He stayed quiet. Anxiety and rage filled him but screaming at these people sure wasn’t the way to convince them he was innocent.
“Have you looked at my background?” he finally said, needing them to know the truth. “I’ve never been arrested, have no violent tendencies, and run a legal prosperous business. I have no reason to attack this woman.”
Harmon flipped through the file in front of him. “It says here you were in Afghanistan for a few years.”
“Yes.” Where was he going with that information? Didn’t service to your country deserve bonus points.
“War can do terrible things to someone’s mind. Were you traumatized while over there?” Thomas asked, her lips pursed. “Perhaps there was some sort of flashback and you attacked Ms. Findley, not realizing who she was.”
“I wasn’t having a flashback and I don’t have PTSD.” Not that he didn’t have nightmares occasionally, but he’d certainly never tell them that. It wasn’t relevant.
“You were upset about the recent accident on the job site and decided to take out your frustrations on her when she wouldn’t concede toyour advances.”
“How many times do I have to tell you, I never touched her?” His tone showed his annoyance and he flinched at the anger coming through.Stay in control. Don’t let them get to you.
Thomas pulled the file closer to her then pushed aside a few of the sheets. Damn, what did theyhave in there?
“What is your connection to the Northside Dragons?”
Shit, this was getting too hot.
“The street gang?” he stalled. “What do they have todo with this?”
“According to our intelligence, your company has hired quite a few members of the gang.”
“I don’t hire anyone who is still in a street gang. All my employees have to go through a rigorous training. They stay clean and legal while they’re working for me.”
“And yet you employ dozens of known former gang members, but only from the Northside Dragons. I’d like to know what your connection is. Why that gang and not another one?”
Did he tell the truth or shrug it off? What would be better for his case?
“I helped out the sister of one of them once and they know I’ll give them a fair shake if they want to get out. I have nothing to do with the gang itself.”
“Did you assault Ms. Findley as a favor to the Northside Dragons?”
“What? No. I admit to hiring some of their former members but I have no knowledge of any of their dealings.” That much was true. He kept his nose out of their business, happily.
“You know, Mr. Holland, this doesn’t look good for you.” Thomas lookeddownright smug.
“I don’t know what else to say to you to make you understand I had nothing to do with assaulting Ms. Findley. Maybe you should spend some time finding the real culprit instead ofharassing me.”
“This information”—Thomas pointed to the file still open on the table—“indicates we have found the perpetrator.”
Looking at Harmon, Scott hoped to find more sympathy. The detective’s face was set and heshook his head.
“I’m afraid we do have enough evidence to charge you with assault and battery. The victim identified your picture plus the wrench andfingerprints.”
“Scott Holland, you are under arrest for assault, battery, attempted rape…”
The words melted into the pounding of his heart, so loud he though his head might explode. Thisshit was real.
“The DNA results from the skin under her fingernails won’t be back for a few weeks, but until then we have enough to hold you.”
The DNA. That wasn’t going to help him at all. He knew damn well what they’d find. The DNA would be his and that might be the final nailin his coffin.
