Chapter 5 - THE LIE
“No.”
Daniel said it quietly.
Then louder.
“No.”
Detective Pike watched him.
“Sit down.”
“I’m not sitting down.”
“Daniel.”
“I didn’t plan anything.”
“We haven’t said you did.”
“You just told me Evan did.”
Collins closed the door and looked toward Baker.
“Leave.”
Baker smirked.
“I’m assigned here.”
“Not anymore.”
“You don’t outrank me.”
“No. But Detective Pike can remove you from an active interview.”
Pike nodded toward the hall.
“Officer.”
Baker’s jaw tightened.
For one second, Daniel saw something behind his eyes.
Not irritation.
Fear.
Then Baker walked out.
The second the door closed, Daniel turned to Pike.
“You believe Evan?”
“I believe evidence.”
“That worked great the first time.”
Pike ignored the shot.
“Evan was found at a motel twenty miles north.”
“Running?”
“Apparently.”
“From what?”
“That’s what we’re trying to determine.”
Pike opened another folder.
“Evan claims you approached him about the pharmacy because you knew their rear alarm was broken.”
Daniel laughed.
“I fix kitchens.”
“He says you did work at the pharmacist’s house.”
Daniel stopped laughing.
That part was true.
Six months earlier, Daniel’s crew remodeled Dr. Patel’s kitchen.
He remembered the pharmacist talking about his business during lunch.
But Daniel had never discussed security.
“He’s setting me up.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
Pike leaned forward.
“I came here because I’m starting to think that too.”
Daniel stared at him.
Pike slid a printed photo across the table.
A traffic-camera image.
A white truck.
The timestamp was 1:48 a.m.
Thirty minutes before the robbery.
“Look at the passenger window.”
Daniel leaned closer.
Someone was sitting inside.
The image was blurry.
But the profile looked familiar.
Daniel squinted.
“No.”
“What?”
“That’s not Evan.”
“You sure?”
Daniel’s mouth went dry.
“Yeah.”
“Who is it?”
Daniel looked toward the door.
“Bring Collins back in.”
“She’s right outside.”
“Bring her in.”
Pike opened the door.
Collins entered.
Daniel tapped the photograph.
“That’s Baker.”
Collins stared at the image.
Pike said, “Image enhancement isn’t conclusive.”
“But you see it,” Daniel said.
Pike didn’t answer.
Collins picked up the photograph.
Her expression darkened.
“I’ve seen that jacket.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Where?”
“Baker wears one just like it off duty.”
Pike rubbed his face.
“That’s not enough.”
Daniel stood again.
“So find enough.”
“We are.”
“No, you’re not listening.”
Daniel pointed toward the hall.
“That man works here.”
Pike’s eyes narrowed.
Daniel continued.
“He had access to me before I was booked. He knew my case. He was in the room when I was questioned. And now Evan suddenly says I planned everything?”
Collins went still.
Daniel saw it.
“What?”
She looked at Pike.
Pike looked back.
“What?” Daniel demanded.
Collins lowered her voice.
“Three weeks ago, Baker asked me how often your wife visited.”
Daniel’s blood ran cold.
“Why?”
“He said there was a staffing issue.”
“What else?”
“He asked whether she brought the kids.”
Daniel moved toward the door.
Pike blocked him.
“Where are you going?”
“To find him.”
“You’re in custody.”
“That man was asking about my children!”
“Daniel.”
“My children are in this building!”
Pike grabbed his shoulders.
“Listen to me. If Baker’s involved, charging at him is exactly what you should not do.”
Then the lights went out.
Everything went black.
A second later, the emergency siren began.
Collins grabbed her radio.
“Control, report.”
Static.
Then screaming came from the hallway.
Pike drew his weapon.
Daniel’s heart stopped.
May you like
Because from the family waiting room, he heard Sofia scream:
“Dad!”
