“Look into my theory. Objectively, if you can. If I’m wrong, then I’m wrong. But I want justice for my son. If it means anything to you, Pauley—Mr. Winters—believed me. I also believe my son had documented whatever Lee was involved in beyond an affair with Naomi. I know Asher kept a file. I just have no idea where. But I am absolutely certain whatever it is, my son was killed because of it. I went to the trouble of hiring someone to search Naomi’s home in case it was there, but he failed to find anything.”

So she was the one who had hired Darius. “How did you find the man you hired to do the search?”

“Pauley introduced me to him once.” She shook her head. “I don’t know why I kept his number all this time. He certainly proved useless.”

Few people knew about Darius. Her father and Pauley were two who did. This knowledge lent some credibility to her story. Possibly. “All right, you have my word; I will look into your theory. Objectively and thoroughly.”

“Thank you.” Lana opened her purse and fished around. When she closed it again, she held out a card. “Call me when you find the truth. If you’re half as good as my son believed you were, you will find it.”

Sadie accepted the card with the woman’s name and number on it, then watched her walk away. When Lana Walsh’s car had disappeared in the distance, Sadie pulled out her cell and called Snipes. “Hey, you got anything on that thumb drive yet?”

“I’m working on it. This one is a little more complicated. Someone didn’t want anyone to get their hands on whatever is on this one.”

“Call me the minute you break in.”

“Will do.”

Sadie ended the call. When she’d worked up the nerve, she climbed the stairs and locked herself away in her loft. Even though she’d been through the place a dozen times and had rifled through Pauley’s files even more often, she intended to go through them again.

If Pauley believed the woman . . . how could Sadie not?

She surveyed the loft. If she had to tear this place apart, she would find whatever notes Pauley had made.

There had to be something here.

45

5:30 p.m.

Birmingham Police Department

First Avenue North

Kerri glanced at Falco once more as they waited for the LT to begin. He had called them to his office as soon as the dust settled.

In truth, Kerri couldn’t be sure at this point if both she and Falco were about to be suspended. She’d already been on leave. She had been too busy to consider exactly what lines they might have crossed and exactly how much trouble they were in.

“Well,” Brooks announced, “it looks as if—”

“This is on me,” Kerri blurted. “Falco was only doing what I asked him to do. I’m the senior detective. It’s my responsibility.”

Falco stared at her. She didn’t have to turn her head to know. She felt his gaze burning into her.

The LT frowned. “As much as I would love to hear whatever it is you’re referring to, Detective, it’s late. I’m sure we’d all rather just wrap this day up and go home.”

Kerri’s stiff posture deflated. She hunkered down into her chair and kept her mouth shut. She might as well prepare for the worst. Thankfully, whatever happened, Tori was safe and had been completely cleared of anything related to Brendal Myers’s death.

At this point, the Myers case was basically closed. Alice Cortez hadn’t admitted anything yet, but Sarah Talley had confirmed all that Tori had been saying from the onset. The statement from Violet Redmond helped to prove Alice was involved with the trouble at Walker as well. Contact hadn’t been made with the school head from Walker just yet. Sykes and Peterson were on top of locating Billings. In the meanwhile, José Cortez’s testimony had backed up Violet’s. As it turned out, Cortez and his wife had paid a hefty price for their involvement with Alice. He insisted they had lived in fear of her for the past nine months. There was no question at this point about who had done what.

The court would assign Alice an attorney and guardian ad litem.

As for the Cortez family and Alice, whatever had brought them together fell within the DEA’s purview. The information had not been shared with the BPD at this time. Alice was, apparently, the granddaughter of Carlos Osorio—who had been taken into custody today. As for the mayor, her connection had not been clarified—at least not as far as Kerri knew. She imagined some sort of deal was being made before details—if any—were released.

For Kerri and Tori, the nightmare was over.

“I called you into my office,” the LT went on, yanking Kerri back to the here-and-now, “to commend you for your excellent work on the Myers case. Sykes and Peterson have given most of the credit in solving the case to the two of you. I am certain the parents of children from both schools, Brighton and Walker, will be grateful as well. Not only did you help to resolve the Brighton Academy situation; you shed new light on what really happened at Walker. The department, the city, owes you a debt of gratitude. I’m certain there will be more coming on this for the two of you as well as for Sykes and Peterson.”

Kerri shared a look with Falco. “Thank you, sir,” they said simultaneously.

Brooks nodded. “As for the Walsh-Kurtz investigation, the two of you will continue working with the task force. However, in light of certain new insights, you will be lead. I trust that you’ll solve this case in the same thorough and speedy manner.”

“Yes, sir,” Kerri assured him.

“Absolutely,” Falco echoed.

“Good.” Brooks stood, fastened his jacket, and gave a nod. “Excellent work, Detectives. I’ll see you on Monday.”

Kerri pushed to her feet. Falco did the same. They both thanked the LT and filed out of his office.

In a sort of shock, they descended the stairs and headed into the parking lot. The LT was right. It was late. Kerri couldn’t wait to celebrate with Tori and the family. The nightmare was over.

At the door to Falco’s Charger, Kerri hesitated. “I want to do something with the family tonight to celebrate. You up for dinner with my crew?”

He smiled at her over the top of the car. “Always.”

Kerri really liked seeing that smile. “I think I need another vacation after this.”

They got into the car. Falco started the engine. “Damn. You read my mind. I was just thinking I needed one.”