Deadly Memories (Hardy Brothers Security Book 18) Read Online Free PDF Page B

guardrail. It plunged over the side and landed in the water, killing three of the occupants.”
    “That’s awful,” Grady said, idly rubbing his thumb over the back of Sophie’s neck. “I don’t understand why someone would drive on that bridge, though. It’s clearly meant for aesthetic value … and feeding ducks. It’s too rickety to drive over.”
    “Well, I think it’s harder to gauge those things when you’re hammered,” Sophie said.
    “Oh, man. The driver was drunk?”
    “The driver was definitely drunk,” Sophie confirmed. “He had a blood alcohol content level of .19.”
    “That’s obscenely drunk,” Grady said. “Who was killed?”
    “Three teenagers from one of the local high schools. Every single one of them was drunk. Only the driver wore a seatbelt. Two of the kids were launched out of the car through the front window on impact.”
    Grady inadvertently cringed at the picture Sophie painted. “Did they at least die on impact? They didn’t suffer, right?”
    “It looks that way,” Sophie answered. “The coroner is still doing autopsies, but all three kids were declared dead at the scene. Their parents are already screaming about a lawsuit apparently – and not against the driver’s family but against the county because the bridge wasn’t safe to drive on.”
    “There are signs warning people not to drive on that bridge,” Grady said. “That lawsuit will never see the light of day.”
    “No, it won’t,” Sophie agreed. “That doesn’t mean the parents won’t do a lot of damage before it’s all said and done. They want to blame someone. I get that. They’re going about it the wrong way, though.”
    “What about the driver?” Grady asked, grabbing another slice of pizza. “How is he?”
    “He has a head injury and is in the hospital,” Sophie replied. “My understanding is that he hasn’t woken up yet, so he doesn’t know his friends are dead or that he’s responsible.”
    “Well, it sounds as if you had a horrible day,” Grady said. “Now you’re definitely getting a massage. I was only halfway convinced when I saw you walk through the front door. Now I’m totally convinced.”
    Sophie smiled. She couldn’t help herself. Grady was considerate on a good day. On a bad day, he adored doting on her. “There’s more.”
    Grady’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. “How can there possibly be more? That’s one of the worst stories I’ve heard in … well … a really long time.”
    “The driver of the car was Nate Foley,” Sophie said. “He was eighteen, meaning he was technically an adult.”
    “Which means he’ll be charged as an adult,” Grady surmised. “I know it’s rough because he’s young, but three people are dead because of the decision he made. It’s a terrible situation, but he’s got to face his punishment.”
    “That’s not the big problem,” Sophie said. “There’s … something else.”
    “This story can’t possibly get any worse.”
    “Just wait for it,” Sophie said. “Nate Foley is the son of Chuck Foley.”
    Grady wrinkled his forehead as he searched his memory. “I recognize that name, but I can’t remember how. Remind me.”
    “Chuck Foley is a county commissioner,” Sophie supplied. “He sits on the county board.”
    “Holy crap,” Grady intoned. “Now I remember. That guy ran on a platform of clean living and family values.”
    “Exactly,” Sophie said, bobbing her head. “Now his son got drunk and killed three friends. I wouldn’t be surprised if drugs were involved, too, but the toxicology report is going to take weeks to come in.
    “Morgan didn’t want to tell me any of this, but I kind of bullied him into coming clean by saying I was going to write something regardless,” she continued. “He said that Chuck Foley is pitching an absolute fit and wants Morgan to promise he won’t press charges against his son.”
    “Foley has to know that’s a losing proposition,” Grady said. “Morgan can’t afford