As we walked, they both looked around the penthouse, eyes wide as they took in the large overhead chandelier and expansive sunken in living room. I realized they had never been here until now.
“This issomeplace,” said Gabriella, shaking her head as she looked on either side of her towards the long hallways.
“It’s beautiful,” said Erica, plopping down on the couch and patting the spot beside her.
I sunk in next to her and tucked my legs beneath me.
“Now, what’s going on?” asked Erica with a raised brow.
“I-I don’t know,” I stammered. “We woke up this morning to the police at our door and then they took Jeremiah away. It was awful.” Tears streamed down my face.
“Okay. You need to get it together, Sadie,” said Gabriella firmly, reaching over and giving my hand a squeeze.
I nodded and wiped my tears away. I took a deep, shaky breath before telling them everything that happened, including my conversation with the private investigator.
“You haven’t heard from him yet?” asked Erica, running her thumb thoughtfully over her chin.
“No.” I shook my head. “I just called his lawyer and he’s going to head down to the station.”
“Okay. Then help is on the way,” she said reassuringly.
“Will you take me to the station?” I asked them both.
“Of course,” they said in unison.
Looking down at my robe, I hurried to my closet. I quickly threw on a pair of baggy jeans and a sweatshirt before meeting them at the door. We took the elevators down to the lobby where the doorman spotted me. He looked at me nervously.
“Is Mr. Mason okay?” he asked as we approached.
“I’m on my way to him now,” I said with a nod, realizing he had seen the whole thing go down. Along with whoever else happened to be in the lobby at the time. Poor Jeremiah.
He pushed open the door and we quickly hailed a cab. Soon we arrived at the station. I felt my nerves set in. I had never been to a police station before. It was every bit as awful as I thought it would be, especially when I went up to the front counter and was met with one of the officers who had taken Jeremiah away hours before.
“I’d like to see Jeremiah Mason,” I said as firmly as I could, Gabriella and Erica at my side.
“Sorry. No visitors,” he said coolly, barely looking at me.
I felt my heart sink. Gabriella cleared her throat to say something, a fierce look in her eyes, but was interrupted by the door opening behind us. We turned and watched as a man in a crisp gray suit and sandy-blond hair walked in. He strode in and stood next to us. He firmly planted his hands on the counter, demanding the room. Demanding the officer’s attention.
“I’m Jeremiah’s Mason’s attorney, Ted Gillis. I’ll see him now.”
It wasn’t even a request. The officer sighed frustratedly, knowing he couldn’t refusethisvisitor. He buzzed the door and nodded for Ted to enter toward the side door.
Erica, Gabriella, and I walked toward a row of chairs against the wall and sat down. I felt a little better that Jeremiah had someone here who could really help him. I hated that he’d already been here for hours, while they did who knows what to him.
Fifteen minutes later, my heart skipped a beat as I saw Ted walk out the door, Jeremiah following suit. He looked tired, his hair still disheveled from sleep and his mouth pressed into a thin line. I stood quickly and rushed toward him, and his blue eyes lit up. I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck
“Are you okay?” I asked before pressing my lips to his.
“I am now.” He smiled down at me. “I’m so sorry, Sadie. I hate that this happened. Areyouokay?”
“I’m fine.” I waved him off and laughed softly.Hewas the one who had been arrested.
“Thank you for calling Ted,” he said, reaching up and touching my face. I leaned into the stroke of his thumb.
“It’s a good thing she did,” said Ted, stepping beside him. “They were refusing to allow him his phone call,” he said, looking at me.
“Assholes,” Jeremiah muttered, before turning to Ted. “Anderson Bradley is behind this. He must have paid Markus to lie. Another takedown scheme.”
