Daddy?She went from spewing vitriol about her father one minute and smiling sweetly the next. I think I may understand why her father asked me which Daisy lived with me. I think there may be more than one.
“Daisy,” Dan says softly. “Please sit. Let’s talk.”
Right then, Finch steps into the interrogation room. Hell, I didn’t even know he was here. From my vantage point, I see him smile as he says, “Hey, Daisy.”
“Oh.” Her face falls. “It’s you.”
“Yep, it’s me. The guy who loved your cookies.”
Smart thing to say. I could tell Daisy was close to losing her cool.
That makes her smile. “I’m a good cook.” She beams as she moves away from Dan.
“You are.”
I’m not sure why, but at that moment, Dan makes a stupid mistake by announcing, “Daisy, I’m afraid we’ll need to take you back to the holding cell.”
“No!” The scream that comes out of her is best described as bloodcurdling. “Not you too.”
She lunges for Dan, but before she can get to him, Finch has her on the ground. He slips on cuffs as Daisy writhes on the ground while shouting obscenities.
I should do something. I should help her, them. But all I seem to be able to do is stare at the scene in front of me.
How did I not see any of it? Was I so blind and desperate for someone to love that I wasn’t able to see the murderous forest for the beautiful trees?
God, I’m a shit cop.
* * *
I stareas they escort Daisy back to the holding cell. She’s literally kicking and screaming, while I sit in the booth, frozen. I can’t move. Hell, I can’t even think.
“How could I have been so wrong?”
“It happens, son.” The captain’s voice sounds sort of soft. I don’t like it.
“Not to me.” I scoff. “I thought I was a good cop.”
“You are. You’re an excellent cop. You just let yourself fall for that girl. If what her father says is true, Daisy’s had problems for a long, long time. It’s why he didn’t want her to have visitors and why he monitored her.”
I want to believe that, but something tells me Dorian Gray Buchanan is just as culpable in all this as Daisy. “She needs a good lawyer.”
“Her father said he had a call in.”
“She needs help, sir.” Not to be locked away in a prison cell for the rest of her life.
“She does, but she killed a young woman, and for that, she needs to pay.”
I know. I just can’t say it.
In a slightly upbeat tone, he adds, “The good news is they dropped the charges against Tayler.”
“Good.” I nod, but I don’t feel excited about the news. I’m sure the women on Beedle Drive will all be thrilled it’s over.
“Go home, son. Come in bright and early. We need to talk.”
About whether or not I’ve got a job, no doubt.
Hell, do I evenwantthe job? Maybe being a cop isn’t for me.
