“I’ll give you anything you want, just let me deal with this.”
I love a man who takes control.
I love Crane.
THIRTY-NINE
SIERRA
The police station is crammed when we arrive, and we’re promptly escorted to different rooms. Crane sends me a reassuring wink, but even that does nothing to calm my nerves.
The officer is a man, and he’s a harassed one at that. He’s in his early fifties, and he looks like he lives on a diet of fried food and soda. He squeezes behind the desk in front of me, giving me an awkward smile when his stomach pushes the table toward me.
“Sorry.” He clears his throat. “Officer Pembroke, good to meet you.”
I nod, unable to say anything. My fingers won’t stop moving, and I force them under my butt so I can focus.
Officer Pembroke drawls on about how Mr. Hale reported the diamonds missing after leaving them in my safekeeping.
White hot rage ripples through me, and I snap without thinking.
“Declan Hale bought me those diamonds as agift.”
The officer gives me a wary look.
“He said you’d say that.”
My mouth drops open.
“Excuse me? I have proof!” I declare triumphantly, dragging my phone from my back pocket. My fingers tremble as I swipe through my Instagram, finding the photo I’d shared of him holding the diamonds like an engagement ring. The memory stings. We looked so happy.
I thrust the phone toward Officer Pembroke, and he sighs.
“He’s got the receipt. These aren’t cheap, Miss Carson. Are you seriously saying he bought you these as a gift?” He cocks his eyebrow at me, and my nostrils flare.
He thinks I’m lying.
“He’s got photos of me lying in his bed wearing nothing but those,” I counter, enjoying seeing the officer squirm. “I've been wearing them in every photo since the one I showed you. Look!”
I’m swiping like a crazy woman, my eyes bulging out of my sockets as he purses his lips.
“Why would he say you’ve stolen them?”
A noise of frustration chokes my throat, and I glare back at him.
“Because I left him for Crane Michaels, who, by the way, is entirely innocent!”
The officer lifts my phone from the table and waves towards the door.
“Can I take this so I can have the photos as evidence?”
“Sure, go ahead.” I throw my hands up with exasperation. “But I’m telling you now, this is bullshit. We didn’t steal any fucking diamonds.”
“Calm down, Miss Carson.”
But I won’t.
I can’t.
