled to hide something as big as a threat on his life really hurt me. If I'd known about it before, I could have been more alert. I could have been more watchful and I wouldn't have a check for a million dollars heating up my pocket like a burning ember. No, I'd been plunged straight into this nightmare without any warning. I didn't even know what kind of a nightmare it was: an assault gone wrong or a botched-up hit.

I did know one thing. I needed answers and as much as my brother was willing to help, I had a whole private investigation agency just waiting at my disposal. If anyone could detect anything, it had to be them. Some of my colleagues had known Solomon for years, long before I met him. He might have shared something personal with them that he didn't share with me.

We walked past the police officer stationed outside and Garrett unlocked the door before we stepped into the quiet house. The size never bothered me before but now it felt cavernous. Everything inside was so still. No one set the alarm code. Solomon's boots were outside the coat closet where he kicked them off last night. My shoes were right next to them. His phone, keys and wallet were on the console with a small collection of coins like he was about to walk in and scoop them up.

I gulped. I didn't know when that would be.

I stepped forwards, looking into the living room. The dinner things were exactly where I left them on the coffee table. I walked in and grabbed them, noisily stacking everything together before taking them into the kitchen and putting them away. Garrett followed me. I stomped out again with Garrett behind me.

"Are you going to follow me everywhere I go?" I asked.

"Kinda, yeah."

Something in his voice made me stop. "You think someone is going to come after me," I said as a statement, not a question.

"It crossed my mind that Solomon might not have been the true target."

"That doesn't make any sense. If I were the intended target, they could have easily shot him, then come into the house and shot me too. Or shot me when I came to the door. Or if they were waiting for both of us to get home, they could have shot me in the street."

"All very good points."

"So you can stop worrying about me."

"No can do. What if they expected you to come to the door, and shot him by accident?"

"There're more than two rounds in a gun. They still could have shot me."

"Maybe. Maybe not. There're other possibilities we have to consider."

"Do you think someone might come after me because of him?"

"Also a possibility. It would help if I knew if Solomon were the intended target and why someone wanted to kill him."

"I still have no clue," I said.

"But you'll certainly tell me if you think of one?" Garrett caught me by the arm. "I know it's crossed your mind to investigate this on your own but this is not a case for the agency or for you. You're way too close. Plus, I have Mom calling me every thirty minutes for an update and Dad has already mentioned coming out of retirement. That means, I'm going to have a helluva time just fielding you all while trying to kickstart this investigation."

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