Special Assignment. Ann Peterson Voss

its tremble. “If you know, why is he still in there? Why are they still asking him questions?”

      “This isn’t my case. It happened outside the Denver city limits. The county has jurisdiction. And they don’t know Mike like you and I do. They have to go strictly by evidence.”

      “What evidence? His gun?”

      Surprise widened Detective Grady’s eyes.

      Cassie almost clapped a hand over her mouth. She’d forgotten she wasn’t supposed to know about the gun.

      Tim Grady narrowed his eyes, studying her. “His service weapon was found at the scene. Yes.”

      “But Mike didn’t even have the gun. It was stolen when he was beaten up. Wasn’t that why he was suspended?”

      “The sheriff’s department can’t just take Mike’s word for that. Theoretically he could have reported it missing when he had it all along. In fact, I’m afraid that could make his situation worse.”

      “How?” She couldn’t imagine things being worse than this. Or maybe she just didn’t want to.

      “It shows premeditation.”

      She shook her head. How could this be happening? This was getting out of hand. Way out of hand. “But I was with him at Kardascian’s house. He was trying to save the man’s life, not kill him. And I have no reason to lie. Why can’t they take my word?”

      “You were with him the entire time?”

      She scanned through her memory. It had all happened so fast. It was all so unexpected. She’d been arguing with Mike about who was going to ask Kardascian about Nick Warner, about the “list,” about the disk she was trying to decode. She’d thought Mike was exaggerating about the possible danger. She’d thought he and Evangeline were merely coddling the deaf girl.

      But that was before Mike saw something in the garage. Before he’d ordered her to lock herself in the car and call 9-1-1. Before she’d gone looking for him and found him beside Kardascian…up to his elbows in blood.

      “You weren’t with him the entire time, were you?”

      She stared at Grady’s lips. She didn’t want to say anything. She didn’t want to admit it was true. “I was with him almost the entire time.”

      “But not the entire time.”

      Her shoulders slumped. “When I caught up with him, he was trying to save Mr. Kardascian’s life. Doesn’t that count?”

      “Not good enough. Like I said, the county sheriff can’t just take our word for it. They have to go by the evidence.”

      Evidence. Since Mike didn’t kill Kardascian, there wasn’t any evidence to find, right? And weren’t people supposed to be innocent until proven guilty? “What kind of evidence do they need?”

      “Enough to prove he had the means and opportunity to kill Milo Kardascian.”

      Cassie nodded. “The means, meaning the gun, right?”

      “Right.”

      “And the opportunity?”

      “The space of time that you weren’t with him. The time he and Kardascian were alone.”

      “He didn’t do it.” If she still had her hearing, she could swear she hadn’t heard gun fire, but as things were she wasn’t a lot of help. Still, there had to be something. “He had no reason to do it. Doesn’t that count for anything?”

      “Motive. It counts for a lot in court, even though it’s not required to charge him.”

      “So go tell the county detective that Mike had no motive.”

      Detective Grady shook his head. “I can’t do that.”

      “Why not? I thought you were his partner. His friend.”

      “I am. But it wouldn’t be the truth.”

      Cassie stared at him. What was he trying to say? She tried to ask, tried to make her voice function, but it caught in her throat as if she’d forgotten how to speak.

      “How well do you know Mike, Ms. Allen?”

      Cassie chewed her bottom lip. She’d worked with him on a couple of cases. Flirted with him a little. Fantasized about him, certainly. She liked him, more than she felt comfortable with most of the time. But other than that, she supposed she knew very little about him. “Enough to know he’s no murderer.”

      Grady nodded. “I believe that, too. But it’s not that simple. Mike and Kardascian have a history.”

      Cassie didn’t have to try very hard to remember the exchange between Evangeline and Mike when the millionaire CEO’s picture flashed on the screen in the PPS boardroom. And on the drive to Kardascian’s cabin, Mike had warned her the man had a brutal nature. And that he’d been in trouble with police. “What history?”

      “Mike was called to Kardascian’s house a few times. And his condo downtown. That was back before either one of us made detective.”

      “Mike told me about that.” A sure sign he had nothing to hide. Right?

      “The last call…Kardascian had beat up his girlfriend. Bad.”

      Cassie sucked in a breath despite her attempt to face whatever Detective Grady said with her utmost cool.

      “It wasn’t the first time. Milo Kardascian was kind of known for taking out his frustrations on whatever woman was attracted enough to his money to put up with him. That last call…” Detective Grady paused, as if he had to force himself to go on. “Mike crossed the line. He messed up Kardascian pretty good.”

      Cassie’s head snapped back as if the words were a physical blow. She didn’t know what she’d expected Grady to say, but it wasn’t this. “Mike hit him?”

      “Bastard deserved it. Didn’t want to stop beating on the woman even for the police. So Mike stopped him.” Tim’s lips pulled back in a hint of a smile. The smile quickly faded. “Kardascian went after Mike, though. Called in political favors. Made Mike’s life a living hell for a while. Almost drummed him off the force. Certainly slowed down his career. It’s the only reason I made detective before Mike.”

      “That’s why they think Mike killed him? Payback?”

      The detective lifted a shoulder. “It’s been known to happen.”

      Cassie shook her head. “They have to know Mike wouldn’t do that. The rest of his record should speak for itself.”

      “Like I said, it comes down to evidence. Whether or not ballistics can prove Mike’s service pistol is the murder weapon. Whether or not a powder residue test proves he recently fired it.” He gave her a smile filled not with pity, but understanding. Maybe even sympathy. “I’m sure he’ll appreciate that you believe in him, though.”

      She did believe in him. After what had happened with Kardascian, she even had a limited appreciation for his protective streak. If she had stumbled onto the millionaire’s murder alone, who knew what could have happened? She might be in the morgue right now, beside the CEO. “He’s always done a good job on the cases he worked with PPS.”

      “Sure.” He gave her a grin suggesting he thought her belief in Mike went deeper than that.

      She shifted uncomfortably. “He has done a good job. A very good job. Evangeline says he’s one of the most honest cops in Denver. And after that Dirty Three scandal, I sometimes wonder if he’s the last one left.” She paused, realizing the implication of her words. “No offense. I know there are plenty of honest cops. I’m just frustrated.”

      “No offense taken.” His smile widened to show the gap. “And I agree. Mike is an honest cop and I’m sure the evidence will show it.”

      She hoped so. She sure hoped so. For