I gulped. The air around me felt charged and I had to suppress a shiver at the cool calmness of his admission.

  “Daniel remembers everything.”

  “I don’t think so,” said Brandt with another laugh, like I was amusing him more than scaring him. “What were you before all this? A temp? You might want to go back to that, sweetheart.”

  “When did you drug the coffee?” I asked, following a hunch. “Or did Crump do it? In the car? Before you took it inside and handed it to Detective Wayne and Daniel?”

  “Obviously in the car,” he said, grinning again. “I was hardly going to do it in front of them. All they had to do was drink it and go to sleep. When they woke up, it’d all be over. Well, for them, anyway.”

  “And Detectives Crump and Hertford?”

  “Makes you wonder how anyone gets to be a detective, doesn’t it?” Captain Brandt shook his head. “They got my coffees. All I had to do was offer to pay for theirs. Then they went off and did their job while I did mine.”

  “Killing innocent people isn’t supposed to be your job.”

  Captain Brandt shrugged. “How innocent were the Denneys really? They were happy to work for the drug trade as long as it benefited them,” he mused. “Not that I care. It’s time for Daniel to come out,” he said, then louder. “Daniel!”

  “You never had any intention of taking Daniel in, did you?” I asked.

  “You catch on fast. I’m hardly going to let him tattle in an interview room. Speaking of which, I’ve had enough chatting.” Captain Brandt lifted his arm, pointing a gun directly at me. “Time to come out, Daniel!”

  “So you’re going to shoot me? Both of us?” I squeaked, like I was afraid, which wasn’t hard because I was. The Kevlar might protect my chest but what about my head? Captain Brandt was close enough not to miss. “Let’s make a deal. Daniel disappears and you’ll never hear from him again. He remains a fugitive but you don’t look for him. He starts a new life somewhere else.”

  “I’m definitely going to shoot you if Danny boy doesn’t come down here.” He glanced up as I shivered. “I see you up there, watching your sister try and make a deal for you. Come down.”

  “How’re you going to explain this?” I asked. “Obviously, you’re not going to take Daniel in and you’re not going to let me go. So you must have some kind of an explanation to cover your ass.”

  Captain Brandt lifted a shoulder nonchalantly. “You practically came up with it yourself. You called in. It didn’t sound credible, of course, but I spared my overworked men from coming out here in the dead of night so they could go home to their families. Yet, it turns out you really did want to turn Daniel in. Of course, Daniel didn’t want that and pulled a gun out and shot you. Then I shot him. Shame I couldn’t save you, but that’s hardly on me.”

  I pulled a face. “You really think anyone would buy my brother killing me?”

  “I think everyone would buy a desperate criminal wanting to do anything to get away from a life sentence, especially killing the sister who was ready to sell him out.”

  “You’ve made so many mistakes,” I said. “It’s hard to believe you could make another one.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Well, the drugged coffee, of course. I’m telling the truth about it being tested, and Daniel’s memory resurfacing. But even though you thought you created the perfect crime, you didn’t realize Detective Desmond was in the house, did you? One more target than you expected and he wasn’t unconscious like Wayne and Daniel. Or did Jacinta Victor handle it for you?”

  “It was a surprise to find Desmond still there but I think you can see how I handled it. That’s why I’m here alone tonight. No one else to get in the way.”

  “Did you shoot the Denneys first or the detectives?” I asked, now he was spilling the secrets.

  “What is this, a confessional? I shot the Denneys obviously, since Wayne and Graves were passed out cold. I didn’t expect Desmond to walk back in but I handled it. Then I shot Wayne and I was just about to shoot Daniel when, would you believe it, he woke up. Guess he didn’t like the coffee that much. Daniel!”

  “Why did you send the assassin after Detective Wayne? Why not do it yourself?”

  “Jacinta? Not my idea.”

  “Whose? Tom Victor’s?”

  “So you know all about that, huh?” he said.

  “I know all about your connection to him.”

  “Well, aren’t you smart? Now, how smart is Daniel? No, not smart, how kind is he? Is he willing to let you die down here?” Captain Brandt paused, waiting for my reply. “Daniel, you’ve got thirty seconds to come downstairs or I start shooting your sister. First in one leg, then in the other leg. Then her stomach and she’ll bleed out from that painfully. Then... there you are. Nice of you to join us, Danny boy.”

  I glanced away from Brandt at the creak coming from the staircase. Maddox, his hood drawn close over his face, a cap obscuring his features, stepped out. He was right. From a distance, he could be Daniel.

  “Now that’s brotherly love,” said Captain Brandt, flashing me a predatory smile.

  “And this is sisterly love,” I said. “Captain Brandt, I think you’ll find you’re about to be under arrest for so many crimes you’ll never see a day of freedom again.”

  Light suddenly flooded the warehouse.

  “Well, shit!” said Captain Brandt. Then he fired.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Lying on my back on the cold concrete floor, I was gasping for breath while the bullets flew over me. The air was all knocked out of me and I suspected I’d also hit my head when I was thrown to the ground. When the shooting stopped, Solomon dropped on one knee next to me. “You okay?” he asked.

  With shaky hands, I ran my fingers across the sweater, stopping at the frayed hole. A small lump of metal protruded from the vest over my heart. “He tried to kill me,” I said, although winded. “Even when he was cornered, he still tried to kill me!”

  “Garrett will add it to the felony list when he reads him his rights,” said Solomon. He glanced away, looking at something out of my view. “It’s taking a while.”

  I flopped my head to one side and searched for the source of the noise. Now the gunfire had stopped, Captain Brandt was face down on the floor, shouting as his arms were pulled behind his back and Garrett handcuffed him.

  “This is never going to stick!” yelled Brandt. “This is a setup by thugs in the police force designed to protect Daniel. No one will ever believe you over me! The brother and sister of a criminal? It stinks of conspiracy!”

  Delgado had his gun pointed at Brandt while Maddox only just stepped off the stairs. He came to a stop next to Brandt, crouched down and pushed back his hood and pulled off his cap, running a hand over his hair. “Special Agent Maddox,” said Maddox as he flashed his badge. “You might remember me.”

  “What the hell...” Brandt started.

  “This is an FBI and MPD joint investigation,” Maddox explained, “and far from a conspiracy. It’s all sanctioned by my superiors who gave me the authority to bring some of our detective colleagues into the case and use informants to lure out our suspect. I think that covers all the players here. That, and your confession on tape are plenty enough to put you away for a very long time.”

  “What tape?” scoffed Captain Brandt.

  Solomon offered me his hand. I took it and he pulled me to sit upright. Instead of getting up, I simply lifted the necklace still hanging around my neck. “This one,” I said. “You looked directly into it.”

  “Cars incoming,” called Delgado who was standing by the doors.

  “That’ll be my guys,” said Maddox. “Special Agent Farid was nearby with Daniel and reinforcements. We’ll take Captain Brandt to our interview rooms and arrange for MPD to take their turn once we’re done investigating him. Want to sit in?”

  “Yes,” I said.

  “I was asking Lieutenant Graves,” said Maddox, “but I like your enthusiasm.”

  “I’ll be there,” said Garrett. “I’m looking forward to hearing how this jerk tried to murder, then frame my brother, killing his partner, colleagues, and witnesses, announcing his intent to kill my brother again, and then he tried to kill my sister! Did I miss anything?”

  “The misogyny of calling me Little Miss Private Investigator,” I said, still affronted at the insult.

  “That’s not a crime, Lexi, that’s just rude,” said Garrett.

  “Add it in anyway,” I said. “It was unnecessary and uncalled for.” I tugged Solomon’s hand and he pulled me to my feet. Dusting myself off, I wished I hadn’t worn heels to a warehouse. I longed for a warm bath right after I showered from head to toe; then I wanted to put on my cutest dancing eggplant pajamas and curl up under the covers. But before that, I wanted to know Daniel was a free man.

  “It’s not Farid,” called Delgado who returned to his sentry position on the gantry.

  “Who is it?”

  “It’s dark outside and I can’t quite see them but I think they’re Detectives Crump and Hertford.”

  “You’re screwed now,” laughed Captain Brandt. “My guys are going to take one look at you assaulting a senior officer and arrest every last one of you. Aiding and abetting wanted criminals, holding a police officer hostage! Your careers are toast!”

  “Don’t be foolish,” I said, incensed at his nerve. “You can’t spin this to make us look like the bad guys. We have you on camera admitting to everything.”

  “Admitting to what?” shouted Captain Brandt, straining to look up. I had no doubt he wanted the approaching detectives to hear his denials.

  “Shooting the Denneys for one!”

  “You had guns pointed at me! You’re assisting and abetting a wanted criminal! Of course I would say anything you told me to and that’s exactly what I’ll say in court!”

  “It’s them. They’re coming in,” said Delgado.

  “Get ready,” said Maddox. “This might go bad.”

  “Behind me,” said Solomon.

  “Why? I’m still wearing a vest,” I said.

  “I’m holding the gun,” said Solomon.

  “You win.” I stepped behind him, peeking around his arm as the door creaked open and the two detectives stepped in, their weapons drawn. They looked around, taking in the scene and I wondered how it looked to their eyes. Their captain was on the ground, face down, his hands cuffed behind his back, surrounded by the FBI, MPD, and a private detective agency, and the only one missing was the one man they probably expected to find.

  Maddox had his badge on show with one hand, a gun in the other. “Special Agent Maddox, FBI,” he said, taking point. “This is my op, Detectives.”

  Detective Hertford took a long look at Maddox’s badge then at Captain Brandt. “Okay,” he said. “Special Agent Maddox, nice to see you again.”

  “What’s going on?” asked Detective Crump.

  “We’ve just arrested Captain Brandt for multiple felonies,” said Maddox.

  “You better explain yourself,” said Detective Crump without lowering his weapon. “And if everyone can come out where we can see them, that would be good too.”

  “We’ve got Lieutenant Graves here, plus three from the Solomon Detective Agency who are working in conjunction with us,” said Maddox before he launched into an explanation of what went down. “We also have several MPD officers outside the building that you would have passed on the way in.”

  “We didn’t see anyone,” said Hertford.

  “Kind of the nature of undercover work in this case,” said Maddox. “How did you get here?”

  “We drove,” said Detective Crump.

  “No, I mean...” started Maddox but I interrupted with, “I called you and you didn’t come. He did,” I said, pointing to Captain Brandt.

  Detective Crump sought me out and fixed his gaze on me, partially shielded by Solomon. “Yeah, I called him and he told me it was probably a crackpot caller and he’d take it so we could head home,” said Detective Crump.

  “We didn’t,” said Detective Hertford.

  “Obviously,” muttered Captain Brandt. “Arrest these idiots and get me out of these cuffs!”

  “I think we should all lower our weapons,” said Maddox as tension charged the air. Stances were adjusted, trigger fingers poised, yet no one fired. “How does that sound?” he added.

  “I’d like to see you all do that first,” said Detective Crump. “And you, miss, please step out from behind Mr. Solomon. And keep your hands where we can see them.”

  I raised my hands carefully and stepped out into view.

  “How do we know we can trust you?” asked Detective Hertford.

  “I’m your superior officer,” said Garrett. “How do we know we can trust you?”

  “Before we all get too suspicious of each other,” I cut in, “I’d like to know why you still came here, even when Captain Brandt told you he’d take care of it.”

  “Because we don’t trust him,” said Detective Crump.

  “Why?” I pressed

  “Bunch o’ reasons.”

  “Such as?” I pressed, hoping Crump would become more talkative now.

  “We think he’s dirty,” said Detective Hertford. “The whole case stunk from the beginning. We know Daniel. He’s not the kind of guy who would murder his own colleagues. Sure, it might look like he did at the scene but it was just too weird and Brandt was going after him too hard.”

  “Way too hard,” echoed Detective Crump.

  “Then the coffee shop burned down,” said Hertford. “And Crump told me he’d bought Brandt’s coffees for Wayne and Graves but he didn’t put in the report that he’d been to the Sun Street safe house.”

  “I told you the coffee was a mistake,” I said, unable to resist the urge to metaphorically kick Brandt while he was down.

  “And he sent us on a wild goose chase so we didn’t make it to the safe house in time for our shift,” said Detective Crump.

  “By the time we got there, there were already a dozen officers on scene,” added Detective Hertford.

  “Crump! Hertford! Do your damn jobs and get me out of these damn cuffs!” yelled Captain Brandt. “Arrest them all. They’re the criminals. They’re harboring a fugitive.”

  “No,” chorused the detectives.

  “I’m going to have you both written up!” said Captain Brandt, groaning as he strained against the cuffs. His head dropped to the ground with a grunt.

  Detective Crump lowered his gun, then after a glance at his partner, so did Detective Hertford. Maddox followed next, then everyone else responded the same way and the tension seemed to seep out of the room.

  “Where’s Daniel?” asked Detective Hertford. “Is he really here? Is he okay?”

  “He’s not here,” I said. “He’s okay though. This was a sting to draw you out, not to hand Daniel over.”

  “Us?” The detectives exchanged a glance, then gazed at me. Crump’s face fell a little bit.

  “We thought you were the ones who set up Daniel. We figured you wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to come and get him so you could get rid of him. But we got it wrong,” I said, pointing to Brandt.

  “Right idea, wrong people,” said Detective Crump with a dissatisfied huff.

  “Thanks for rubbing it in,” I said.

  “Brandt got it wrong too,” snorted Hertford. “He thought we were stupid.”

  “Stupid,” echoed Crump.

  “But we started putting it together. We’ve been watching Brandt,” said Hertford and Crump nodded. “We’ve been keeping an eye on you too, just in case. We should take Captain Brandt to the station and get the official interview on tape. The sooner we can do that and get him formally charged, the sooner Daniel’s a free man.”

  “I agree,” said Maddox. “We’ll take him to our building for processing before we turn him over to you guys. Lieutenant Graves wants to sit in. You’d be welcome too. I’d like to compare notes.”

  “We can work with that,” said Detective Hertford. “This case is so sensitive a lot of people are riled up. No one figured we had a traitor in the building. Not sure what the Feds have to do with any of it, but I assume your interest in Brandt is watertight?”

  “It plays into a much bigger investigation,” said Maddox. “He’s just a little fish in a big pond.”

  “Piranha are little fish too,” said Crump.

  “I just heard a car,” said Garrett. “Let me check it out while you get Brandt ready to go.” He jogged to the door and peered out. “It’s Special Agent Farid. Someone’s with him, and there’s a second car. Another one of yours?”

  “You’ll see in a moment,” said Maddox.

  “Let’s go,” said Detective Hertford. He and Garrett each took one of Captain Brandt’s arms and hauled him to his feet. Brandt scowled but didn’t resist and I had to wonder what was going through his head. I’m sure he was debating whether to get in touch with Tom Victor and have him send a lawyer, or how to convince everyone it was a conspiracy orchestrated by everyone in the warehouse. Probably both. He’d tried to pull the wool over Crump and Hertford’s eyes but they’d already seen through him. For once, I was grateful for their presence.

  “Hey!” Garrett called, waving as he stepped outside. He took out a whistle and blew three short, sharp blasts. Although it was clearly a signal, I didn’t see any movement. I could almost believe there was no one there. “Special Agent Farid, we’re coming out and ready to load up. Wait... is that...” He trailed off, flashing a grin back to us as he stepped outside.

  We filed out after him, curious as to what had him so pleased, and I had to wait for my pupils to adjust from the glare of the illuminated warehouse to the black night sky to follow where Garrett was pointing. Farid’s car doors were both open and the headlamps swathed the small courtyard in light.