Page 83

When we pull into the lot, we get out without a word and walk through the front door, going right to the receptionist. She tells us someone will be out to speak with us shortly.

We take a seat by the window. Pierce browses the magazines lined on the table while I keep my gaze out the window, watching the cars drive by. Before too long, a door opens which catches our attention. A man steps out. He’s a few years older than us, with dark hair and a thick mustache.

“Detective Thane and Warren?”

“That’s us,” I say as we get to our feet.

“Ranger Stephens.” He offers out his hand, and we shake before he leads us into the back to a small conference room. “Please, have a seat.”

He gestures to the table that can seat ten. There is a notepad and pen at one spot, so we sit side by side opposite that.

Ranger Stephens sits and picks up his pen. He comes across as more casual than I’d like, but being an asshole doesn’t always work, I’ve learned.

“So, I was told that you have evidence that involves a police captain?” he begins.

“That’s right,” Pierce says.

“What kind of evidence?”

“It’s a thumb-drive.”

He nods and writes that down. “What’s on it?”

“There are two files and a video. One of them is a PDF of an email from an unnamed person to one of our victims. It’s an explanation of why they’re passing along the thumb drive,” Pierce explains.

Ranger Stephens asks more questions about our case, to get a little background, and then we continue about the drive.

“There is also a file with names and dates. It doesn’t explain what they are, but we surmise it’s dates that hits were done,” Pierce says.

“And the video?” he asks.

Pierce takes a deep breath, before saying, “It’s a video of Captain Bartholomew Mendes executing an unarmed man after having a heated conversation in an empty parking lot.”

If Stephens is surprised by this, he doesn’t show it. I’m sure he’s heard much worse.

“How did you come into possession of this thumb-drive?”

Pierce continues to take the lead, answering all of his questions.

“A witness in the Theodore Gendron case gave it to us.”

“Has it been logged?”

“No, sir.”

That gets a reaction out of him.

“It’s a difficult situation, but I assure you all avenues we followed are legit,” Pierce explains.

“The witness turned out to be our scent-match. I know this can make things murky, and we will be honest and truthful about every event that happened,” I say.

“Go on,” he says.

Pierce and I explain the story. How it all happened. From the crime scene. To looking for her. To the strange feelings about Mendes. To the scent match and her moving in. All of it. We don’t leave anything out because we don’t want this to get thrown out over some bullshit.

“We hid nothing, and presented the evidence as soon as we got it,” Pierce says.

Stephens nods, then writes a few things down.