.38 Caliber Cover-Up

impatiently as Brian didn’t react.

Her brother took two threatening steps toward Brian, who yanked the phone from his pocket. “The longer we stay here, the more you’re putting your family at risk.”

Darby took the phone and moved to the chair in the corner, skimming through the pictures slowly, studying details she hadn’t noticed with Erren next to her.

This is what Erren had been doing when she’d finished her shower. They’d seen the same pictures. What had he seen to change his mind? He’d been loving and caring then had become withdrawn…even for him. Scrolling through the evidence sheets shouldn’t have meant anything to him. What had she missed? So what did he see? Someone he knew?

Whatever it had been, it was enough to send her straight to a safe house.

“Time’s up, Darby.” Stepping forward, Brian reached for his phone.

Her brother put a hand out to stop him. “She’s done when she’s done, Mr. Thrumburt.”

Each picture was important or Michael wouldn’t have included it. She focused on the small details. Trying to connect the dots. She was determined to discover what Erren had seen that had changed his mind. What was his urgency that caused him to shift plans?

This won’t be over until I find Pike’s murderer. How many times had Erren said this to her?

Maybe it wasn’t what Erren had seen, but what he hadn’t.

“He’s after Pike’s murderer.” She looked at Brian for confirmation. “Erren is out for revenge.”

“We don’t know who pulled the trigger, but these men are responsible.”

Brian gestured to the phone. “Rhodes accepted that we wouldn’t know what truly happened that night until your brother awakens.”

“Is that what he told you? He’s a very good liar.”

Good enough to convince you to walk away.

“We really must leave, Darby.” He turned toward her father, perhaps to make a plea. The motion pulled his left sleeve higher on his wrist, exposing more of the ink stain she’d seen the day before.

The ink smeared on the back of his wrist wasn’t an accident. It was a faded dragon’s tail—or a tattoo the ADA was having removed. A very sketchy, not well-done yet completely recognizable gang sign. She flipped through the pictures and found the young woman who looked totally wasted. A hand helped her shoot more drugs into her arm. A hand with a dragon…

Brian’s hand. He constantly pulled at his sleeves, constantly covered his hands. He’d been playing them this entire time. It explained why the men involved knew to look through Pike’s picture albums and her box of photos.

Thrumburt was dirty.

Erren! He was walking into a trap.

Control your breathing. Don’t let Thrumburt know you figured it out. Set your emotions aside, O’Malley, she could hear Erren’s voice whispering in her ear.

Okay, think. Erren probably had a plan, but he’d sent her to Thrumburt, so he didn’t know he was dirty. Her partner didn’t have all the facts and she was the only person who could warn him he was in danger.

But Thrumburt had called the U.S. Marshals to arrange for her protection. It didn’t make sense. She stared at the phone, unwilling to risk anyone seeing her face. She had to get herself under control and think like a cop, act like Erren. She could play the role of an undercover agent. It was about more than lying.

Obviously, Erren hadn’t shared all of his plans. What if the marshals’ arrival had taken Thrumburt by surprise? What if the Medic had called them here to take his place? There were more possibilities than she had time to consider.

Thrumburt didn’t act as if he knew she could identify him in the pictures. His easiest route was to blame everything on Erren. If she deleted the picture it may buy Erren more time. She’d get Thrumburt away from her family, ditch the marshals and find her partner.

Piece of cake.

“It’s no use. I’ll never discover what Rhodes saw or how his mind works.” If she couldn’t lie, then she’d tell the truth. “He has a compulsion to find Pike’s killer that I don’t understand.”

“Let him do his job, Darby.” Thrumburt took his phone from her. “He knows what he’s doing.”

“I know he’s capable.” She looked at the floor. If she looked at Brian, she was certain he’d see through her. “Give us a minute, will you? Then I’ll be ready to go.”

The dirty ADA left the room. She hurried to her father, digging in her purse for the Glock.

“I guess Rhodes is Paladin?” he asked.

“Yes, sir. If you’ve ever trusted me, Dad, do it now.” She hugged him, pressing the gun into his hand. “I don’t have time to explain. Do whatever it takes to protect Michael. You’ve got to get out of here and hide.”

“Then you need to come with us,” her brother said, matching her whisper.

“I can’t.” She wasn’t going to break apart. Not now. She swallowed the emotion building in her throat and hugged her dad one last time, pulling Sean into the group for a quick squeeze. “He saved my life and Michael’s. He doesn’t know he’s walking into an ambush.”

“Let me come,” Sean said.

“There’s no way you can go alone,” her father said at the same time.

With a hand on each of their shoulders, she looked between them, tilting her head toward her little brother. “It’s going to take you both to get him out of here and protect him. It’s my responsibility to warn my partner.”

And the only way to ensure you’re all safe. Time for this woman to come to the rescue.

“I don’t like this, Dar.” Sean’s voice sounded angry, with more emotion than she’d heard from him since he was a kid.

“You know I can take care of myself.”

“At least take the Glock.” Her father pushed it back toward her.

“Come on, Dad. I’ve got another in my boot and extra clips in my purse. I’m a cop, remember?”

“But also my little girl.”

“You taught us to never leave a man behind,” she whispered. “Erren’s my man, Dad.”

“Keep your head down, shoot straight, and we’ll see you Sunday for the Cowboys game.”

“Yes, sir.” Another quick hug. “I’ve got to go. Take care of him.”

Brian was watching for her through the little window in the door and pushed it open. The marshal walked into the room after she’d left.

“He’s staying behind.” Thrumburt placed his hand in the small of her back to guide her down the hall. “I think you’re right, Darby. We need to find Erren. We’re the only people he can trust.”

The man’s hand wasn’t warm like Erren’s. It didn’t comfort her in any way. It creeped her out and it took all of her control to keep from cringing.

“Why the change of heart?” she asked.

“Erren’s GPS indicates a location in Dallas. He’s not headed back to San Antonio like we thought. I’ve already got a unit moving into position to back him up, but I believe I should be there to make certain things go smoothly. We wouldn’t want the cops to shoot him on sight.”

Or you want to be there to ensure that’s exactly what happens.

They climbed into the waiting car driven by the second marshal. Thrumburt sat in front. She took the back. The sedan was dark inside as they pulled away from the hospital, but not dark enough to cover her movements. Getting to her second Glock wouldn’t be an easy task.

“Where’s Thomas?” their driver asked.

“Change of plans,” Thrumburt announced. “You have the GPS location where Rhodes went. Take us there.”

“My job’s to get O’Malley to a safe house, not follow a rogue agent into the seedy part of Dallas.”

“Your job is to do what you’re told.” Thrumburt raised his voice and his speech became less refined and precise.

Darby watched the exchange. Thrumburt had never lost his cool—he played the intimidated dork to