Free The Mighty Quinns: Devin by Kate Hoffmann Page B

asked.
    Jimmy Joe stared down at his hands, shifting nervously as Dev waited for an answer. “I’m not sure.”
    â€œI don’t believe you.”
    â€œI can’t... I can’t say whose it is.”
    â€œThen you want to take the heat for something you didn’t do? Jimmy, I know you want to make something of yourself.”
    â€œI do. I want to be a cop. Like you.”
    Dev sat back, surprised by the determination on Jimmy’s young face. “You can’t be a cop if you’re charged with a felony. And possessing an unregistered gun is a felony.” He decided not to tell Jimmy the whole truth, that he probably would be charged as a juvenile and he could probably make a deal to avoid a felony charge. But right now, Dev had some leverage and he wanted to get to the bottom of Jimmy’s problems.
    â€œLet’s just say I know who this gun belongs to,” Dev said. “You don’t need to tell me.”
    Jimmy nodded. “Do you?”
    â€œI have a few ideas. But if I bring those people in and they lay this on you, there’s not much I can do. Are they going to admit the truth?”
    Jimmy thought about his answer for a long moment, his lip caught between his teeth. Dev was surprised when tears began to fill his eyes. With a soft curse, he brushed them away. He slowly shook his head. “I doubt it. I think he’s maybe not gonna want to go back to jail.”
    Both Jimmy’s father and his older brother had done time, and his brother, Ray, was on parole. Until recently, it had seemed as though Jimmy was going to follow in their footsteps. But Dev had hoped that his new job might put him on the straight and narrow.
    â€œI believe you, Jimmy.”
    â€œYou do?” A look of utter relief washed over his features.
    â€œI do. But you’re going to have to make a choice. This is one of those moments when you decide the kind of man you’re going to be. Are you going to stand up for what’s right and true? Or are you going to make excuses for people who don’t deserve your loyalty?”
    Jimmy’s hopeful expression faded. “Shouldn’t a man try to protect his family?”
    Dev pushed his chair back and stood. “Well, I guess since you’re going to have to get used to living in a cell, you might as well start now. I can’t do anything for you here. The county sheriff picked you up. This is their case, not mine.” Dev reached in his pocket and handed Jimmy his card. “If you change your mind, you just shout and ask them to call me.”
    Dev walked out of the room, glancing at the clock in the hallway. It was nearly midnight and he’d promised Elodie that he’d be over two hours ago. He’d sent her a text to let her know that he’d been delayed, but she hadn’t answered. At some point it was natural for her to get irritated with the demands of his job, especially considering her upbringing. But there was nothing he could do about it.
    Deputy Sam Rivers walked down the hall toward Dev, Jimmy’s case file in his hand. “Did he tell you anything?”
    Dev sighed. “It’s not his gun. I’d bet my paycheck it belongs to Ray Don, his older brother. But he won’t admit to it because his brother’s on probation and a gun charge will send him right back to prison. Jimmy’s got to decide for himself. Let him spend the night here, but hang on to his paperwork. I’ll go at him tomorrow morning again. Call his father and let him know that he’s going to be charged. You’re going to want to talk to Ray Don. If you can’t find him, call his probation officer. If you still can’t find him, let me know. I’ll grab him up for you.”
    If Elodie weren’t waiting, he’d go out and find Ray Don right that minute and haul him in before he figured out that they’d found the gun in Jimmy’s car. But a hungover Ray Don was much easier to