“Again?” Robby asked before looking at Mr. Fields.
“My client has already been through this story twice. I think that’s enough. I assume you brought us down here for more than just that?”
“Mr. Shaw. Tell us why you think your father sent somebody to kill you?”
The question hit Robby like a bucket of ice water, sending shockwaves over his body and causing goosebumps to erupt on his skin. His brows knitted together, his voice raising an octave. “What? I never said that.”
Mayhew leaned back, lacing his fingers together on the table. “You said your father was the only person you could think of who would want to hurt you.”
Robby was shaking his head. “But I didn’t say that. You’re twisting my words.”
The look on Mayhew’s face made Robby feel like his insides were shriveling up. It was the same type of look Brother Samuel would give them when they cried during punishment. This sort of sneering condescension. “Tell the truth. You suspected your father because you know the man you killed. Don’t you?”
“What?” Robby said again, bewildered, looking to his attorney for some kind of help.
Mr. Fields just tilted his head. “You can answer.”
Robby’s hands flailed in a helpless gesture. “No. I have no idea who he is…was, and I never said my father wanted to kill me.”
Mayhew didn’t even acknowledge his answer. It was almost like he didn’t even care what Robby said. “How can you be so sure that the man from your apartment was sent by your father?”
Robby bit the inside of his cheek to keep from crying, trying to focus on Calder’s thumb stroking the inside of his knee. “I’m not sure of anything.”
Mayhew made some kind of notation on his notepad, but Robby couldn’t see what it said.
“Is it true that three days prior to killing the man in your apartment, you assaulted a police officer and were arrested?” the detective asked.
Robby’s gaze flicked to his attorney. Finally, Mr Fields spoke, his tone dripping with boredom. “Gentlemen, why are you asking questions you already know the answer to? This whole thing is ridiculous, really. It’s not my client’s job to figure out who broke into his apartment and why. It’s yours. If you can’t do that, perhaps you should find another profession.”
Mayhew smiled this slick smile, like they had some kind of ace up their sleeve. “We have reason to believe that your client is lying to us about knowing the victim. We have recently uncovered some evidence that says the victim and your client were seen together prior to the night of the break-in.”
Robby shook his head, his voice cracking, “No! No way. Not possible.”
Mayhew once more ignored Robby’s outburst. “Tell us about the night you assaulted Patrolman Penski. The night of the eleventh.”
Robby licked his lower lip, his leg tapping double time beneath the table as he started to sweat. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. “I-I can’t.”
Mayhew arched a brow at Robby, expression curious. “Why is that?”
“I-I blacked out. I don’t remember anything about that night at all.”
“Seems convenient that you can’t remember assaulting a police officer with a sex toy,” Mayhew spit, his expression bordering on disgusted.
Robby could feel himself getting emotional. “Does it? Because it doesn’t feel convenient. Some guy breaks into my apartment, tries to kill my dog and do god knows what to me, and I’m the one being interrogated. What the fuck is going on?”
“Relax, angel. They’re just trying to get you riled up.”
“Quiet,” Detective Grady snapped. “Or I’ll have you removed.”
“You have me removed and this line of questioning ceases. Period. As for the assault charge, that officer assaultedhim. He pepper sprayed him and tazed him with enough force to leave a wound that still hasn’t healed,” Calder growled. “That patrolman should be thanking his lucky stars we didn’t file an excessive force complaint…yet.”
Robby’s heart felt light enough to float from his body. He couldn’t remember a time when anybody had ever defended him like that. Ever. Including his own attorney who seemed to finally come to his senses. “Gentlemen, I think this has gone far enough. Are you planning on arresting my client?”
The detectives looked at each other before Detective Grady shook his head. “He’s free to leave…for now.”
“Excellent. Let’s go.”
Just like last time, Mr. Fields said his goodbyes on the steps of the police station. Robby managed to keep it together until he’d snapped his seatbelt into place in Calder’s truck. Then he just burst into tears. “I don’t know that man. I’ve never seen him before. What evidence could they possibly have that says I did?”
