The other man, in his mid-forties, overweight and balding, raised his gun, but knew he couldn’t get a shot off. He started to shout profanities, ordering Drew to drop his weapon. There was something oddly familiar about him, in his cheap, brown suit and graying moustache.
Drew still couldn’t see the face of the younger man but he had a full head of blonde hair that was neatly trimmed, was far more built, and wore a blue suit more up to date than his buddy.
“Drew!” Sam raced down the slope, skillfully closing the distance while drawing her gun. She came in with a stiffer arm than either of the men, her eyes full of steel and resolve.
Man, she’s beautiful.
“Wilson!” Sam said towards the younger man. “Harrington! What are you doing?
“You know these clowns?”
Sam nodded, lowering her gun slightly, just enough to try and diffuse the situation, but not so much to leave herself defenseless. “I work with them. They’re half of our detective unit.”
“The idiot half, you mean,” Drew growled, shoving the blonde away from himself, then moved the gun so he was holding it from the muzzle.
The blonde spun around, his attractive face blotched red with anger and embarrassment. He stalked over to Drew and snatched his gun back. He immediately backed up and raised the gun, aiming it at Drew’s face.
“Whoa!” Sam raised her gun as well, aiming it at Wilson. “Lower your weapon.”
Wilson glared at Sam. “Your boyfriend just assaulted a police officer and took his gun. He’s going to jail for a long time.”
“You didn’t identify yourselves as police officers,” Drew said, calmly and clearly.
Harrington and Wilson exchanged quick glances. “Yes we did. We clearly identified ourselves, told you to put your hands above your head. I’m gonna say it the same way again. Turn around with your hands above your head.”
Drew smiled. “All you had to do was ask.”
Slowly, he raised his hands above his head and turned around. He wasn’t surprised when Wilson shoved him hard into the closest tree and cuffed him. A quick pat down followed, where Wilson located Drew’s sidearm.
“Gun,” Wilson announced, followed by gratuitous jab in the kidney. “That’s for taking my gun, asshole.
Sam yelled at Wilson, who took it as an invitation to jab Drew a second time. He swung Drew around, surprising Sam because of the grin on his face.
“What the hell are you smiling about asshole?” Harrington asked, noticing Drew’s smirk.
He winked at Sam. “You look so sexy with your gun out. Why don’t you come get my phone in my pocket? Call the General and he’ll arrange for a lawyer to meet me at the precinct as soon as possible.”
He held her gaze for a good five seconds, glanced down meaningfully to his pocket.
Sam’s eyes lingered on his a moment before she holstered her weapon and walked over. She reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out the contents. “You do know how to show a girl a good time.”
Chapter 11
Who’s Grilling Who
Sam couldn’t stop pacing. If she had insisted on going down there with Drew, then this wouldn’t have happened. If she had been down there, she could have had his back. Instead, she let him have his own damn way and stayed by the car, like a good little girl. Now, Drew was under arrest on some trumped up charge.
What the hell were Harrington and Wilson playing at? Why did they arrest Drew? Were they dredging up Molly Winters again, or could they possibly be stupid enough to believe Drew had something to do with his own sister’s murder, even though he wasn’t even in the state at the time?
“Will you sit down?” Ollie sat by his desk, while she paced back and forth behind their work area. “You’re making me dizzy. He’ll be fine. When the General gets here with his lawyer, they’ll get it all sorted.”
“And when is that going to be?” Sam said. “McAlister Securities is based just outside New York City. That’s about four hours from here. Five with traffic. If this gets out, it’s going to ruin his relationship with Cole. Destroy any progress he’s made with his sister.”
“Oh yeah—” Ollie said, his face looking down at some paperwork. “His sister.”
With widening eyes and pursing lips, Sam glared at her partner. “Ollie, you didn’t tell her, did you?”
Ollie smiled sheepishly. “Well, kinda, sorta, maybe a little.”
Sam clenched her fists, ground her teeth and closed her eyes. She forced herself to calm down so as not to commit murder in the middle of the police station.
“Why,” she asked, drawing her words out, “would you do that?”
Ollie shrugged. “She needed to know. She’ll find out. Better from me than on the street. She can keep it away from Cole, at least for now. I told her not to worry, that it’ll all be cleared up quickly.”
Sam sat down opposite Ollie. “So she was worried?”
“Oh yeah,” Ollie said with a nod. “Ashley loves her brother, no matter what she says. She wanted to come down here and try to get him out, but I talked her into staying home. We’ll handle it.”
That news had Sam releasing at least a few of the knots in her stomach. “Thank God. I was so afraid she’d blame him for this and she’d do nothing but yell at him.”
“Well—” Ollie said. “She loves him, but I fully expect Ash is going to rip Drew a new asshole the first chance she gets. I wouldn’t want to be him for a million bucks.”
Sam’s mouth dropped open in horror as Ollie stared off into space. Sam assumed he was imagining the coming verbal assault. Slowly, an amused grin spread across his face.
“Ollie!” Sam snapped. “I thought you and Drew managed to put your issues behind you.”
“We have,” Ollie said, and did his best to hide the grin. “We talked it out. We’re good. I just—”
Sam arched an eyebrow. “Just what?”
Despite his best efforts, the grin returned. And it brought a healthy shade of red with it. “Ashley. She’s really beautiful when she gets a full head of steam going. As long as it’s not directed at me, it’s great to watch.”
Sam was shocked. “What are you going to do? Sit there with a bowl of popcorn and watch?”
“Well—” Ollie shrugged. “I wasn’t planning on making popcorn.”
Sam wanted to throw something at him, but that was frowned on in the middle of the bullpen. Not as much as shooting him would be, but still—
Ollie went back to doing paper work, so Sam, using all of her will to stay in her chair and not start pacing again, tried to do the same. She had plenty of reports to catch up on, but the first one she picked up, (Follow up to a drunken teen who streaked naked into what he thought was his girlfriend’s backyard but turned out to be the yard of her elderly neighbors) had her sighing in desperation. She wanted to see Drew and make sure he was alright.
Sam gazed around the station. Cops in uniform sat at desks, drank coffee and filled out reports. A few walked through the room holding arrest reports, while a sergeant sat at the front desk, ready to log in any officer who walked in with a prisoner.
The room was old, but clean and polished. Large desks sat on top of a black and white tiled floor. One wall was covered in plaques and awards, another with wanted posters and notices. There was an American flag in the corner, and the Ember Falls police crest displayed with distinction nearby.
Sam picked up a pen and threw it at Ollie to get his attention. It hit him on his forehead and bounced onto his desk. Ollie picked it up, looked over to Sam and smiled. “Thanks, I think mine was almost out of ink.”
With a scowl, Sam leaned in. “What do you know about Harrington and Wilson?”
Ollie dropped the pen, stood up and walked over to Sam. Looking around the room, Ollie signaled Sam to follow him. She followed him down the hall and into an empty office. Neither bothered to turn on the lights.
“Harrington’s been around for almost ten years. He was one of the detectives that actually worked the Winter’s
case,” Ollie said. He leaned against the wall and swiped his fingers through his own hair. “He’s connected too. He was in good with the Brooks. His mom used to work for them. Still does, I think.”
Sam nodded absently. Why does it seem the name Brooks keeps coming up?
“And Wilson?”
“He was just patrol like us when the Winter’s case happened,” Ollie explained. “Just out in the field. I don’t know if he’s connected, but he’s partnered with Harington, so that’s bad enough. Besides… He’s kind of an asshole.”
Sam leaned against the nearby desk. “I knew that much. He hit on me when I first started.”
Ollie’s eyebrows drew together. “Isn’t he married?”
“Yep,” Sam said. “One of the reasons he came off as an asshole. He implied he was connected and that for a good bounce, he’d be able to help me further my career. I heard his wife kicked him out a few weeks ago.”
“Ugh,” Ollie said. He crossed his arms as a look of pure disgust displayed on his face. “You never told me that.”
Sam shrugged. “Didn’t seem relevant.” And she didn’t want to run to Ollie every time she didn’t like the way she was treated, especially with his being the son of the sheriff. “He bugged me for a while until I convinced him I wasn’t interested. He decided I was either banging you or I was a lesbian. Or both.”
Ollie scowled. “Bastard. Can’t believe any girl wouldn’t throw themselves at his feet.”
Sam placed a calming hand on his chest. “Don’t go doing anything. I don’t need you fighting my battles and I don’t want you getting hung up over this. It’s over, and I don’t care what an asshole like Wilson says about me.”
“I do,” Ollie said. “He shouldn’t be able to get away with shit like that and you shouldn’t be afraid to call him out.”
“I’m not afraid,” Sam said, making sure to keep eye contact with her partner. “I’m just choosing my battles. Eddie Wilson will get what’s coming to him.”
Ollie didn’t respond. He simply stood there, seething at the thought of Eddie saying things about his partner. Something buzzed and Ollie reached into his pocket for his cell. Pulling it out, a slow, mean grin appeared on his face. “Sooner rather than later. Let’s go.”
The first person Sam saw was the General. There was something about the man that screamed authority and made you want to salute, even though he was dressed in a grey jacket and pants, with matching tie.
The next person Sam noticed was the young, extraordinarily beautiful, red headed woman by his side. She wore a black pants suit that was all business, and gripped a black leather briefcase in her right hand.
The General glanced around for a moment, spotted Sam and Ollie and walked right to them.
Part of Sam wanted to hug the man, because she knew he’d come to get Drew out, but she resisted this urge.
“Officer Rossi,” the General said, his tone all business. “Officer Miller.”
“General,” Sam said. “Drew’s in the back. If this is his lawyer, I can have her brought to the back to speak to him.”
The General’s eyebrows went up. “Oh, I don’t think there’s any rush. He can cool his heels for a few minutes. Serves him right for letting that pair get the drop on him. I’ve got a meeting with Sheriff Miller. Your mother, I believe.”
Ollie nodded. “Right this way.”
The General started to follow, but paused as the red head stopped to talk to Sam. “Is Drew alright?”
There was something about the familiar and worried tone that put Sam’s back up.
“He’s fine,” Sam said quickly. Maybe a little too quickly. “He’s very angry over his sister, but this,” Sam indicated the police station, “being arrested, he took pretty well.”
She shook her head. “Sounds like Drew. My name’s Stephanie Howard.” She offered her hand. “Lawyer for McAlister Securities. Or one of them, I should say.”
Sam nodded. “Were you the only one available at such short notice or did you simply draw the short stick to have to fly to get out here so quickly.”
Stephanie smiled and Sam couldn’t help but be struck by how beautiful her smile was. “Neither. I wanted to come and help. It’s the least I could do. And I just really wanted to see Drew.”
At the General’s prompting, Stephanie followed Ollie to an office where Sheriff Miller waited, leaving Sam to glare after Stephanie muttering, “I’ll just bet it was the least you can do.”
Sam waited and fumed as she watched Ollie disappear behind closed doors with the General and Stephanie. A few moments later, Ollie stepped out. Walking back to his desk, he sat down and began filling out reports again.
“Well?” Sam said. “What happened?”
Ollie didn’t look up. “Not much. I just introduced them to my Mom. Stephanie seems anxious to get Drew out. Says she can’t stand the thought of him being locked up.”
Sam nodded, more to herself than anyone else. Stephanie was worried about Drew, was she?
Looking down at the paperwork waiting for her, Sam knew she was being silly. Of course she was worried about Drew. She knew him. She may have even known what happened before Drew left town. It was normal to become close to people you worked with, and they both worked for the General.
Sam forced herself to pick up her pen and start filling out reports. She’d started to fill out the top of the form, her name, shield number and rank, but when it came time to enter in details, she couldn’t concentrate.
She looked back up to see the General coming out of the back office, Stephanie right behind him, followed closely by Ollie’s mother. Sheriff Miller motioned them in Sam’s direction.
Sam and Ollie quickly got to their feet.
“Officers,” Sheriff Miller said. “Would you escort our guests to interview room three? Mr. Duncan will be brought there.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Sam said.
Sheriff Miller turned towards the General. “I guess we’re going to see what Drew Duncan is made of.”
“I guess we are.” The General grinned. “This should be fun.”
The door opened and the two detectives came in, followed by Stephanie Howard and the General. Both Detectives had empty holsters, as it was procedure to not bring firearms into an interrogation, and they each had their shield clipped to their belts.
Stephanie sent Drew a quick smile, one the detectives didn’t see, before putting on her business face. The General leaned into Drew’s ear. “You ready for this?”
Drew nodded and sent him a grin to let him know he was not only ready, but eager.
The General took a seat to Drew’s left, with Stephanie on his right. The two detectives sat down in front of him.
“Detective Wilson starting interview with Andrew Duncan,” Wilson said. “Detective Harrington is also present. Mr. Duncan has representation present. Just for the record, I’m going to read you your rights.”
“That’d be a nice change,” Drew muttered, earning a scowl from Wilson and a silent chuckle from the General.
As Wilson did, Drew looked towards the big mirror, wondering who was behind there.
“Do you understand these rights?” Wilson said.
Drew looked away from the mirror and locked eyes with the young detective. “Yes.”
Harrington leaned in. “So, this seems familiar. A young lady’s dead and you’re the main suspect.”
Drew glared at the older detective. The memory of when he’d seen that face before clicked for Drew while he was being loaded into their car for transport. The last time he’d looked into those eyes, he was a seventeen year old boy, terrified and alone. Drew waited a moment, his gaze boring into the detective. He wanted to make sure Harrington knew he wasn’t dealing with the same kid when Molly Winter’s had gone missing.
Drew took no small amount of satisfaction when Harrington looked away first.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Drew said. “There are a lot of differences this time. Last time, I was a kid who didn’t know not to talk to y
ou without a lawyer. You came and questioned me while I was still recovering in the hospital. Any first year public defender could have gotten anything I’d said tossed even if I had said anything you could use against me. Of course, there are a few similarities. Such as the fact that you’ve got dick against me and you know it.”
Wilson leaned in. “You’re going to deny that you’ve been estranged from both your sisters? I’m guessing there’s a lot of animosity between you and your siblings.”
Drew crossed his arms and met Wilson’s stare, dead on. “You’d guess wrong. Let’s be clear. I had nothing to do with my sister’s murder. I wasn’t anywhere near Ember Falls.”
“And I don’t suppose you can prove that?” Wilson said.
“As a matter of fact,” the General interjected. He reached into a briefcase and pulled out some papers that he tossed onto the table in front of the young Detective. “Drew and I, along with several members of my organization, were on the Mexican border, in the middle of an operation to rescue a young girl from kidnappers. Those are affidavits from everyone who can verify that Mr. Duncan was with us. There are other documents that further verify his whereabouts. All of which could have easily been provided if you’d bothered to check into where Drew was while his sister was murdered.”
Wilson scowled at the General as he pulled the papers forward. He gave them a cursory glance. “We’ll check into these ourselves, but I wouldn’t be surprised to find that Drew paid people to give him a false alibi.” He looked directly at the General and tried to put on his most intimidating face. “You’ve got a lot to lose if one of your top men were accused and convicted of murder.”
The General raised his eyebrows a little bit, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Do I now?”
Wilson smiled. “Oh, yeah. You’ve got a lot of clients who’d be very pissed to learn you’ve got a man working for you that would kill his own sister, one you hired knowing he was the prime suspect in the disappearance and probable murder of his high school girlfriend. Yet you put him in a sensitive position in your organization. If that were to get out, that’d be pretty bad for business.”
Torn Away (The Torn Series Book 1) Page 18
