Nowhere To Run (To Protect And Serve) by Mary Eason

about--”
    “ You wouldn’t have been. By New York law, Jeremy was considered an adult.”
    After a moment he added, “Jordan, w ith all due respect, I think there’s an awful lot about your brother’s life that you didn’t know.”
    She chose to ignore that. “What happened to the charges? If Jeremy w as arrested six months ago, wouldn’t he have gone to trial by now?”
    After a moment, he answered, “Normally. In most cases , there would have been a trial. But in Jeremy’s case, the charges were dropped. All very hush-hush I might add.”
    Clear green eyes analyzed his expression carefully. “Why were the charges dropped?” She managed at last. “Did something go wrong with the case?”
    “You could say that.” Riley hesitated, debating how much to tell her. “Jeremy’s case was dismissed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Apparently, someone thought Jeremy would be more useful to them as an informant.”
    She stared at him in disbelief. “What? You’re saying Jeremy was working for the U.S. Attorney’s Office? Why? What possible benefit could my kid brother be to…”
    “You think Caesar found out about the arrest?” She forced out.
    Riley ’s gaze riveted to hers. “I believe that’s exactly why he was killed.”
    “And there’s only one reason they’d come after Jeremy. Because of his connection to Caesar ,” she continued as if he hadn’t spoken.
    “I think so.” Riley answered noncommittally. “But I’d like to go over some things with you first. I ’m hoping maybe you could tell me about Jeremy’s routine as of late. Anything out of the norm take place in his life recently?”
    “No. No, not as far as I know.”
    “You and your brother weren’t close?” After the way she’d reacted at the hospital and her actions now, this surprised him. Riley wondered how much of the sketchy facts he’d learned over the past few hours to reveal to her. “I thought—“
    “Of course we were close …at least we were at one time, but over the past few months, well, Jeremy changed.” Her focus shifted to something just beyond his left shoulder.
    “How did he change, Jordan?” 
    She seemed unaware of him. Jordan was a million miles away. “It wasn’t anything big, just small changes in his behavior. I remember he had trouble sleeping. He was prone to unprovoked fits of anger. And he’d grown…distant. Even when he was with me, he seemed distracted.”
    “Do you have any idea what was going on in his life? Any new friends. Girlfriend troubles.”
    “No, that’s just it. He never talked about anyone. Not even a girlfriend. As far as I know, there was just me and Caesar. And Jeremy practically worshiped him.”
    “ Any reason why your brother would be in the South Bronx?”
    Her gaze returned to his. “I don’t know. But you do, don’t you? Was it…”
    “The autopsy showed traces of both heroin and cocaine in his system along with several other recreational drugs. Did you know your brother was using?”
    She jumped to her feet and rounded on him. “Of course not! How can you ask me that? I’m a doctor , for God’s sake. Don’t you think I would have helped him had I known he had a problem?”
    Riley stood as well. “But you suspected. You had to. You’ve just described the classic warning signs of substance abuse. You of all people would have been trained to spot those signs. You’ve probably seem them a thousand times working with kids. ”
    He saw the truth. She did know. “Jordan, I have to ask you, how well do you understand your fiancé’s family business?”
    “You mean am I aware that his family allegedly runs the largest drug cartel in Columbia?”
    “So you do know. And there is no allegedly. Does your fiancé ever talk to his family?”
    “ You think Caesar is involved in the family business?”
    “I not only think – I know. He’s dirty. He killed your brother because he was going to tell the Feds everything.” Riley stepped closer. He needed her to