“So, you didn’t know?”
“No! Lomar pulled his gun out while I was distracted by the noise in the hall. I panicked, shut my eyes, and then pulled the trigger. I saw the blood but—” She sniffled and blinked to force out more tears. “I was in shock but hoped it hadn’t come to that.”
“Well, it did, so you can understand why we’re going over the incident with a fine-toothed comb.”
“I can. So, what happens now? Am I under arrest?”
No sooner had the question left her mouth, the room door opened, and a new face she hadn’t seen but could tell held rank over the detectives interrogating her, waltzed inside.
“She’s free to go.”
His assertion sent Kennedy springing from her chair. Detective Chubby did the same with his mouth contorting into a deep frown.
“What do you mean, she’s free to go?”
“I mean what I said, Edwards. The camera shows two people breaking into her apartment. Her story checked out with what her neighbors corroborated, and the gun found on her intruder was unregistered. He also has a record for B&E. Her only crime is not knowing the man who she was dating, but there is no foul play. If you believe otherwise, then take it up with her attorney.”
“My who?”
Kennedy glanced at everyone in utter confusion until a man cleared his throat and stepped into view. She tried not to crack a smile as the debonair Esquire, dressed to the nines in a tailored charcoal suit, flagged a hand to instruct her forward. He was the same man she had seen seated at the table she almost chose during her and Relic’s business dinner with Tolliver. She hadn’t been privy to that detail until meeting him after Relic had agreed to their contract negotiation for her salon in exchange for setting up Slim. Her gut lurched at the blatant reminder; Relic was always steps ahead even when those around him were none the wiser.
“Let’s go, Ms. Sutton. They had no reason to hold you for this long, especially with evidence proving the incident was nothing more than self-defense.” Morrone made that known while pinning his sharp eyes on the detectives. His head tossedin judgement. “This case should be shut, but if either of you get the urge to contact my client, reach out to me since she’ll no longer speak without representation.”
He flicked a card out of thin air to tuck into the breast pocket of the man’s shirt next to him and then tossed his head. Kennedy hauled ass toward him before the detective who seemed to have a hard-on for her decided to lock her ass up for making false statements and lying by omission.
Morrone braced his hand on her back, coaxing her to walk faster down the hall toward the main entrance of the precinct. Once he confirmed they were out of earshot, he leaned toward her.
“Did they ask about my client?”
“No.”
“Did you implicate him in any part of your story?”
“No more than he implicated himself. I told them, I heard a noise in the hall, but not that it was him or Drish. I’m not sure if he spoke to the officers who took reports at the scene, though.”
Morrone scoffed, and she cracked a smile, observing the agitation brewing in his pronounced features. He ran a hand through his sleek, jet-black hair and then glanced at her with an accusatory smirk.
“You have my client acting out of sorts, Ms. Kennedy. Mr. Blaise is an extremely intelligent man. He should’ve left the scene immediately after confirming you were fine, especially with the predicament he’s in, which I’m certain you’re aware of.”
Kennedy peered away since he was right, and it did nothing but confuse her more. Relic sticking around while in the hot seat with the Feds had thrown her for a loop.
“I meant what I told them,” Morrone stated, gaining her attention as he pushed open the metal door, holding it for her to stroll into the main lobby. “Do not talk without me present. I doubt they’ll bother you, but in case they do, take this. Mr.Blaise created you a retainer fee, so it’s not mandatory you to go through him to contact me.”
He passed her a business card that she studied while gathering her thoughts on that revelation. Relic wouldn’t make a move like that unless necessary.
“Who else is on retainer?” she investigated, catching the slight widening of Morrone’s eyes before he chuckled.
“He told me that you’re as perceptive and analytical as him. Maybe even more. That’s good until it’s not for his sake.”
“I’ll take that to mean, you won’t answer.”
“Correct but I also won’t tell him that you asked. As an attorney, I like to build trust with each of my clients.”
“Good to know.”
Kennedy walked off since she’d gotten confirmation without Morrone vocalizing it outright. Hers and Relic’s name weren’t the only ones on retainer, which meant that Relic had planned ahead. She had an idea of what for, and it baffled her that his family was so damn oblivious to the ticking time bombs encasing their illicit empire, waiting to detonate and destroy everything that they loved. Kennedy shoved the thought out of her head since it was no longer her concern.
She scanned the waiting area for her nephew instead, and it didn’t take long to spot Tekken’s wild hair rested on a shoulder, entangled with a beautiful bed of locs. Neither of them should’ve been in a precinct, waiting for her.
