Chapter 322


    Chapter 322 Fall Guy


    E


    The meeting had been far more intense than I’d anticipated. The courthouse’s grandeur, with its marble


    floors and tall pirs, had done little to cushion the impact of Westbrook’s verbal blows.


    As we exited the grand, double doors, the change in environment was immediately noticeable. From


    the stifling intensity inside, we were met with an unexpected chill. The sky had turned a somber shade


    of gray, with raindrops starting to patter, as if the heavens shared in our mncholy.


    “E,” Logan began, his voice hoarse from the discussions, the umbre already in hand, warding off


    the steadily falling rain. His face looked drawn, every drop of rain that sttered against it emphasizing


    his deep-set lines of worry.


    I took a deep breath, feeling the moisture in the air, the weight of the day pressing down.


    “Logan, with this information, we need to check with the police. We need to see that bullet casing. If it


    has a serial number or any defining mark, and it doesn’t match any of the guns in your possession or of


    your men, it’s a lead. And a damn good one at that.”


    He looked at me, the cold rain painting streaks on his face. Without a word, he extended the umbre


    towards me, silently inviting me beneath its shelter.


    “Listen,” he said, “I didn’t want to say this earlier, but the police in this city aren’t… the cleanest.. They


    have ties. We need to be careful what we ask for.”


    Pulling my coat tighter, I stepped closer, finding refuge under the umbre. “That’s exactly the reason


    why we need to get to the bottom of this. If there’s corruption and foul y at work here, we have to


    uncover it.”


    A pause settled between us, filled only with the sound of rain and the distant hum of the city. “You


    know,” he murmured, “you don’t have to do this alone. I’m right here with you.”


    His sincerity took me by surprise. We had been allies, even something akin to friends, for a little while


    now, but this level of trust was new.


    “Logan, I appreciate it, but you don’t need toe with me,” I said. His jaw set with determination.


    “No,” he said, his voice nearly drowned out by the sound of the rain pattering against the umbre, “I


    do.”


    The cold wind nipped at my face as Logan and I approached the police station. It was one of those


    buildings that loomedrge and intimidating against the gray backdrop of the early evening sky.


    Faded bricks stacked upon each other with age told stories of countless cases, some solved and some


    forever lost in the constant march of time.


    “Logan,” I began, clutching the edge of the photograph tightly, “there’s just no way they would have


    missed it. That bullet casing was ringly obvious. Right there in the open, next to the bloodstain.”


    Logan, his trench coat pping lightly with the wind, took a moment before answering. “It doesn’t make


    sense, E. I’ve seen sloppy work before, but this is beyond that. Almost like…” He hesitated, eyes


    narrowing. “Like it was intentionally overlooked.”


    I stopped, forcing him to turn to me. “Intentionally? But why?”


    Logan sighed deeply, the weight of the unsaid hanging between us. “You know why. But let’s find out,


    just to be sure.”


    Pushing open the heavy wooden doors, we entered the precinct. The air was thick with a mix of strong


    coffee and old paperwork. It buzzed with life as officers darted around, some huddled in deepAll rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    conversations, while others were glued to their phones, updating families or working leads.


    “I never get used to this ce,” I admitted under my breath, scanning the room for any familiar faces.


    “Not exactly a tourist attraction,” Logan quipped, guiding me towards the counter where a middle-aged


    officer was seated..


    “We need to check the evidence rted to the recent homicide on Parker Street,” Logan informed him


    without preamble.


    The officer looked up, his eyes scanning us both, sizing us up. “And who might you be?”


    “E Morgan,” I said, introducing myself before Logan could, “and this is my client. I’m his attorney. We


    have reasons to believe there’s been apse in evidence collection.”


    I handed the officer one of my business cards, and he took it, his eyes scanning it. The officer smirked,


    leaning back in his chair. “Oh really? And what would that be?”


    Without uttering a word, I handed him the photograph. His eyes darted to the picture, then back to us,


    the smirk vanishing.


    “This bullet casing.” I pointed at the image. “Where is it?”


    The officer frowned. “Give me a moment,” he said, getting up. He disappeared into a room. behind the


    counter.


    Minutes felt like hours. My heart raced. The hum of the precinct was now an annoying buzz in my ears.


    Finally, the officer returned, his face graver than before.


    “It’s not there,” he admitted. “I can’t find any record of this casing.”


    Logan’s face darkened. “How is that possible? Your guys were all over that crime scene.” The officer


    shrugged. “Mistakes happen.”


    “This isn’t just a mistake,” I snapped. “Someone’s life hangs in the bnce. So, tell me, who was the


    officer in charge of collecting evidence at the scene?”


    After a brief pause, the officer replied, “Daniels. Officer Daniels.”


    I could see Logan visibly stiffen beside me. “Can we speak to him?” he asked. The officer shook his


    head. “He’s off duty. Won’t be back till tomorrow.”


    There was an ufortable silence as Logan and I exchanged nces. I could feel there was: more


    to the story.


    “Is there something we should know about Officer Daniels?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even.


    The officer at the desk seemed to struggle, clearly debating with himself whether to speak or stay


    silent. After a tense moment, he leaned closer. “Look,” he began, ncing around to ensure no one


    was within earshot, “Daniels… he’s a bit of a wildcard. Been on the force a long time. Some say he’s


    got… ties.”


    “Ties?” I questioned.


    “To some not-so-nice people,” he finished. “But that’s all I’ll say, ma’am. And you didn’t hear it from me.


    Understood?”


    Logan pulled me aside before I could say anything. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling heavily.


    “We need to be careful, E. If Daniels is involved…”


    “Involved in what?” I pressed. He looked at me, anguish evident in his eyes. “E, Daniels is known for


    being corrupt. He’s the guy the Mafia goes to when they want things hidden.”


    My heart sank. The implications of what Logan was suggesting were vast and terrifying. If the Mafia


    was meddling with evidence, then our fight wasn’t just against a potentially crooked cop and a jerk of a


    lawyer, but someone far more sinister.


    And if the mafia was the one who had this cop hide evidence, then that likely led to one person.


    Harry.


    “Thank you, officer,” I said to the man behind the desk, who merely nodded, a silent understanding


    passing between us.


    As Logan and I stepped out into the pouring rain, the weight of our discovery pressed down upon us.


    The city around us continued with its hustle and bustle, unaware of the dark secrets hidden in its alleys


    and precincts.


    “I should’ve seen thising,” Logan murmured, staring off into the distance.