The Right Call by Kathy Herman Read Free Book Online

hand and kissed it. “We’ve got all summer to see where this is going. Let’s take it slow and do it right, okay?”
    She nodded sleepily.
    “You need to go home and get some sleep.”
    “Are you sure you’re okay here with Drew?”
    “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
    Vanessa shrugged. “Maybe I’ve been a cop’s daughter too long, but what if whoever killed Tal thinks Drew saw him?”
    “If your mother was worried about it, she would have told us. Go home, honey. I’ll take care of Drew.”

    Brill awoke to the sound of her cell phone vibrating. She groped the nightstand and picked it up.
    “Chief Jessup.”
    “Brill, I’m sorry if I woke you. It’s Lewis Roswell.”
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Win Davison just stormed out of my living room, threatening to go to the media and reveal your intimidation tactics. He’s demanding that the city council reprimand you publicly for mishandling him.”
    “What? No way was Mr. Davison mishandled.”
    “What happened?”
    “We questioned him the same way we would any other victim’s father. We needed to establish what kind of relationship he had with his son. Where he was at the time of the shooting. And that the bullet that killed his son didn’t come from the nine-millimeter handgun that’s registered to him. That’s just standard operating procedure. For heaven’s sake, Davison isn’t even a suspect. What he is, Lewis, is arrogant and controlling, not to mention rude and uncooperative. I doubt the man is half as upset about losing the only male heir to the family business as he is that we treated him like John Q. Public. He resents being treated like everyone else. The questions we asked him were relevant to the case. I’m not apologizing.”
    “The city council is going to side with him. Davison Technologies’ board of directors is in the process of deciding whether to keep the Sophie Trace plant open or close it and move the operation to Chattanooga. We’re talking about nine hundred workers. I don’t have to tell you the impact that kind of layoff would have in this community.”
    Brill combed her hands through her hair. “Look, I’ll make some kind of statement and explain police procedure. But I refuse to say we did anything wrong.”
    “We need those jobs, Brill.”
    “Then let the city council smooth it over! What I say reflects on my entire force. I’m not going to leave the community with the impression their police officers are bullies.”
    “I’ve known Win a long time. He’s not going to let this go.”
    Brill looked over at Kurt and raised her eyebrows. “I’m not trying to be difficult, Lewis. It’s a matter of principle. It’s unfair and unreasonable that the city council should lay the fate of nine hundred workers on a lie they expect me to tell—to satisfy Davison’s precious ego.”
    “Would it kill you?”
    “That’s not the point. It would cast aspersions on my officers. I won’t do it. I’m perfectly willing to talk to the media and explain police procedure. I can word it so it reinforces our having followed protocol and makes Davison feel respected. That’s the best I can do.”
    Lewis exhaled into the receiver. “All right. Let’s hope it’s enough. Losing Davison Technologies would be a huge economic hit.”
    Brill realized the phone was dead. And good-bye to you, too, Mr. Mayor .
    “I heard the whole conversation,” Kurt said. “It’s wrong of the mayor to put you in this position.”
    “I agree. On the other hand, we know people who work at the plant. Everyone does. I’d hate to see them lose their jobs because my pride got in the way.”
    “Honey, there’s no guarantee that Davison will choose to keep the plant here if you apologize. It’s about money. It always is.”
    “Probably.” She lay down on the bed, the back of her hand on her forehead. “But I resent looking like the bad guy in this.”

Chapter 6
    Brill stood at her office window and looked out through the towering trees that