“I didn’t call you last night because this case was three years cold, and I didn’t think twelve more hours would hurt anything. I was wrong.” Ronan felt his emotions start to rise. “Because I was an asshole, this man who’s already lost so much might lose the only thing he has left—his life.”
“Ronan, you’re not an asshole,” Cisco said, setting a hand on his shoulder. “At least not inthisinstance. There’s no way you could have known Stark would drive drunk and almost kill himself.”
“How is he?” Ten asked. “I missed that part of the conversation.”
“He’s in ICU at Salem Mercy. The docs think he’ll be okay, but he’s in a heap of legal trouble. I told my guys not to arrest him while he was in the ICU, but when he recovers enough to be released to a regular hospital room, I won’t have a choice.”
“My original plan was to tell him my story of how I shot a suspect and ended up in a Florida rehab with my career hanging in the balance. I hoped he would take my story to heart and let me help him get into a program. I’m not sure that would worknow.” Ronan sighed. He should have called Paul Stark after he’d spoken with Bash.
“What if Stark pled no contest and was ordered into rehab?” Jude asked.
“That’s something I’d have to speak with the DA about.” Cisco didn’t look as if he wanted to make that call.
“I’ll do it,” Fitzgibbon said. “I’m already acting as a liaison between the SPD and Boulder, Colorado, district attorney’s office. What’s one more phone call?”
Cisco shot Fitz a stunned look. “You wanna explain that to me? Just for shits and giggles, also throw in why I’m not hearing about your diplomatic skills until now?”
Ronan snorted and tried to cover it up with a cough. Cisco wasn’t buying it.
“You want to end up on my shit list? Keep laughing, asshole.” Cisco turned back to Fitzgibbon. “Explain. Now!”
Fitzgibbon sighed. “While Corny and Destiny were living in Colorado, they started a GoFundMe page for a sick boy with cancer.”
“I’m guessing the boy and his family never got the money?” Cisco pinched the bridge of his nose, a sign that his head was starting to throb.
“It’s worse than that.” Fitzgibbon flinched. “There was no boy. They took the money and blew town.”
“And what is it that you’re liaising about?” Cisco looked as if he didn’t actually want to hear the answer.
“Jace offered to pay back the money Corny and Destiny stole in order to get the charges dropped. With Corny needing a kidneytransplant and Destiny expecting their child, Jace also agreed to pay their medical bills and house them.”
Cisco’s mouth hung open. “It’s a world gone fucking mad. Jesus, I remember the hell that man put Bertha Craig through.”
“Yeah, well, Carson and Cole have to decide if they’ll donate a kidney to save his life. To make matters worse, we don’t know if Corny and Destiny will stick around after the baby is born.” Ronan paused. “Those boys have been through enough. If Corny were to leave again after one of them donates a vital organ, it will wreck them both.”
“Does this deal with the Boulder DA put the Salem Police in the line of fire?” Cisco asked.
“I don’t know,” Fitzgibbon admitted. “I’ll speak with the DA and find out.”
“You’re also going to have to deal with the fact that Jimenez and Watts did diddly squat to investigate this case, never mind to solve it,” Ronan said. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s better you know the good, the bad, and the ugly.”
Cisco set his head in his hands. “Fitz, find out what the deal is with the Boulder DA. If there’s any way at all we can come out of this with good press, do it. Once you have arrested Simon Westlake, Mandy Patterson, and the accessories after the fact, I’ll figure out what the hell to do about Jimenez and Watts.”
“Everly said you’re going to can them and have a press conference that celebrates you closing this case.”
Cisco snorted. “My little niece is something special.”
“She sure the hell is,” Ronan agreed. “We’re also willing to do whatever we can to give you the glory for assigning us this case and helping us to solve it.”
“I’m going to need one hell of a speechwriter to figure this shit out.” Cisco got up from his chair. “I need a handful of aspirin and a fucking shot of bourbon. For now, I’ll settle for getting rid of this headache. Keep me informed about Simon Westlake and Corny Craig.”
Fitzgibbon nodded. “You got it. Please do the same for us with Paul Stark.”
“I will.” Cisco headed for the door. “Is there anything else you need?”
Ronan raised his hand.
“Fuck, I knew I was going to regret asking. What is it?” He shot Ronan a cautioning look.
