Forever Hers by Walters, Ednah (new ebook reader .TXT) 📗

be meeting Berry Briggs. The man was a considered a legend, his meticulous method of solving a case used as an example at the Academy. Briggs had left Seattle P.D. with a perfect record after thirty years of service, moved to Sandpoint and continued making waves. He should have been made chief by now, but it was rumored he’d turned it down more than once, preferring to continue solving cases. Working a case with him would be an honor.

A statuesque blonde about his age, maybe older, opened the door from the inside before they reached it. Hair cut short, crisp uniform, she had traffic cop written all over her. Behind her sat a heavyset older man with craggy eyebrows, full head of white hair and a full beard. He didn’t get up.

“Nice to finally meet you, Detective Fitzgerald,” the blonde said. “I’m Sally Paige and this is—”

“Captain Briggs,” Eddy finished. He shook Sally’s hand then focused on the detective who eyed him with narrowed eyes. “Everyone has heard of Ol’ Bear Briggs.”

Briggs didn’t crack a smile. “Don’t believe everything you hear, City Slicker.”

Eddie grinned. “Were you not the man who seized the largest marijuana growing farm with an estimated street value of $80-point-something million just a few months ago? Dismantled a meth smuggling ring—”

“Okay, okay, so you’re more than just a shootin’, tottin’ city cop. You still have a problem with people in authority?”

Eddie winced. The captain must have read his file. “Only when they put politics above serving and protecting people.”

“Or attempt to destroy the reputation of your partner,” Detective Briggs added. “I admire loyalty, except when it is misplaced. Is it misplaced, City Slicker?”

“I’d stake my reputation on his, sir.”

“So I heard. The name is Briggs or captain. I don’t go for no sir, yes sir like you city folks.” The detective indicated the chair across from his. “Take the load off. You too, Sally.”

Eddie waited until the woman sat then settled on his chair. “So how can I be of service, captain?”

Briggs chuckled. “Depends on whether your reputation is real or a mere fart in the wind.”

Eddie grinned. “Give me a chance and you can find out for yourself.”

He stared at Eddie then leaned forward. “I think I’ll just do that. I pulled somethin’ huntin’ a few weeks ago, so Sally here has been my legs, eyes and ears. But too many fresh faced detectives around here want to sink their teeth in my case and claim they bested Ol’ Bear, but I’ve got some juice left in these old bones. So if you have the time, go through the evidence and find me somethin’, by then I’ll be back on track.”

Eddie nodded. “I have time. When do I start?”

“Now. You’ll be workin’ with Sally.” Briggs grinned at the female cop, who pinched her right earlobe, her cheeks reddening. According to Baron and Kara, she had been passed over for promotion a few times. Briggs must have taken her under his wings.

“You see, City Slicker,” Briggs continued, reaching for a crutch propped against the wall behind him. “You were never here, but if you crack the case, I will owe you one.”

Eddie stood and wondered whether to offer the captain a hand as he struggled to his feet. Sally must have seen his reaction because she shook her head. Eddie waited for the captain to hobble to the door.

“How bad are things?” he asked as soon the door closed behind the old man.

“Pretty bad, so the chief’s pushing Ol’ Bear hard for results. He might act like we don’t need your help, but we do. He read up on you, you know. Liked what he read too.” Sally indicated the chair.

Eddie sat. “So how many robberies so far?”

“Six, four across the lake from your house and two on your side. The burglars are slick,” she continued. “They’re in and out. No broken locks or windows. No alarms. Nothing. At first, they targeted empty homes, just entering and grabbing. The fifth one, the couple renting the house woke up and busted them. They held the couple at gunpoint and trashed up the place all but good. At the last house, they roughed up one of the renters.”

Most criminals had a method of operation. They never change, unless something happened to prompt them to. He’d have to take a look at the files before he could say anything.

“Sounds like they are getting cocky,” Eddie said.

“And more violent,” Sally added.

“Have you talked to people with access to the houses?”

“Oh yes. We started with the rental companies and their employees, then the home security folks who wired the alarms, housecleaning companies, the yard guys. Clean as a whistle, every last one of them. We even investigated the guests to see if they knew each other or had a connection. We found nothing.”

“Do you have the files on all the robberies?”

Sally reached inside her breast pocket and pulled out a thumb drive. “All the interviews we did, lists and pictures of evidence collected are all here. Don’t you just love technology.”

Eddie nodded.

She went to a side table and fired up a desktop then turned and faced him. “Do you have access to a computer?”

“I do.”

“Then you can take this with you,” she indicated the thumb drive, “But right now I want to show you something and see what you think.”

While she retrieved the files, Eddie looked around. The office was clean and spacious with a metal file cabinet to one side and bookshelves crammed with framed certificates and pictures of the captain with who-was-who in the law enforcement giving him commendations. There was even one of him with the current president.

“Okay,” Sally said. “These are the interviews of the suspects we hauled in here for questioning. See if you can read some of them.”

Eddie studied each suspect, but none showed the usual telltale signs of lying—shorter sentences, rapid blinking, more fidgeting, more speech errors punctuated with ‘uh’ and ‘mm’, out of sync body language or sweating.

It was quarter to six when they