Getting The Lawyer
Sam's POV
I turned to Captain James. I ignored the scowl in his eyes, and I jumped from the table I was sitting on. “He hasn't said anything yet, but he will talk soon. And…” I paused, tuning my voice low, knowing the captain wouldn't like what I was about to say next. But it had to be said. “I don't think he is the killer. It doesn't fit his M.O.…”
“Why?” Captain James demanded, his brows tightened on me. His gaze as cold as his voice.
My throat suddenly went dry at his words, my heartbeat rising steadily as his stare lingered. This was the first time his stare would affect me this badly. Damn hell! I bit hard on my lower lip. I shouldn't have let the girls talk me into that yesterday. Now, I would always feel guilty before Captain James, before my colleagues.
I swallowed as his stare continued to quiz me, his eyes deepening with suspicion. I had to do something fast unless I was going to ruin my career myself, so I steeled my nerves and I said. “He is a con artist, Captain. He cons people, not kills people. Cecilia Rosewood was better alive to him than dead. And besides…” I paused and deliberately began strolling out of the interrogation room. Captain James's shoes tapped the floor after me, as I had predicted.
I moved into the narrow hallway, deliberately strolling down, leading him away from the interrogation room. The more he sees, Rowan, the more prejudiced he will be. And that was the last thing I needed him to be right now.
“...nothing was taken in the Rosewood’s hotel room. Even if a man like Rowan Drake killed her, he’d go off with her jewelry and watches, not leave them for us to find.” I said.
I stopped just at the top of the hallway, which opened up to the main office. Desks spread around before us, though the room was split in two—the uniformed and uninformed cops were all split by one narrow aisle.
I turned from the bureaucratic commotion to face the heat in Captain James's stare head-on.
His brows wrinkled in thought, while his eyes slanted oddly at me. He was like that for almost a minute, each passing second setting my nerves on fire. His face eventually crumbled in a frown, and he growled, “Either Rowan Drake or anyone. Just get me the killer fast. We need to have a suspect to charge to court before 48 hours, or the chief of police is going to have my ass on his grill.”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.” I chanted.
His narrowed gaze eased slowly, and he bounced down the long hall to his office. I snatched my phone from my pocket just then. The phone danced around my trembling fingers as I dialed for Riley.
She picked up on the first ring. I didn't have the time for preambles this time. “Get the girls together and meet me at your place. You guys have thrown me into the deepest mess I can ever get into, and you have to get me out.” I said. I ended the call, half-running out of the precinct for my car.
I pulled into Riley’s driveway twenty minutes later to find Rachel's Mercedes and Lexi’s Camry there too. Perfect. They were all here already. This wasn't just my mess. This was our mess. They pushed me into this. They have to help get me out.
I ran up the porch, the scorching sun warming my neck all the way. I was about to push the doorknob to let myself in when Riley opened the door. She dropped back to give me more room to pass. The bright golden-toned sunlight dropped in over me to cast a large rectangle on the floor of her lobby. Riley’s brows were wired tight in confusion, slightly denting her Barbie-like makeup, yet she said nothing.
Lexi rushed to me. She took my hands, and her hands shook around mine. “What's wrong, baby girl? Riley says we have got you into a mess.” She spoke in her low, motherly voice as always.
I didn't like to see her anxious, but I just couldn't deal with this on my own. I needed help. My career was on the line. I dragged her forward, and I hugged her briefly. I forced her a smile to ease her anxiety a little. Then I held her hand, leading her to the living room with me.
“Don't I also get a hug, Sam?” Riley joked, obviously trying to lighten the mood.
“Trust me. We both don't need that right now.” I made her a stiff smile, which I extended to Rachel, who was sprawled on Riley's settee.
I sank into the nearest sofa. Lexi sat beside me. “What really happened, Sam? You are making me very scared,” she said.
I stared at her from the rim of my eyes, just as I exhaled short puffs of air, clearing out the burden on my chest before I spoke. Then I told them everything from last night to now, keeping the steamy details to myself. Another time, that would have been the details to share, but definitely not this time.
“Oh!” Lexi exclaimed, a little restless on her seat. “This is bad, very bad. The case would definitely be taken from you if your captain finds out.”
“And I can't afford to let go of this case. This is the biggest boost I can ever get to my career. And if it comes to light that I am that criminal’s alibi, the case would be taken off my hands, and knowing Captain James, he would slam me with a suspension, even though nothing in the books says he could. He hates any scandal like this.” I said.
Riley bit her nails. “We should have stopped you yesterday and had you wait for your right date. I should have known that guy was bad news. He was too pretty to be true.”
I shifted sharply to Riley, my gaze pinning her down. She was crunched smaller on a corner of her sofa, biting gently at her long painted nails. “What do you mean we should have waited for my date?” I demanded, a slight edge to my voice.
“He wasn't your date, girl. Your date wasn't that pretty. But you had already kissed him, and since your real date texted that he was going to take longer to get there because something came up for him, we thought it was okay you went with that handsome stranger.” Riley explained.
My gaze darkened, heating up as I carried it to cover the three of them. “So you all let me wander off with a complete stranger, completely drunk.”
“You looked happy with him, Sam.” Lexi chimed in softly in their defense.
“All that is isn't important now, Sam.” Rachel said in her usual authoritative tone, speaking louder so her voice carried over the room. We all turned to her.
It damn well wasn't. I ground my clenched teeth against each other, my fist tightening on my lap. If they had done the right thing yesterday, perhaps I wouldn't be in this mess.
Rachel looked calm and collected as ever. She sat her hands on her lap, leaning forward. “What we need now is not to throw blame, but to find a solution.”
“Yes!” I rowed my head to the sides in reluctant agreement. “The bastard told me to get him a lawyer before he talks. I can't get him one directly, so it can't be traced back to me.”
“I would help you get one for him.” Rachel said. “Is that all?”
“I wish that were all. But that is all for now. Just make sure it is a lawyer we can trust and bring him up to date with the state of things. He also has to pretend to be a little antagonistic to me to keep the drama believable to Captain James, and at the same time, he should know he works for me and follows along with my plans.”
“Is that all?” Rachel demanded again, with a final tone.
I nodded at her, and she rose to her feet, reaching for her cell phone.