He took Meredith’s picture away and put Harper, Sr.’s picture back on top. “This guy didn’t like being arrested. This guy decided that he had information on the Red Demons, and he wanted to use it to get immunity for this shit.” He pulled away the top picture and used it to wave at the others. “Harper, Sr. was stupid because what we found out today is that all the evidence we thought we had on the Red Demons was bogus. All of it. Not the information itself. That was real, but Harper, Sr. can’t be used as a witness anymore because what we weren’t told is that Harper, Sr. is also in bed with the cartel.”

A phone started ringing in the room, and it wasn’t mine.

Detective Brennan stared at me, his eyes hard, and he clenched his jaw. “If I look at my ringer, am I going to find out that it’s coming from your brother?”

I swallowed. This guy was the most cop-like cop I’d ever met or seen on television. He was emanating frustration, exhaustion, but a ring of danger. And right now, the frustration was only slightly edging out the air of danger, and so I swallowed. Again.

And I didn’t answer that question.

He grunted before leaning back and pulling out his phone. He turned it off, then indicated my own. “Pull it out. Call your brother back—”

I reached for the phone, but it was still in use.

Channing’s voice sounded from it, “I’m here. I’m listening.”

Brennan gestured to the table. “Put it there.” He raised his voice. “But you listen, Monroe. Not a word.”

My brother, for once, was quiet.

I was also now impressed by this cop. As cops went, he might do.

“So, we have an issue. One, the case fell apart. We can’t bring forward a witness who will never testify, and we’ll know he’ll never testify because what cartel would ever let one of theirs enter the court of law. A dead witness. That’s who they’d let in. In a body bag, but cartel aside, last night Harper, Sr. and Harper, Jr. were both taken. And your sister here was a witness to Harper, Jr.’s kidnapping. Witnesses said that two of the men stopped and stared at you. Witnesses also said that you seemed like you recognized one—”

“Bren, take me off speaker.”

I jumped. I’d never heard that voice from my brother.

I hesitated a second and he roared, “Right fucking now, Bren! Right NOW!”

I grabbed the phone, taking him off speaker and put the phone to my ear.

“Get up right now and leave.”

“Wha—”

“Get up! Grab your bag. Get up. Then leave. NOW!”

I bent for my bag.