Page 6 of Capture My Heart

“No. I got nothin’ more to say.” He rushed her to the door and opened it.

With one foot out, she turned back. “Mr. West, I don’t know what’s changed since the phone call yesterday, but if you remember anything at all, please contact me.” She held out her card, but he didn’t take it.

“I’m sorry.” He closed the door.

She was sure he was sorry, but there was more. It’s like he was confessing to murder. Why? Why would he intentionally hit her father with his truck? It didn’t make sense. He didn’t have a record. They didn’t know one another. So, why had the same questions looped in her head for the last four years?

She’d let it go for now, but she’d swing back tomorrow and see if he changed his mind about talking to her.

Once in the vehicle, she blasted the air conditioning. Thank God this day was over.

She pulled away from the curb, swinging wide to miss the old Buick parked in front of her. Processing her short time with Gus, she’d swear he was scared of something, But what?

Eyeing a probable deal going down on the corner, she looked at the time. 6:05 p.m. Technically she was off the clock. Amy let out a sigh and flipped on her lights and chirped the siren. She was barely out of her vehicle when a gray sedan flew by and cut the corner onto Pleasant Lane. The nerve of some people.

She turned back to the two dealing on the corner but they had vanished into the alley.

“Well crap, I didn’t want to do the paperwork tonight anyway.”

She had one foot in the car when she heard it. The crash of metal. She circled around and headed back to Pleasant Lane.

Rounding the corner, the street looked the same as it had two minutes ago. Rundown houses and the old Buick parked in front of Mr. West’s home. Only now, Gus lay on the street, and the side of the Buick had a new scrape.

No, no, no. Her heart beat against her ribs. She slammed the vehicle in park and jumped out. Scanning the neighborhood, she dropped to his side. Her fingers went to his neck. Fuck.

She grabbed her radio and called it in, starting CPR.

“Come on, Gus. Fight.” Amy went into autopilot, but something inside her told her it was not going to help.

Sirens grew louder. “Don’t die on me, Gus. I know you wanted to tell me something. Don’t die.”

Chapter 2

The next morning, Amy closed her locker at the start of her shift. Ryan came into the breakroom. “Hey, did you hear? August West was pronounced dead at the hospital.”

She knew in her gut that he wouldn’t make it.

“I see your report in my inbox. Amy, why are you digging into this old case? Your dad’s death was ruled an accidental homicide.” He leaned against the wall, hands in pockets.

Amy looked at her shoes, the same type of black supportive shoes her father wore. She met Ryan’s gaze and avoided the question. “Did they catch the guy?”

He sighed. “Not yet. Peterson and I are working the case. I’ll need to interview you, since you were the last person to see him alive.”

“I’ll add it to the schedule.” No surprise he would need to question her. No doubt he’d be viewing her body cam footage as well.

“Thanks. We got lucky. The neighbor had a video camera doorbell that captured the gray, late model Honda speeding away. No shot of the driver or license though.”

Amy froze. Gus was the best chance she had of finding out the truth. The accident never sat right in her stomach. Her father died just as he got close to the real drug kingpin. Her brother, Tommy, might have been the delivery guy, but the guy in charge was still out there, pulling strings and pushing drugs.

She slammed her locker closed. “Daniels, can I look at the video footage of the incident?”

“I don’t see why not. We’re releasing the image of the car to the media today. Hope to get a hit on it.”

“Thanks.” She turned to leave but stopped and looked back. “Do you think it was premeditated?”

He pushed off the wall and fell into pace with her. “What I know is that the car swerved and a guy is dead. What my gut tells me is it’s a big coincidence that he dies walking to his car minutes after talking to a cop.”

She nodded. Her thoughts exactly.