Secrets and Lies (Crimson Romance) (15 page)

“When are you going to take this situation seriously?” Rick demanded. “This isn’t some damn game. What the hell were you doing anywhere near Dalton Montgomery? You have no idea what kind of bad news that guy is.”

“Yes I do.”

“You haven’t got a clue. You’ve been living out there in Hollywood so long you think life is like the movies, that bullets are fake.”

Charlie stilled. His chest felt tight and it wasn’t from the tape. “Yeah, like the knife that killed Billy wasn’t real, and it was all a dream, and he’ll be back in next week’s episode. Right?”

Rick sucked in his breath. “Have you got a death wish?” Suddenly he reached across the table and before Charlie could elude him, grabbed his upper arms. Charlie shouted with pain.

Rick let loose. “What the hell?”

Charlie’s breaths came fast. He thought he was going to be sick. His eyes had closed, and his head drooped. He gripped the arm to his chest. He heard his brother coming around the table. Charlie should get up and move away.

When he heard Rick beside him, Charlie said through gritted teeth, “Don’t touch me. Police brutality.”

“I’m not the police. I’m your brother.”

Charlie opened his eyes just as Rick reached for his arm. His hand snaked out to grip his brother’s wrist. “Get a warrant.”

“That’s not how it works between brothers.”

“It does now.”

“I’m bigger and stronger than you. I always have been. From what I can tell, you’ve got one good arm. I can take you.”

The door opened and Detectives Montoya and Hunt entered.

“Three on one, eh?” Charlie quipped, although he didn’t feel the situation funny.

“You can either take the jacket off, or these guys’ll hold you down while I do.”

“You’re really looking for a lawsuit,” Charlie said.

“Take the damn jacket off,” Rick growled. “I want to see what’s wrong with you.”

Charlie debated. The jacket helped hide the sculpture. But he knew Rick. If his brother said he was going to get the jacket off, he would.

Charlie stood. The chair screeched back. Rick remained rooted, but the two narcs moved forward. He slipped his good arm out and then slid the jacket down the other arm to pool on the floor.

Rick hissed and reached for his arm, but Charlie yanked it away. “That’s blood! What happened?”

“It’s a love bite. I’m into S & M.” Charlie dared not look away from his brother.

Rick stepped forward. “Let me see.”

Charlie sidestepped. “Not a chance.”

He noted Detective Hunt coming around to his side of the table. Charlie backpedaled until his back hit the wall. This was ridiculous. He was a thirty-year-old man and his brother was acting like they were kids again.

“I want a lawyer,” Charlie said.

Montoya and Hunt froze, but Rick kept coming.

“Now,” Charlie insisted.

“You’re gonna get a phone call, but it’s going to be to Mom.” Rick grabbed Charlie’s shoulder and ripped the sleeve off to expose the blood-soaked bandage.

“Shit.” Rick grabbed Charlie’s arm. With his other hand he blocked Charlie’s free hand. “That’s a fucking bullet wound! Exit wound on the other side,” he said conversationally to the other detectives. His gaze rose to meet Charlie’s. “Untreated and unreported.”

Charlie set his teeth.

“And it happened since I saw you yesterday afternoon.”

“Montgomery’s men?” Montoya asked.

“And you went back there today?” Rick asked, his voice incredulous. “Are you stupid?”

Charlie glared at his brother.

“What time yesterday did this happen, before or after midnight?”

“Did you take Juliana with you?” Detective Hunt asked.

Charlie switched his glare to him.

“You put Juliana Sanchez in the line of fire?” Rick demanded.

Charlie’s head snapped back to face his brother. “You think so little of me. You don’t know anything about me. I would die for her.”

• • •

Juliana’s heart thudded madly in her chest. Charlie cared for her deeply. She’d heard enough through the two-way mirror. She whirled away from her father and headed for the interrogation room where she yanked open the door. The cops had Charlie cornered like some wild animal.

“You’d better take your hands off your brother, Rick. He’s asked for a lawyer.” She strode into their midst. Charlie’s gaze lit on her in silent agony. She didn’t think he’d wanted her to hear what he’d said. Why didn’t he want her to know how he felt about her?

But his carefree smile crossed his face. She knew he was faking happiness.

“Did you know about this?” Rick indicated the wound.

“Did you know the detectives didn’t read Charlie his rights? Whatever case they thought they had went right down the toilet.”

“I’m his brother,” Rick said. “Miranda doesn’t apply to me.”

“Oh? I hadn’t realized Charlie was underage. When did that happen?”

“My
mom
made it happen. She told me to find out what Charlie was up to, and that’s what I’m doing.”

“I see you, your mom and my dad share the same failing. You won’t accept we’ve grown up.” Juliana pried Rick’s hands off Charlie. Charlie’s lip quirked up on one side. His blue eyes were dancing. He slid his uninjured arm around her waist.

She turned to face the detectives. “Now, do we really need a lawyer or are you going to let us walk out of here?”

Montoya stepped forward. “I was hoping you’d tell us where the relic was. We know for a fact you have it. Because we just got a report about violence at the Montgomery wedding. Dalton Montgomery was shot.”

“What?” Charlie’s arm tightened around her.

Juliana felt short of breath. “Is he dead?”

“He took a bullet to the chest. He was rushed to the hospital. His prognosis is unknown at this time.”

“What happened?” Charlie asked.

“Shortly after the wedding ceremony ended, Montgomery went into his study with some of his ‘guests,’” Montoya reported. “According to witnesses at the scene, one of those guests had had too much to drink, and an argument ensued. Knowing how valuable that relic is, apparently the man didn’t like being betrayed. He shot Montgomery, and Montgomery’s men killed him.”

“So you see how urgent it is that we get that relic,” Hunt added.

“Who’s your client, Charlie?” Rick asked in a quiet voice. “Who did you risk your life for?”

“Why?” Juliana asked. “What’s that got to do with Montgomery?”

“Detectives Montoya and Hunt told me how valuable that relic is . . . to drug dealers. What happened to Montgomery is an example. Is your client a drug dealer, Charlie?”

“No,” Charlie answered.

“Are you sure?”

“He’s a Hollywood promoter.”

“Will you wait here while we run a check on him?”

“Now you’re going to harass Charlie’s client? Why?” Juliana demanded.

“Call it a gut feeling or call it cop’s intuition,” Rick replied. “I can’t believe this guy just happened to have an item like this lying around.”

Charlie looked at Juliana. She nodded. He sighed. “His name’s Jordan Hessler.”

“While you’re waiting, you’re going to have that arm looked at,” his brother said.

Charlie shrugged. “Sure, why not.”

The narcotics detectives left them alone with Rick and an EMT who promised to be discreet. Juliana held Charlie’s hand as the EMT stitched up his arm.

“Thanks for what you did,” Charlie whispered so his brother couldn’t hear.

“I think you should give them what they want.” She put her fingers on his lips to keep him from interrupting. “But it should be your choice to do it.”

He kissed her fingers.

She glanced over her shoulder at Rick. “I see what you mean about your family. My father treated me like a child in the other room. I don’t think I’ve ever grown up in his mind.”

“You must have gotten him to see the light, because you came to me.”

“I don’t think I got that far with him. I think he wonders who the stranger is in his daughter’s body.”

Charlie smiled with heat in his eyes.

Juliana felt her cheeks burn. “That came out wrong.”

His thumb drew circles on the inside of her palm. “The way you said it, that stranger would be me.”

“You’re not a stranger, not really.”

“All finished,” the EMT said. “When was your last tetanus booster?”

Charlie frowned. “I don’t know. Five years ago, maybe.”

“I’d better give you another one to be safe. And a shot of antibiotics. You’re lucky this isn’t already infected. Bullet wounds need proper treatment immediately.”

Charlie grimaced. Rick walked over to check the wound.

“Ordinarily I give the antibiotics shot in the butt,” the EMT said, surveying the onlookers.

“That’s a two-way mirror over there,” Charlie said. “I’d prefer not to be a peep show.”

“OK, but it’s gonna hurt.”

“It already hurts.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

When the EMT stuck the needle in the muscle near the wound, Charlie yelled. He bit his lip for the second shot. Then they thanked the EMT, who cleaned up his equipment and left.

Rick sat down in the chair he’d vacated. “You could have died if the bullet had hit you six inches to the right.”

“But it didn’t,” Charlie said.

“I don’t want to lose another brother.”

Juliana saw the reminder of their brother’s murder in both their eyes.

“I’m not as inept as you think, Rick,” Charlie said. “They make you take classes before you can get your P.I. license.”

“Classes don’t cover everything. They don’t teach you how to avoid a bullet.”

“I did pretty well. I got away.”

“This time.” Rick’s brown eyes were grave.

“Rick, I’m not looking for danger. I just try to do my job, whatever someone hires me to do.”

“Do you vet your clients?”

“I don’t do a background check, no. I get referrals mostly.”

Rick leaned back in his chair. “This Jordan Hessler, he was referred to you?”

Charlie hesitated before answering. “He called me. Said he’d heard of my work.”

“Did he say who referred him?”

“That was enough for me. I knew him from the industry.”

“I see.”

“Rick, it’s no different than when people come to the cops for help. You don’t vet them.”

Rick opened his mouth to reply when Montoya and Hunt returned. They pulled up chairs and sat down across the table. Their faces were set and serious. Juliana braced herself and gripped Charlie’s hand.

“There’s good news and bad news,” Montoya reported. “Your client doesn’t have a record.”

“And the bad news?” Charlie asked.

“The California narcs and the DEA suspect he supplies drugs in Hollywood.”

“Rumor in the drug community is there will soon be a new top man in town,” Montoya reported. “His name is Jordan Hessler. Your client.”

The news hit Charlie in his solar plexus. He’d been suckered by a Hollywood player. Jordan had known he wanted to promote his P.I. business and had offered it to him in exchange for retrieving the sculpture. He’d come to Miami an innocent, star-struck fool.

The sculpture dug into Charlie’s chest. He wasn’t returning it to an honest man. Jordan Hessler was the tool to flood Hollywood with more drugs.

Juliana squeezed his hand.

“You didn’t know your client’s reputation?” Montoya prompted.

Charlie started to shake his head, but then he realized he had known. “I’d heard rumors people could get drugs at his parties. You can’t work out there without some idea of where you can get a buzz. But I didn’t make the connection.”

“Bro, he used you,” Rick said.

Charlie sighed. “I know that.” Disappointment weighed on him. And shame. His brother and Juliana were witnessing his failure.

“You going to give him a drug pipeline?” Montoya asked.

Charlie’s free hand fisted. He’d taken a bullet for nothing. He’d risked Juliana for nothing. He’d been belligerent with the police—the real good guys—for nothing.

His shoulders slumped. “No.”

“Where’d you stash the relic, Charlie?” Rick asked.

All for nothing. Charlie had changed his life so he could make a difference, make his family proud of him, make them value him the way they’d valued Billy. There must be a way to make a difference this time. Billy was probably killed by someone on drugs. Could Charlie use the statue to strike a blow against the drug world? Avenge Billy in some way?

“If I produce it,” he began, “is there a way to use it to prove Jordan Hessler is a drug dealer?”

Montoya and Hunt looked at each other, and Montoya answered. “We’re not familiar enough with the California drug community to answer that.”

“Can your counterparts out there or the DEA tell me?”

“Probably.” Montoya frowned. “You’re proposing a trade?”

Charlie inhaled. “I’m proposing a sting. I’ve already got an in with Jordan. If I get on a plane now, I can be there before evening, before Montgomery gets out of surgery and can issue any orders, if he lives. They can wire me and get it on tape, whatever they need.”

Montoya shook his head. “You’re a civilian. The DEA isn’t going to go for that.”

“No, Charlie,” Rick said.

Charlie shot to his feet. “I’m not a civilian. I’m a licensed private investigator. I’ve had training. I’m not useless. I can do this.” He had to salvage something out of this and prove he was capable, that he could contribute.

“You were fumbling around on this end,” Hunt reminded him.

“I know better now. You’re concerned about some Columbian drug lord funneling drugs into your city. Hell, he’s going to funnel them somewhere no matter what. Why not do a sting on
him
?” God, yes.

Juliana shook her head. He saw fear in her eyes. For him. Not her, too.

“Mr. Ziffkin, that’s pretty naive,” Montoya said.

“Why is it naive? Why isn’t it brilliant? We’ve got something he wants badly. We’ve got leverage. Why can’t we use it to catch him?”

“Stuff like that only happens in the movies, Charlie.” Rick’s expression told him to get real.

Charlie burned with frustration. “Why? Because it’s what we all want so badly? Dreams only come true in make-believe, is that what you’re saying?”

“Reality isn’t always pretty,” Hunt said.