Examining the Dead Got Me Branded a Cheater Chapter 08

Examining the Dead Got Me Branded a Cheater Chapter 08

“No way. I hammered that out with Professor Robinson. It can’t be wrong. The only other explanation is you got the wrong person.”

Harry whipped the report at my face and showed the interrogation-room footage up on the screen. “Look for yourself! Does this match your composite?”

Surprisingly, every detail matched.

Julian sauntered in with a smirk, gloating. “I told you he wasn’t up to it. If I’d done the autopsy, we might’ve had the killer already. That task force isn’t much better, either.

“They keep saying they can crack anything, but this case has been dragging on forever.”

Something felt off, so I went back through the report carefully. “Hold it. This isn’t the one I submitted! Someone swapped it! Chief Langford, I’ll provide you with the composite now. The suspect isn’t the person in this report!”

Harry slammed his mug down on the table and barked, “Enough! Sounds to me like you’re the one who’s not up to the job. Everyone in this department wants this case solved. Who do you think would swap a report?”

Claire snatched the composite sketch from my hand and glanced toward the surveillance room. She studied it so intently I thought she’d spotted something.

I looked at Julian and pointed at him. “It was Julian! I ran into him leaving Professor Robinson’s office this morning. I’m demanding we pull the surveillance footage and find out who swapped the report!”

Claire slammed the report down and took Julian’s side. “Evan, we didn’t drag you back so you could pass the buck. Think you’re hard done by? Get your task force to vouch for you. They’re your cheer squad, right?

“You’ve got cover now, so you figure you can take on the department. You messed up one report, so what? Just pin it on Jules, right?”

Yesterday, she pressed me about why I wouldn’t remarry her. She seemed so genuine, I nearly believed her. After just one night, she reverted to this.

I clenched my jaw and yanked out my phone. “Fine. I’m calling Professor Robinson.”

I dialed again and again, but nothing. It didn’t seem like his phone was off. It was more like he’d enabled anti-tracking. Maybe he already knew the report got switched.

I squared up to Julian, meeting his taunting stare. “Consider the consequences, Julian. Messing with a report stalls the whole case. If more people get hurt because of this, you’re as guilty as the suspect!”

Julian actually looked rattled for a second.

Claire grabbed his hand and jumped in. “Quit slandering Jules! He didn’t do that! Evan, grab your stuff and get out of this department. Don’t show your face again!”

Harry piled on. “You made us jump through hoops to bring you back, and look at this mess, Evan! Lucky for me, you’re only here to help temporarily. That promise about restoring your position is off the table. Pack up and leave!”

Watching those three run cover for each other set off alarms. Claire defending Julian made sense. But why would Harry side with Julian when he knew the task force was in my corner? Were they colluding for their own gain, and was this somehow because of me?