Page 109 of Charmed Forces

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, the drugged coffee, of course. I’m telling the truth about it being tested, and Daniel’s memory resurfacing. But even though you thought you created the perfect crime, you didn’t realize Detective Desmond was in the house, did you? One more target than you expected and he wasn’t unconscious like Wayne and Daniel. Or did Jacinta Victor handle it for you?”

“It was a surprise to find Desmond still there but I think you can see how I handled it. That’s why I’m here alone tonight. No one else to get in the way.”

“Did you shoot the Denneys first or the detectives?” I asked, now he was spilling the secrets.

“What is this, a confessional? I shot the Denneys obviously, since Wayne and Graves were passed out cold. I didn’t expect Desmond to walk back in but I handled it. Then I shot Wayne and I was just about to shoot Daniel when, would you believe it, he woke up. Guess he didn’t like the coffee that much. Daniel!”

“Why did you send the assassin after Detective Wayne? Why not do it yourself?”

“Jacinta? Not my idea.”

“Whose? Tom Victor’s?”

“So you know all about that, huh?” he said.

“I know all about your connection to him.”

“Well, aren’t you smart? Now, how smart is Daniel? No, not smart, howkindis he? Is he willing to let you die down here?” Captain Brandt paused, waiting for my reply. “Daniel, you’ve got thirty seconds to come downstairs or I start shooting your sister. First in one leg, then in the other leg. Then her stomach and she’ll bleed out from that painfully. Then... there you are. Nice of you to join us, Danny boy.”

I glanced away from Brandt at the creak coming from the staircase. Maddox, his hood drawn close over his face, a cap obscuring his features, stepped out. He was right. From a distance, he could be Daniel.

“Now that’s brotherly love,” said Captain Brandt, flashing me a predatory smile.

“And this is sisterly love,” I said. “Captain Brandt, I think you’ll find you’re about to be under arrest for so many crimes you’ll never see a day of freedom again.”

Light suddenly flooded the warehouse.

“Well, shit!” said Captain Brandt. Then he fired.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Lying on my back on the cold concrete floor, I was gasping for breath while the bullets flew over me. The air was all knocked out of me and I suspected I’d also hit my head when I was thrown to the ground. When the shooting stopped, Solomon dropped on one knee next to me. “You okay?” he asked.

With shaky hands, I ran my fingers across the sweater, stopping at the frayed hole. A small lump of metal protruded from the vest over my heart. “He tried to kill me,” I said, although winded. “Even when he was cornered, he still tried to kill me!”

“Garrett will add it to the felony list when he reads him his rights,” said Solomon. He glanced away, looking at something out of my view. “It’s taking a while.”

I flopped my head to one side and searched for the source of the noise. Now the gunfire had stopped, Captain Brandt was face down on the floor, shouting as his arms were pulled behind his back and Garrett handcuffed him.

“This is never going to stick!” yelled Brandt. “This is a setup by thugs in the police force designed to protect Daniel. No one will ever believe you over me! The brother and sister of a criminal? It stinks of conspiracy!”

Delgado had his gun pointed at Brandt while Maddox only just stepped off the stairs. He came to a stop next to Brandt, crouched down and pushed back his hood and pulled off his cap, running a hand over his hair. “Special Agent Maddox,” said Maddox as he flashed his badge. “You might remember me.”

“What the hell...” Brandt started.

“This is an FBI and MPD joint investigation,” Maddox explained, “and far from a conspiracy. It’s all sanctioned by my superiors who gave me the authority to bring some of our detective colleagues into the case and use informants to lure out our suspect. I think that covers all the players here. That, and your confession on tape are plenty enough to put you away for a very long time.”

“What tape?” scoffed Captain Brandt.

Solomon offered me his hand. I took it and he pulled me to sit upright. Instead of getting up, I simply lifted the necklace still hanging around my neck. “This one,” I said. “You looked directly into it.”

“Cars incoming,” called Delgado who was standing by the doors.

“That’ll be my guys,” said Maddox. “Special Agent Farid was nearby with Daniel and reinforcements. We’ll take Captain Brandt to our interview rooms and arrange for MPD to take their turn once we’re done investigating him. Want to sit in?”

“Yes,” I said.

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