Page 66 of Nightshade

“I don’t know, Ahearn, but I’m sure you’re dying to tell me.”

“Your pal Peter Galloway, and he told me all about you knocking on his door last night. He almost didn’t talk to me because he said he already told you everything he knew about the girl.”

“Yeah, that’s bullshit.”

“No, you’re bullshit. You fucking crossed the line, Stillborn, and I can prove it. I already went to Corum, and he’s got everything he needs to bench your ass. And that will be only the first step.”

“Ahearn, listen to me, I can help you. I have information, but you told me to fuck off. Now, if you want to close the case, let’s share what we’ve—”

“We’re not partners and you’re not homicide. You’re going to be a nobody as soon as Corum takes your badge. And you know what, I’m going to see if I can mount it on the wall here over my desk.”

“You’re pathetic, Ahearn. You’d put your shit with me over solving—”

He stopped. Ahearn had hung up on him. He sat still, trying to control the anger that was welling up in him. The phone buzzed again and he saw that it was another call from the homicide bureau. He answered with a full head of steam.

“I said, you’re pathetic. You’d put our shit ahead of closing the case when I—”

“This is Denise from Captain Corum’s office.”

Stilwell realized his mistake.

“Oh, um, sorry, I thought it was some—”

“Captain Corum would like you to come in today for a meeting. What time can I schedule it?”

“Uh… can I talk to the captain?”

“He asked me to set this up.”

“I’m not coming in, Denise. So please put him on the phone. I’ll hold.”

“Very well.”

She put Stilwell on hold and he rehearsed what he would say to the captain if Corum took his call.

A solid five minutes went by before Denise came back on and said the captain would be with Stilwell shortly. She hit the hold button again and Stilwell wondered if Corum was really tied up or simply playing a power game and making Stilwell wait.

When Corum finally came on the line, he came with fire.

“Goddamn it, Stil. I put you out there so you would be below the radar, and what do you do? You take out your dick and piss all over the place.”

“Captain, you’ve only heard one side of this thing. I can practically give Ahearn the case, but he’s only interested in burning me, not closing a murder.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. It’s not your case to give, but you’re off the island, running all over the county chasing it. You give me no choice here, Stil.”

“Can I explain something before you decide whatever you’re going to decide?”

“I don’t know what good it will do, but go ahead, say your piece.”

“Is Ahearn there? Sounds like I’m on speaker.”

There was a pause before Corum confirmed the obvious.

“He’s here but I told him to keep quiet,” he said. “Now, do you want to explain or not?”

“Sure, and I’m glad he’s there,” Stilwell said. “So he can fucking listen and stay quiet.”

“Fuck you, Stillborn,” Ahearn said.