Dixie Under Siege (A Warrior's Passion Book 2)

by Natasza Waters

  And then the brawl was on.

  Troy took off with the towels, Cash on his tail, yelling at the top of his lungs. Tony sighed and retraced his steps.

  “Hey, Mace.” He could hear his best friend laughing. “Stow it. I got things under control.”

  “Yeah, right. Sounds like it.”

  A loud bang, like a door slamming from down the hall, had Tony closing his eyes in prayer, but they weren’t gonna be answered today. A loud thunk followed and one of the boys started crying. He’d consider himself lucky if there wasn’t any blood.

  “Mace, I gotta go. I’ll text ya once the sitter is here.”

  “Nina’s heading over to your place to clean up the mess. Get your ass down to the PD station. I gotta feeling the commander is gonna need all of us.”

  Walking down the hallway, he saw Cash running toward him, palm pressed against his forehead. Tony’s guess, a close quarter situation with an oak door. He picked up his boy and checked for welts or blood.

  None. They were good to go.

  A knock at the front door had him pivoting on one heel. The door opened before he got there.

  “Auntie Nina!” Cash called and stretched his arms out.

  Nina swept him into her busty momma hug. “How’s my big boy?”

  “I’m fine, Ninja Girl,” Tony said and grinned.

  She broke into a chuckle. “Shut up, SEAL. Where’s my other Bale baby?”

  Cash scowled and pointed. “Troy’s down der. He’s bad.”

  “He is?” Nina said with shock and surprise in her voice. She sat Cash at the kitchen table. “Get your ass in gear, T-man. Dixie didn’t do this. It’s gonna be up to you and the squad to figure this out. The cops want to charge her. They say they have evidence.”

  Tony lifted his hands. “What evidence? The commander was with her last night, except for when…”

  Nina’s mouth flickered with a concerned smile, then shook her head. “No. There’s no way.”

  CDR Hunter had showed up at Marg’s place last night without Dixie. He’d said she was tired and needed sleep. But he couldn’t have been gone for more than a couple of hours.

  “What evidence?” he asked again.

  Troy strode into the room, swinging his arms and gripping the paper towels.

  “Take a seat, young man,” Nina ordered. She had the mom voice down pat and, without complaint, Troy crawled onto the chair.

  Nina Callahan gnawed on her lip. “The cops say she has motive, and they have evidence putting her at the scene of the crime.”

  “I don’t believe it,” Tony said. “I mean, I don’t know Dixie that well, but she seems like a straight shooter.”

  “She is. Although I wouldn’t blame her if she did kill the SOB.” Nina shifted the frying pan to the burner and lit the gas stove. “Get dressed, Tony.”

  He looked down and realized all he wore were his Icebreaker briefs. He raised a brow at her. “Tempting, I know.”

  She snorted and threw the dish towel at him. “Get over yourself.”

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Det. Dean escorted Dixie into a bare bones interrogation room. She’d watched enough reality crime TV. The cramped space no bigger than eight by eight, with a small, rectangular table and three chairs. One for her and two for the good cop-bad cop routine.

  Air conditioning blasted from the vent above her head and she shivered, the goosebumps on her bare legs a plate of ripples. The cops hadn’t let her dress before taking her in on suspicion of murder. They’d cuffed her in spite of Det. Dean’s request to let her put some pants on. Her shoes had been near the front closet and she’d quickly slipped them on before they’d hauled her out to the police cruiser and shoved her into the back seat like a bag of garbage. All she wore was the thigh-length, cotton shirt she’d put on after getting out of bed this morning.

  Dixie rested the back of her head on the wall behind her. Incandescent light rained down from the ceiling, too bright and hard on her eyes.

  The uniformed cops had wanted to take her downtown San Diego, but Det. Dean spoke with the sergeant and explained he had an open case on Kallis, due to Dixie’s complaint. They allowed him to take her into custody. He hadn’t spoken much on the drive to Coronado. She’d asked questions, but he said all would be explained once they reached the office.

  She liked the sound of office instead of prison, although the handcuffs pinched her wrists.

  Dean had shuffled her down a hallway, asked if she wanted a coffee, which she declined, then left her in this room.

  She crossed her arms, trying to keep the heat in. With no clock on the wall, it seemed like forever before the detective reappeared and sat down. Another plain-clothed officer followed him into the room.

  “This is Detective James Blanchard,” Dean said introducing the man.

  The other police detective was younger than Dean by at least twenty years. A handsome guy with sandy blond hair, broad shoulders, and topped out over six feet.

  “Can you turn off the air conditioning? I’m freezing.”

  “Unfortunately, I can’t.” He glanced at Blanchard. “Get her one of the blankets from lockup.”

  The other man hesitated for a second, then left.

  “What’s going on?” she asked.

  The detective surveyed her. “That would be a question I need to ask you.”

  “I don’t understand. Chandler is dead?”

  “Very dead. I’m sure that’s a relief for you.”

  She didn’t respond to his statement, afraid her agreement could be construed as a confession.

  Blanchard returned and she quickly took the blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders and legs, then reseated herself in the hard plastic chair.

  “Do you own a weapon?” Dean asked.

  “You know I do. It’s registered.”

  “Where do you keep it?”

  “It’s at home. In my purse. I have a concealed carry permit.”

  “We’ll need that weapon for comparison,” Dean said.

  Dixie leaned over the table. “Compare to what? I did not kill Chandler.”

  “You had motive,” Detective Blanchard stated firmly. “Mr. Kallis was murdered by a Ruger 9mm pistol. Same weapon that’s registered to you. You maintain a man stalked you and sent you notes for twelve years. Suspecting Chandler Kallis sent you the notes, you murdered him.” He paused. “Come on, Dixie. You couldn’t stand it anymore and when you found out who your stalker was, you shot him.”

  Two taps landed on the only door in the room. A uniformed female officer leaned in. “Lumin Bale is here. Says she’s Dixie’s attorney.”

  Det. Dean blew out a deep breath and nodded.

  “Did you kill Chandler Kallis?” Blanchard asked, as if trying to eek out a confession from her before legal assistance walked in to break up their pin-the-crime-on-Dixie’s-ass party.

  “No.”

  Lumin wooshed into the room and directed a hard stare at Det. Dean. He rose and shifted his to chair to Dixie’s side of the table. She gave both men her business card, then took a seat. After a brief smile at Dix, Lumin didn’t mince words. “Are you holding my client for questioning, or charging her?”

  Dean leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “No charges have been laid. We wanted to talk with her.”

  “Good. Now you’re talking with me. My first question is why you didn’t allow my client to put on some clothes prior to bringing her down to the department and parading her through a public area half-dressed? Did she resist arrest or pose a threat?”

  Det. Dean shook his head. “I wasn’t the arresting officer.”

  “What evidence do you have that Miss Hammond is in any way involved with the death of Mr. Kallis?”

  Blanchard’s handsome brow creased with humor. A slip of a smile tugged one side of his mouth. A cocky look, as far as Dix was concerned.

  He tilted his head. “Motive. A registered weapon with the same make and model as the one used to kill Kallis. Presence at the scene of
the crime.”

  Lumin must have sensed Blanchard’s asshat character, but didn’t let it ruffle a single feather. “Where did the crime occur?”

  Blanchard leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed. “Ardon Corporation’s office. Downtown San Diego.”

  Lumin didn’t take notes, she kept her eyes pinned to whoever spoke. “Where was the body found?”

  Dixie couldn’t believe Lumin’s professional transformation. Sharp. Like, razor sharp. This wasn’t the gal she’d gotten drunk with on margaritas the other night.

  “He was found in an office on the fifth floor,” Dean answered.

  “And you have proof that Dixie was on the fifth floor in this office?”

  The young detective’s smug expression seemed to think he had this case in the bag. “We have video proof Miss Hammond was at the front door of the building near the time of his death.”

  “Ah, I see.” Lumin nodded. “I’m unaware of a magic bullet that can get from the front door to the fifth floor of a building. Do you have proof Dixie was in the building?”

  “No,” Dean said.

  “She entered another way,” Blanchard added.

  Lumin didn’t pause for a breath before firing another question at the detective. “Video cameras are mounted at all entrances of corporate buildings. Do you have other video footage supporting your claim?”

  Blanchard straight white teeth scraped over his bottom lip. “Not at this time.”

  Lumin forked her fingers on the table. “Any other circumstantial evidence you’d like to relay to me before you release Miss Hammond?”

  “We can hold her for twenty-four hours.” Blanchard seemingly didn’t like getting taken to the cleaners by a beautiful blonde.

  “So you plan to charge an innocent woman, without direct evidence that puts her at the scene of the crime. In fact, you mean to victimize my client after she has been victimized by a stalker for twelve years.”

  Blanchard shrugged. “In twenty-four hours we’ll know if her weapon is a match to the one used to kill Kallis. Besides, we can hold her up to ninety-six hours if we believe she is the murderer. As an attorney, you should know that.”

  Unfettered by his insult, Lumin offered her own kick in the ass. But her response put it through the goal posts. “Unfortunately, you can believe in unicorns and pixie dust, but what you believe isn’t the issue. Evidence is the issue.” Lumin’s gaze swerved to Det. Dean. “You know full well there is another party who has even more motivation to murder Kallis than Dixie. Is she being questioned as well? If not, I’ll go to the DA and explain it to him myself.”

  “Who might that be?” Blanchard asked, trying in vain to unsettle Lumin.

  Lumin ignored him, keeping her attention on Det. Dean. “Detective, I think your gut knows Dixie isn’t guilty of this crime. Think you also know the group of Special Operators climbing the walls in your lobby will go full metal jacket finding the truth. They’re just as capable, if not more, as the police force.”

  Dean didn’t agree or disagree. “My job is to find the real murderer.”

  Not to be shut out of the party, Blanchard added, “Senator Kallis’s son was the CEO of a large corporation. A philanthropist who gave to children’s organizations. A man respected in the business community.”

  Dixie wanted to throw up and she’d bet a million pieces of gold, so did Lumin.

  Tony’s wife finally turned her gaze toward Blanchard. “Do you have a sister, detective?”

  His brow furrowed. “Yes, why?”

  “Do you rape her like Chandler did to Melodie Kallis? Did you even bother to look at Kallis’s record of assault charges?”

  Obviously, Blanchard wasn’t one of the three officers Det. Dean had brought in on Dix’s case or he would have known about the previous charges. That made Dixie nervous. Who was Blanchard? Why was he here?

  The detective flashed a look at Dean. “Why didn’t Dixie file a restraining order against Chandler when she thought he was her stalker?” he asked.

  “Today,” Dixie finally spoke up. “I only found out Saturday night. Lumin and I were scheduled to meet today to file the restraining order.”

  Det. Dean gnawed on his left cheek. “I’ll finish this up, Blanchard.”

  The other officer’s lips tightened but he took the hint and left the room.

  “Who was that guy?” Dix asked.

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  “It does, if he doesn’t belong to this department. It does if he was sent here by Senator Kallis.”

  Dean palmed his forehead, then rubbed. “What happened, Dixie?” He sat in the chair Blanchard vacated across the table from her and Lumin. “Why were you outside the Ardon building?”

  She turned a look toward Lumin, who paused, then nodded.

  “I never went inside the building, Detective. Chandler texted me. Told me he had Gethsemane. He said he’d let her go if he could see me in person. She’s an innocent victim in all of this.”

  Dean ran a hand down his pinstriped tie. “Not according to CDR Hunter, but go on.”

  She wasn’t sure what he meant. The cops wouldn’t let her speak to Josh since they’d arrested her. “I agreed to see Chandler if he promised to let her go. He told me to meet him downtown at the new office. When I arrived, I texted him and said I was outside waiting. He never answered. After half an hour, I went home.”

  Dean nodded. “This case is going to get dirty, Dixie. I won’t lie to you. Any time politics gets involved, justice can get derailed. Before I came in here, we received a warrant to search the Kallis estate. Not sure what we’ll find, but Melodie Kallis is nowhere to be found. If what CDR Hunter and his SEALs saw the other night is true, then yes, Melodie would be a person of interest and have a motive to kill him, but it doesn’t look good right now for you. Especially since you were raped in New York, and I imagine you believe it was Chandler Kallis.”

  “I don’t know who it was. I never saw his face.”

  “But the notes started arriving soon after your assault.”

  She nodded. “Yes, about a month later.”

  Lumin crossed her legs and said, “Detective, even the circumstantial evidence is not enough to charge Dixie. If this went to court, it would be thrown out the first day. We know Chandler raped his sister. In fact, we have video. But there’s something you don’t know.”

  Det. Dean straightened his shoulders and nodded.

  Lumin continued. “Chandler admitted to Dixie that he had Captain Gethsemane Reynolds. She works for the Office of Naval Intelligence. Currently, she’s on a special advisory council to stop human trafficking. And so is Senator Kallis. According to Admiral Thane Austen, Ardon Corporation has been suspected of human trafficking in the past. If Gesem found something that led to Kallis’s involvement with the slave trade, the senator would have a lot to lose.” Her brows snapped together. “Now, you have another person of interest.”

  Dean’s gaze shot to the table, considering her words. “You think Chandler and his father were at odds over Captain Reynolds. Chandler wanted to use her to lure Dixie and the senator wanted her dead.”

  Lumin nodded. “All theory until I start digging up the truth. Which I will.”

  The detective’s gaze swerved to Dixie. “Did you see anyone while you waited at Ardon’s office building?”

  “I never went inside. When I first arrived, I did see a man and a woman leave the building. It would have been around eight thirty p.m. or so. I couldn’t make out their faces.”

  Lumin lowered her chin. “Detective, did you see these people on the video recording?”

  He nodded. “I did, but they kept their heads down. The woman was a brunette. Tall. The gentleman had grey hair, broad build, wearing a business suit and held the woman’s arm as they exited the building.”

  Lumin blinked and Dixie could see her wheels turning. “CDR Hunter can probably identify Captain Reynolds, regardless if he can see her features. Detective—please don’t get offended when I say, help us find the re
al killer and release Dixie.”

  Dean sighed. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”

  Dixie flattened her palms on the cold tabletop. “Why?”

  He looked sympathetic, but said, “I told you. When politics gets involved, justice is thwarted. Dixie will be held here in a cell for the next ninety-six hours.” He paused and ground a look at Lumin. “Unless irrefutable evidence is found that points to another suspect, Dixie will be moved to county jail and charged with First Degree Murder.” He rose. “I’ll leave you two to speak for a few moments. An officer will escort Dixie to the holding cell after that.”

  Det. Dean left the room and closed the door behind him.

  “Lumin?” She gripped the woman’s wrist and squeezed. “I did not do this.”

  She nodded. “I know you didn’t. If anything, you’ll be safe in here.”

  Dix laughed but the hysteria in her high-pitched tone was unmistakable. “Yeah, like Epstein was safe?”

  Lumin gripped her shoulder. “If Senator Kallis is behind this, he won’t want you dead. If my theory is correct, he wants you to take the fall for killing his son.”

  Dix palmed her face and shook her head. “This is a nightmare.”

  “Hey,” Lumin shook her shoulder. “None of us are abandoning ship, Dixie. Josh will not rest until he finds the answer. My husband, Mace, Fox, the entire squad will find the truth,” she stated sternly. “I’ll be back this evening to check on you. Now I have to face the man who loves you and give him the bad news.”

  Tears welled in her eyes. Even though Lumin reassured that she wouldn’t be left to rot in jail, her trail of bad luck pointed to another outcome. “Will you call the Erotic Bean for me? Tell Sabrina she’s in charge.”

  “I will,” she said quietly. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

  Dix swept her tears away and nodded. “Do…do you think they’ll let me see Josh?”

  “Probably not, but I’ll ask Dean.”

  Lumin hugged her and Dixie squeezed the hell out of the slender blonde. “Thank you.”

  Blanchard was the officer who came to retrieve Dix and escort her to the cell. In the hallway, Lumin offered him a sedate smile. This was the type of response the guy seemed to accept from a woman. He ran his eyes up her body and lingered on her breasts.