Justifiable Risk Read Online Free

the door to his office and motioned for Eva to take a seat. Then he poured a cup of coffee and loaded it with sugar. “Care for some?”
    “No, thank you.” Fluharty’s office seemed like a closet full of filing cabinets.
    “I’m sorry we had to meet under these circumstances. It isn’t easy to lose a loved one especially unexpectedly.” He sat down and spread his huge hands across a file folder on his desk. “Now, how can I help you, Ms. Saldana?”
    Fluharty’s eyes looked tired and bloodshot. Eva hoped he hadn’t been up all night on a case, because she needed his full attention. “That should be obvious. I don’t believe my brother overdosed.”
    “What do you base that on?”
    “He didn’t take drugs of any kind.”
    “To your knowledge.” Fluharty’s statement sounded like an accusation.
    “I’m in a better position to know what my brother would do than a group of strangers. No disrespect intended, Sergeant.”
    “So you saw your brother often and spent long periods of time with him?”
    “No. We have separate lives, like most siblings.”
    “He lived in Lagos, Portugal. Is that your home as well?”
    “My work requires a great deal of travel, but what does that have to do with Paul’s death?”
    “I’m trying to understand your relationship better.”
    Fluharty’s professional tone contained no hint of compassion for her situation. He seemed to be trying to paint an ugly picture of her brother’s life. “Sergeant, my brother didn’t have a complete personality change. I know what he is—was—like.”
    “How many deaths have you investigated during your career?”
    “That’s not the point.” Eva’s skin prickled.
    “It is certainly a point. Jake Johnston has investigated death cases for ten years. Nothing gets by him. If he says your brother died of an overdose and the autopsy shows nothing to the contrary, that’s how he died. I know how difficult this is for you.”
    The warmth in Eva’s veins turned hot. “I’m sorry, but I don’t share your confidence. Is your idea of a case review to simply defend your decision?”
    “Hardly, Ms. Saldana. The chief told me three days ago that you were coming, so I’ve studied every detail of the case numerous times. JJ followed every lead, considered every angle, and explored every possible scenario. I wish I could tell you that I have questions, but I don’t.” Almost apologetic, he showed the first signs of emotion.
    Despite his warmth, Eva clenched her hands into tight fists and struggled to contain her anger. A man in Fluharty’s position would probably use her volatile emotions to justify his point. “But I have questions, Sergeant. I just want your detectives to review the case once more.”
    “We don’t have the manpower to revisit cases every time a family member asks. That’s why I went over this one again personally. Unfortunately, drug deaths are a fact of life here, and we get more every day. I can’t spare an officer to look into a closed case.”
    Eva willed her voice to remain calm. “Then give me access to your files and I’ll investigate it myself.”
    “I can’t release departmental files to a civilian. Besides, that would hardly be an objective third-party review.”
    “What about a compromise, a joint review? I’ll study the facts with one of your men supervising.”
    Fluharty blew out a long breath. “That’s against policy too. I wish I could do more, but my hands are tied.”
    “Change the policy. Nothing is carved in stone.” Except your rules and regulations, apparently.
    “That’s not how we do business, Ms. Saldana. This isn’t one of your CNN cover stories. We have departmental guidelines for a reason. If we make one exception, the whole system comes under scrutiny.”
    Fluharty threw up roadblocks to every suggestion, and Eva slipped into panic mode, an uncommon state for her. She’d faced far more dangerous opponents on assignments throughout the world, but this one was personal. This