Without a word, Nick rose from his chair and stepped out into the hall. Through the gap, I watched his shoulders fall as if a weight had been lifted off them. As if maybe he’d expected someone else. His body obscured my view of whichever public defender Julian had managed to rustle up to help me. All I could make out was a pair of crisp black slacks and simple black ballet flats through the gap between Nick’s legs.
“Thanks for coming,” he said as they shook hands. “I’m sorry to drag you out here so late for nothing. This was all just a big misunderstanding.”
“Oh?” The woman’s voice sounded skeptical.
“See, Ms. Donovan is a writer. She was here doing some research. She cleared it with me ahead of time, but a few of my uniforms didn’t get the memo, and they must have misread the situation.”
“Really? I was told you were the one who took her into custody?” Auburn hair framed the familiar pair of wide green eyes that peered around his shoulder through the crack in the door. My stomach bottomed out.
Nick cleared his throat. “Ms. Donovan requested that her experience be as authentic as possible.”
“And that necessitated handcuffs, impounding her vehicle, and a call to an attorney?” Parker stepped around him and pushed openthe door, pausing abruptly when her eyes met mine. Recognition lit like a slow fuse.
“I know how this must look,” he said, following her into the room. “But it was all a big misunderstanding. Ms. Donovan isn’t being charged with a crime.”
“Then why is she in an interrogation room?”
Nick held up his hands. “You’re absolutely right. I made a bad call letting it go this far, but like I said, she’s not in any trouble.” He stood close to me, resting a hand on my shoulder. “It’s late. I’m sure she’d like to get home.”
Parker’s eyes narrowed as they skipped back and forth between us. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to speak with my client.”
Nick looked reluctantly to me. When I nodded, he left us alone, pulling the door closed behind him.
I wrapped my arms around myself to fend off a chill. “Thank you for coming,” I said quietly.
Julian’s roommate didn’t bother to return my uncomfortable smile. We both knew she hadn’t come for me. She set her messenger bag on the table. Neither one of us sat down. “Mind telling me exactly what’s going on?”
“Detective Anthony already did. I was doing research for a book, and we all got carried away. That’s all.”
“Impersonating an attorney? Sneaking into a jail? Carried away? Yeah, I’d say so. If that detective wasn’t covering for you, you’d be spending the night behind bars.” She tipped her head as she studied me. “Is there something going on between the two of you I should know about?”
“With all due respect, that’s none of your business.”
“I disagree. Julian is my friend. He’s a good person, if a little too trusting. He doesn’t deserve to be usedorlied to.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not doing either.”
Her laughter was sharp and joyless. “Julian was right. You’re a hot mess. Do us both a favor. Next time you’re in trouble, don’t call him. He’s got a really bright future ahead of him, and he’s better off without you.” She yanked her messenger bag off the table. I didn’t bother to argue as she jerked the door open and stormed out.
Nick slipped into the interrogation room, carrying his coat.
“Come on,” he said, holding it open for me. “I’ll drive you home.” He tugged the warm leather closed around me and led me out through a side door. Parker stood on the sidewalk in the rain, her cell phone pressed to her ear as she wrestled with her umbrella. Our eyes caught as Nick wrapped his arm around me and escorted me to his car.
CHAPTER 33
Nick was painfully quiet during the short drive to my house. It was nearly one in the morning when he pulled into my driveway, both of us staring numbly out the windshield, the car still running. Mrs. Haggerty’s house was dark, but in my side mirror, I could have sworn I caught the flash of a curtain being pulled back in an upstairs window.
“I’ll get your van back to you in the morning,” he said after a long silence. “Joey and I will drive it over. It’s better if you don’t go back to the station. We don’t want anyone asking questions.”
He had nothing to worry about. I had no interest in ever going back there. With a nod, I unlatched my seat belt. “Thank you for the ride home.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t see anyone else showing up for you.” There was a ragged, weary edge on his tone, but an edge nonetheless.
“I know you’re angry with me. You didn’t have to do what you did for me tonight.”
He turned to me, his shocked eyes wide and bright in the light from my kitchen window. “I wasn’t just angry with you, Finn. I was terrified! You just put yourself on Feliks Zhirov’s radar. There was no way I was letting you spend the night in that place. And there was no way I was letting you drive yourself home.”
“I’ll be fine.”
