Page 45 of Phoenix

“I don’t have every detail, the case is still being put together and it’s not being handled by this precinct, obviously, but Commander Jeffries told me she already had her eye on Ariel. Remember she took him off the DeLeroy case?”

Jule nodded.

“That’s why. Jeffries had an idea that something was wrong, not sure what tipped her off. While she was looking into it, she reassigned the case to me. Turned out Ariel was on the take. I wasn’t told exactly what he had planned or how they figured it out, but from what I understand, when they pulled him, he couldn’t make it happen anymore, so he had to pivot. Eliminating Tommy Breuger was already in the works and Ariel thought if he took me down with him, he’d be assigned as lead again. You were collateral damage.”

“Holy fuck.”

“I know.” She gave him a minute to process. “There’s good news though.”

“Someone beat the shit out of Ariel in lockup?” he said hopefully.

She laughed. “I doubt he’s being put anywhere near other inmates.”

“Too bad. Maybe I can go pay him a visit.”

“Umm. You sounded a little scary there, Julian.”

“Did I?” He rolled his head from left to right, his joints crackling. “What’s the good news?”

“The warehouse has cameras,” she said.

His heart stopped. Cameras meant the truth of what happened would come out. The truth about Tor.

“They weren’t on when we were there, obviously,” she continued. “They had that planned so they turned them off.”

He let out a deep breath.

“But Franks Junior didn’t know about the cameras, so he didn’t turn them off the night of the party and Franks Senior isn’t great at technology, so he deleted the original footage but not the cloud backup.”

“You have the rape on tape?” Jule spoke his realization.

“Not sure how we got that tape, but yeah, we have all of it.” She cringed. “I’ve watched it and it’s as horrible as you’d imagine. I know we aren’t supposed to speak ill of the dead, but Tommy Breuger played a much bigger part than he told us.”

“Wish I could say I’m surprised. I always suspected that he was as big a piece of shit as his friends.”

“Yeah. The prosecutor’s confident that all four of those scumbags are going to take a plea deal, because if a jury sees that recording, they’ll each get the maximum.”

“Fuck ’em. That’s exactly what should happen. Why’re they offering them a deal?”

“A trial means DeLeroy has to testify,” Marcie reminded him, voice softer. “It means people watching the worst moments of her life. Pleading them out is better for her. It’s what she wants.”

“I understand.” He swallowed down the thickness in his throat. “That girl’s been through too much already.”

“She has.” They sat in silence for a few seconds.

“I’m assuming you guys are looking at Martin Franks Sr. for the ambush?”

“I’m officially walled off from that case, but yeah, that’s what I’ve heard.”

“Good.” Jule took a deep breath. “Thanks for filling me in. Please thank Commander Jeffries for me too.”

“You’re welcome.”

Jule started to get up.

“One more thing.”

He sat back down.