“Step back, Denny. You’re intimidating her on purpose.”
“I’m doing my job.”
“Yeah, this doing your job too?” He indicates the bruising on my face.
The cop, standing silent next to the rookie—or Denny, I guess—turns slowly to glare at him.
“You did that?”
“I told you what happened,” he snaps back.
“I can show you what happened, Chris. Something tells me Denny’s version is very different from the truth. As there is a complaint filed against him regarding Miss Wells, I’d love to know what the fuck he’s doing here, anyway.”
“The chief ordered him to come with me,” Chris offers quietly.
“I just bet he did.”
“I’m back. Sorrow, I’ve got your attorney, Olivia, on the phone,” Banner states, walking back over to me. His words, though, are for the cops, to remind them I have more than just him on my side.
“And you don’t think that’s a conflict of interest?” Denny snaps at Wade.
Wade crosses his arms. “Why? She ain’t my attorney.”
I bite back a laugh, not wanting to get into any more trouble.
“Hey, Sorrow, you okay?”
Banner tips his cell phone down so I can see Olivia, who is makeup-free and in her PJs. I feel bad for being the reason she’s awake.
I nod before looking to the cops.
“Okay, boys, you wanna fill us in? It’s late, and my client has had an extremely unsettling week.”
That’s one way of putting it.
The police officer beside the rookie launches into why they’re here, making me frown. I suppose I should have expected it, despite Olivia thinking they’d give me a break.
“Can you talk us through your version of events? Or write them down if that’s easier,” Chris adds as an afterthought.
He hands me a notepad and pen, so I go over my day from start to finish. If they’re okay with wasting my time, then I’m happy to return the favor. I add as much detail as possible beforehanding it back, ignoring Wade’s amused smirk. He knows exactly what I’m doing.
“So you haven’t been back to your property except for the short period of time when you were accompanied by Mr. Bannerman?”
I shake my head.
“Were you noisy together?” Denny smirks.
“Do not answer that,” Olivia bites out. I don’t need to look at Wade or Banner to know they are just as pissed by his tone and implication.
“I think it would be wise if Mr. Dennison removed himself from this case and anything related to Miss Wells. We shall be seeking an order of protection against him. His behavior is antagonistic and bordering on harassment, making my client fearful of him,” she adds, even though I’m mostly angry right now.
“What the fuck? You can’t get protection against a police officer who is just doing his job,” he huffs, but everyone else remains silent.
“Just go, Denny. I’ll finish up here.” The other cop sighs.
“Oh, I see how it is, Chris. Well fuck you. Fuck you all. The chief will hear about this. You think you’re so self-righteous, but I can only imagine your parents’ faces when they find out you’re fucking their son’s murderer.”
It takes me a second to realize that barb was aimed at Banner, but I feel the blow of his words. Banner is rigid beside me, but he says nothing. I can hear Olivia shouting, but it’s as if she’s in a tunnel. I sway on my feet. Wade grabs my arm and stops me from going down as Chris apologizes profusely before telling Denny he’s done as he drags him out.
