I barely fucking know her!
Sure, she dated Ezra for a while, but it’s not like we hung out. Ever. Yet for some reason she decided I was involved with…whatever the fuck happened to her.
I only caught a glimpse of her, but she looked bad.
Like true crime documentary bad.
Thank fuck I’m not left to stew for too long, because I’m starting to spiral.
The door opens, but it’s not the deputy.
It’s a man in a tailored Italian suit, wire-rimmed glasses. I don’t know what scares me more—the perfunctory glance he sends my way, or his crocodile leather briefcase.
“Mr. Jordan?” He sets the briefcase down. “I’m Jonathan Barnes. I’ve been retained to represent you.”
“What?” I say through a laugh.
“May I?” Barnes gestures to the chair opposite me, where Thatcher had been so politely interrogating me.
I pull at my chains. “Does it look like I can stop you?”
Barnes quirks the side of his mouth as he takes his seat. Not sure what the fuck the briefcase is for, because he sets it down beside him and doesn’t look at it again.
Gravitas, I guess.
Sure fucking works.
“Who the fuck hired you?” I hesitate, wrapping the chains around my knuckles again before venturing a cautious, “Was it my dad?”
Barnes meshes his fingers. “Bastian Rooke.”
“R—” I cut off with an incredulous chuckle. “FuckingRooke?”
It doesn’t make any sense.
“Have you been read your Miranda?”
“Yeah, but?—”
“Have you made any statements to the police?”
“They’ve been questioning me for—“ I shrug, leaning forward so I can rub my eyelids. “Fuck knows. Hours.”
His mouth tightens with disapproval. “And you didn’t request counsel?”
“Why? I didn’tdoanything?—“
“Mr. Jordan.” He looks at me over his glasses like the stupidity of criminals never ceases to amaze him. “From this point forward, do not talk to anyone about the facts of this case except me. Are we clear?”
I nod. Then, because he’s still waiting for something else, mutter, “Crystal,” and rest my head in my propped-up hands.
“Good.” He stands. “I need to review the police report. I will be back momentarily.”
I glare after him.
All I can think is that Haven asked Rooke to help me. Still doesn’t explain what Rooke was doing there in the first place. The timing’s still too convenient.
More importantly, why thefuckwould Rooke agree to help me?
