Larry Tyler was an aging man is his early 70's, but he seemed very fit and energetic and pleased to see the two detectives after they had called to set up a meeting.

"Come on in detectives," he said as he welcomed them into his house. " Hmmm... Darnell Prince. Now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time. Really a shame when you think about it. I feel like I was the only person in our National Guard unit who developed a strong relationship with him. To most other guys there, he was just another face they saw one weekend a month."

As Tyler led Scotty and Lilly through his house, they noticed the living room was filled with firearms, neatly stacked and stored in locked glass display cases. "That's quite a gun collection you have, Mr. Tyler." Scotty remarked.

Tyler smiled. "Ah yes, that was our shared passion," He said. "Me and Darnell really had a thing for guns. We'd meet at the range all the time, always exchanging, trading, and testing our weapons and talking about the best gun out there. You know, I've still got a few of his guns that he traded with me before he was killed. It feels good to bring them out to the range. This may sound silly, but I guess it's my way of keeping his memory alive."

This comment caused Lilly to think of something. "Really? Did he trade or lend you any guns right before he was killed. Like within a few weeks before the event?"

"As a matter of fact, he did lend me one right around then." Tyler replied. "Here let me show you. Just two weeks or so before he was killed, Darnell lent me something that's now one of my most prized firearms."

Tyler unlocked one of the display cases and pulled out a classic M1911 .45 caliber pistol. Despite its age, it seemed in near perfect condition. He handed it to Lilly and watched as she looked it over. "A real beauty isn't it?" Tyler asked. "The 1911 has always been one of my favorite models, which is probably why Darnell let me have it. And the one he lent me was truly one of a kind. I've put a lot of effort into maintaining it, and after all these years it still fires like a charm."

"Did Darnell ever say where he got it from?" Asked Lilly.

"Nope, and sadly I never got around to asking. I hope there isn't anything wrong with me deciding to keep it. I mean, if Darnell had any family members I would have turned it over to them. But since he didn't and he had no will that mentioned what to do with his property, I figured it would be okay if hung onto it. I figure I had as much right to it as anyone else."

"Don't worry Mr. Tyler, that's not why we're here." Lilly assured him. "But still, would you mind if we took this gun as evidence? It could be important in our investigation."

Tyler seemed confused, as did Scotty. "I don't understand. What does this have to do with Darnell's death?" Asked Tyler. "He let me have this well before he was killed and its been with me the whole time."

"We're not sure." Lilly replied. "But there's a chance it may be relevant to our investigation. So if you would just let us take it as evidence, it would be very helpful. We'll let you have it back if it's of no importance to us."

"Sure. After all, it was Darnell's gun. If it could help you solve his murder, then you are welcome to it. Just wait here and I'll get you a carrying case for it."

Tyler left the two detectives in the living room alone while he went to fetch a case for the weapon. "Lilly, what does this gun have to do with our investigation?" Asked Scotty as soon as Tyler left.

"I'm not sure," Lilly replied. "But I think this is the pistol Darnell took from David Landis. It explains why it was never found in Darnell's house."

"Well maybe, but even if it is the same gun, if it was here the whole time, then it obviously wasn't involved in the shootout that got Darnell killed. Besides, Darnell wasn't killed by a .45 caliber pistol. He was killed with his own .38 service revolver. The ballistics report has already confirmed it," Scotty pointed out.

"I know, but all the same it's kind of odd how this gun keeps turning up again and again," Lilly replied. "First Darnell took it off David, then he used it to threaten Gerald Allen, and now we find it at the house of an old associate. It could be that this gun has a much bigger significance then anyone has realized..."

Lilly was interrupted by Tyler, who returned with a plastic gun case. "Okay here you go," He said as he put the gun in the case, "I'm not sure what you expect, but I hope the gun helps. Now what are you here to talk about?"

"We're here to ask about an incident that occurred at Darnell's Super Bowl party a week before he was killed," answered Scotty. "Do you remember that party at all?"

Tyler smiled. "Oh yeah, that was a very memorable occasion. In addition to guns, another common thing we shared was a love of the Eagles. I was one of the first people who showed up at the party and the last to leave. I had a great time there. All the same, it made the Eagle's crushing defeat and Darnell's death even harder to handle."

"Well there was a specific incident during that party we would like to ask about," Scotty continued. "At one point, Darnell's partner on the force, Laura Stanton, got really drunk and Darnell took her upstairs away from everyone else. We heard from another guest that you went up there shortly after to check on them and we were wondering..."

"...If I caught Darnell doing something he shouldn't have?" Interrupted Tyler. Then he chuckled to himself. "I suppose I can't blame you for suspecting that. As a former cop myself, I know there is a tendency for investigators to always assume the worst in people. But let me assure you detectives, nothing inappropriate took place at that party, hehe, well nothing unless you count a bunch of adults staying up all night drinking and acting like a bunch of teenage fools to celebrate their favorite sports team."

("Lights" by Journey)

Shortly after Darnell took Laura upstairs, Tyler went up after them to make sure everything was alright. He noticed an open door to a room upstairs and peeked in. Upon looking in, he saw Laura laying in a bed with Darnell standing over her.

"Oh man..." Laura moaned, "my head is killing me. I guess I really put down a few too many drinks tonight."

Darnell laughed. "Really, you think so? You look like you just took a hit from Herman Edwards. You know, when I encouraged you to enjoy the free beer, this wasn't what I had in mind."

"I'm sorry D-Darnell. I really screwed up didn't I? I guess this shows I'm not as responsible as I should be."

"Don't worry about it Laura." Darnell assured her. "You're not the first cop I've known who got too drunk at one of my parties. Just relax and be grateful we're not on duty tomorrow."

Tyler decided this was a good time to speak up. "Hey is everything alright in here?" He asked.

Darnell turned around to face him. "Yeah, it's all good. Could you give Laura a ride home in a few hours? She's obviously in no condition to drive anywhere for a while."

"No problem Darnell, come on lets head back. You got a party to finish."

"Okay", Darnell then turned back to Laura. "You gonna be alright, Laura?"

"Y-Yeah I'll manage." Laura replied, sitting up slightly. "Just go back and enjoy your party. I'll be damned if I'm the one to ruin the whole thing..."

"That's one heck of a partner you've got there." Remarked Tyler as they left the room and headed back. "Looks like she really looks up to you."

"Yeah and she really loves the job." Darnell replied. "I've rarely seen someone with as much dedication as her when they first start on the beat. She's going to be one of the best officers we've got. No question about it."

"Well having you as her partner is certainly a contributing factor."

This comment caused Darnell to stop in the hallway. "Oh spare me. I'm so sick of everyone acting like I'm David Starsky. I'm just as human as everyone else on the force. And lately it seems like I can't do anything right."

"Whoa hold on a second. What are you talking about?" Asked Tyler

"Forget it Larry. You wouldn't understand."

"Come on Darnell, I did 23 years on the job myself. Just tell me what's going on."

"I'm just getting a bit sick of my hardass reputation." Darnell explained. "Tough old Darnell. The guy who shows no mercy to criminals and is always ready to lay down the law. It's tough to maintain when you run into a situation involving someone you know. Someone doing something wrong, but with potential to do so much more good with a second chance."

Larry Smiled. "Oh I get it. You caught someone you knew breaking the law and decided to cut them a break. Exercised your police discretion in a way most officers wouldn't."

"Yeah for once I decided not to go by the book," Darnell explained, "I caught a smart but misguided kid dealing drugs and decided to let it go. I figured it would be just a one time thing that I could forget about, but I can't stop wondering weather or not I did the right thing. And since then, it's been causing me nothing but problems."

"So that's it. You decided not to make him another casualty in the 'war on drugs'.

Darnell laughed a bit at this remark. "War on drugs. What a fucking joke. All it's done is fill our prisons with people who've done nothing but harm their own bodies. Meanwhile it's turned scumbags like Gerald Allen into millionares who get to sit back and watch us put away the small fries. I'm just tired of it all. Remember all the stories you told me about your father when he was a cop back during prohibition? The bootlegging, big city crime lords, the bribery and corruption? They made for great stories, but I sure as hell didn't want to experience it for myself. But now it seems I've managed to walk right into it and there's no way out."

"Well that's the nature of the job, Darnell," said Tyler. "Sometimes you run into a situation where there is no "perfect" answer or course of action. You've been on the force long enough to know that. Look, whatever you did, I'm sure you based your judgment on what you knew about the law and what you thought was right. At the end of the day, sometimes that's the best you can do."

Darnell sighed, "Yeah I suppose..."

"Come on Darnell, you're thinking way too much into this. Even if it was mistake, you've been on the force 13 years. You're allowed to make one every once in while. You just need put it behind you and move on. I was there back when you first started, and I remember you were always one of the best. There is no way one little incident is going to change that."

"Yeah your right." Replied Darnell. "Well I guess we better head back. I wouldn't want to keep my guests waiting."

With that, the two men headed back downstairs.

"That was pretty much it." Tyler concluded. "Nothing else really substantive happened that night, and I would know if it did. I was one of the last people who left the party that night. Of course, little did I know it was the last time I would ever see Darnell again. And to think he was in such high spirits as he said good bye that night, telling us about how he was going to check in to work just a few hours after the game, and how it was going to be the best day on the job he ever experienced in years..."

This caught Scotty's attention. "Hold on a second!" He interrupted. "Darnell told everyone at the party when he was going to work on the night of the game?"

"Everyone who was still there at the end of the party, yes." Larry replied. "He told us all about it. When he was checking in and where he was going to be. He wanted to know if any one of us would be in his patrol area at the time so he could say hello and share a moment of celebration. I feel so bad for him. He was so sure the Eagles would win. Of course we all know how it really turned out, and the Eagles loss turned out to be the least of his problems."

"Mr. Tyler, this is very important," said Lilly in a stern voice. "Do you remember who was still at the party when Darnell said this?"

"Well let's see..." said Larry, trying hard to remember."It was late and there were not too many people left at the house. Mostly just his closest friends like me. But there was one guy I remember because he really seemed out of place the whole night."

"Who was that?" Asked Scotty.

"Some guy from the force that Darnell invited. Darnell told me he didn't know him too well, but he wanted to have him over because he seemed like somewhat of a loner on the job and he figured maybe he could use a little time out with his co-workers. I can't recall his name too well. Baron, Byron or something.

"Byron?" asked Scotty. "You mean Byron Wilford?"

"Yeah that's it," said Tyler, a bit more sure of himself now. "I know this seems kind of funny, but I think the main reason Darnell invited him is because he felt sorry for him. He figured a party with his fellow officers was exactly what he needed. And I guess he enjoyed it since he was there till the very end."

"So, Byron lied to us". Remarked Scotty as he and Lilly left the house. "He knew exactly where Darnell would be that night. I think we need to bring him to the station for another chat."

"Yeah, meanwhile I'll get this gun over to the crime lab." Said Lilly, referring the gun the case she carried in her arms. "All this time we've been looking into Darnell's life for some dark secrets. Maybe it's this pistol that has them instead."