“No, ma’am.” She shook her head. “Chief just has some questions, and they are time sensitive.”
“Fine,” Olivia hissed.
She stepped back into the house, coming to a halt as the deputy made a move to follow her. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m under orders, ma’am, to make sure you don’t run off.”
“Run off?” Olivia’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Run off? Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Ma’am, there’s no need for that kind of language.”
“Get the hell off my doorstep, Deputy Hanson.”
“Now, ma’am,” the deputy began.
“Don’t ‘ma’am’ me.” Olivia took a step forward, forcing the deputy to back up onto the porch. “I’ve had about all the disrespect and unfounded accusations I’m going to take from the Mercy Police Department. I’ve bent over backward to accommodate your investigation despite being treated like a criminal simply because my father is one. I’ve done nothing to deserve the appalling treatment I’ve received from your chief of police. But make no mistake, you will not step one foot inside my home without a warrant, or I will sue your goddamn department for harassment. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal,” Deputy Hanson replied as she studied Olivia.
“Good. Now, I’m going to get dressed, and when I’ve at least had a cup of fucking coffee, I’ll drive myself to the police station and answer Chief Walcott’s questions since I’ve absolutely nothing to hide.” Olivia marched back into her house, grasping the door. “Now get the hell off my property.”
She slammed the door in the deputy’s face and sagged against it, trying to drag some air into her suddenly constricted lungs. Her body shook with fury. With the chief so fixated on her, she was sure he was missing vital evidence that would lead to the actual murderer. It was time to do something about it. Picking up the phone with trembling fingers, she dialed the number she’d memorized the night before.
“Hello,” a sleepy voice mumbled.
“Erica?”
“Yes?”
“It’s Olivia West.” She blew out a shaky breath. “I think I might need your help.”
“What’s happened?” Erica’s voice sharpened at the other end of the line.
“Nothing yet, but Deputy Hanson turned up on my doorstep ten minutes ago, insisting that I go in for questioning.”
“About what? Adam Miller? Do you think they found something in your car?”
“They couldn’t have, there’s nothing in my car to find,” Olivia answered. “Besides, Deputy Hanson said it had nothing to do with either Adam or the incident with my car the other night.”
“But she wouldn’t tell you what it was about?”
“No,” Olivia confirmed. “She said I wasn’t under arrest, but I don’t trust them.”
“Okay, hang on a minute.” The line went quiet for a few moments, although Olivia could hear mumbling voices in the background. “Olivia?” Erica’s voice was calm, but it held an underlying urgency.
“Yes?”
“Jake is going to call the station and see if he can find out what’s going on,” Erica replied.
“Jake’s with you?”
“Yes. Now listen, you don’t have to actually go in for questioning if you don’t want to.”
“I know.” Olivia sighed wearily. “But whatever they think I did this time, it will only look worse for me if I don’t go. It’ll look like I’m trying to hide something.”
“Okay, then,” Erica answered. “I’ll meet you there.”
A short while later, Olivia casually walked down her porch steps, a travel mug of coffee in one hand as she slipped her sunglasses on with the other.
