Titan (Old Ironsides Book 2) by Dean Crawford Read Free Book Online

room was maintained in an orderly and pleasant state, with soft music and lighting within creating an ambience more inviting than the cattle pen downstairs.
    Nathan reached the door and it shimmered and vanished before him as he walked in to see Kaylin Foxx with two women, both of whom he instantly clocked as wearing distressed expressions, evidence of tears and long–term strain creased deeply into the lines of their faces.
    Nathan slipped quietly into the room as the door reappeared behind him and Foxx introduced the two women.
    ‘Nathan, this is Roma and Erin Reed, the mother and wife of a prison officer named Xavier Reed. Ladies, this is Detective Nathan Ironside.’
    Nathan managed to maintain a somber expression as he shook the hands of the two ladies, despite the fact that Foxx had just referred to him as a detective . He sat down alongside Foxx and glanced at her, saw her wink at him before she spoke again.
    ‘Xavier Reed has just started a sixty year term in Tethys Gaol for the murder of a fellow officer in San Diego,’ she explained.
    Nathan couldn’t help but wince now. He knew plenty about the gaol and the fact that Xavier was a prison officer was virtually a death warrant inside Tethys.
    ‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ he said, aware of how trite it sounded.
    Erin Reed looked at him through eyes blurred with tears. ‘I know how police feel about cop killers, but I hope that you will hear us out detective?’
    Nathan glanced again at Foxx and felt a tingle of excitement ripple through his belly and climb tantalisingly up his spine as she handed him an electro–file for him to read. He took the file and looked at Erin.
    ‘You’re right, cops have a deep seated and understandable hatred of cop killers,’ he replied. ‘But that’s not why we’re here, right?’
    Foxx smiled faintly and her eyes twinkled as she looked at him and both Erin and Roma nodded vigorously.
    ‘Xavier is a great cop and he loved his job,’ Roma said proudly. ‘He worked long hours by choice, was commended twice for bravery in the line of duty and was considered by his superior officers to be destined for greater things. He would never have done something like this and he has maintained his innocence throughout.’
    In his time with the Denver Police Department, Nathan had become more than familiar with the horror and disbelief the families of convicted felons harboured, unable to come to terms with the fact that beloved sons, daughters, mother or fathers could be capable of such crimes, that there must have been some mistake. Almost always, there had been no mistake and the felons were as guilty as they come, but just occasionally…
    ‘What did Xavier claim happened on the day of the murder?’ Nathan asked, keeping his voice calm and slow, trying to build upon the ambience that the room was designed to create.
    ‘He said that he was in an argument with a fellow officer,’ Erin said, ‘and that they went outside to cool off. The next thing he knows the other officer reaches for his pistol. He drew too and a shot was fired. The other officer died.’
    Nathan frowned. ‘Then how can Xavier say that he didn’t fire the shot that killed his fellow officer?’
    ‘Because he said that the shot came from behind him,’ Erin insisted. ‘Xavier stood by that claim, but nobody believed him because he fired in self–defense and he got a fizzle.’
    Nathan frowned at Erin and looked to Foxx for an explanation.
    ‘Xavier claimed that the plasma charge in his pistol didn’t ignite when he pulled the trigger,’ she said. ‘A fizzle happens once maybe every thousand shots and just bleeds the plasma energy out into thin air over a few seconds. The jury claimed he was fabricating the event and that there was no second shooter.’
    Nathan looked back at Roma.
    ‘So you’re saying that this victim, the one that Xavier is supposed to have shot, drew a weapon on him and that’s been verified by the witnesses?’
    ‘No,’ Roma said