“Honey? Take my keys.”
He half turned and tossed his keys in her direction.
It shouldn’t have made him as excited as it did to see Harmony snatch his keys out of the air, but damn, she was impressive.
He only had one residential key on his keyring and she knew exactly what their apartment keys looked like, so she had his door open in moments.
“I have a pair of handcuffs on the kitchen counter.”
Harmony called out to him from inside the apartment.
He didn’t hear the words, but he didn’t need to.
She was back out moments later and he held up his hand.
“Throwing.”
He turned his head and wrapped his hand around the handcuffs and he had Veronica in cuffs in seconds, likely because she was just that stunned.
It wasn’t until she heard the second set of clicks and maybe when she felt the metal against her wrists.
That’s when she started to struggle.
Even though he’d physically lifted her up and carried her to the far side of the hall, Crois wasn’t interested in actually hurting her. So when she struggled, he held back his full strength. He put the emphasis in holding her there and keeping her from hurting herself or Harmony.
Veronica’s stiletto heels must have been made of titanium or enhanced steel. He swore she gouged out a piece of his shin when she mule kicked him.
Back up, in the way of an on-duty duo of CCPD officers arrived minutes later and when they saw Veronica they both hesitated, looking at each other.
Crois tried to ignore her smirk.
“I’m Crois St. Cyr, Precinct Four. Car Twelve.” He turned and moved Veronica around so the officers could see her handcuffs. “She assaulted this woman,” he gestured at Harmony. “Harmony Morgan, and EMT at Firehouse Twenty-Nine.”
The closest officer, Koval started forward, reaching for his cuffs. The other officer hung back about a step.
“Koval, you sure?”
Koval turned back and nailed the other man with a look. “It’s our job, Prentiss.”
Prentiss didn’t look convinced, but he helped Koval change out handcuffs and return the handcuffs that Crois had used.
When they started walking Veronica toward the central elevators, Koval asked Crois, “Are you willing to come down to the squad car and give your statement?”
Crois’ nod was resolute. “Absolutely.”
Prentiss looked at Harmony and back at Koval. “Do we need her, too.”
Koval’s jaw tightened. “She’s the victim, Prentiss. What do you think?”
Koval didn’t wait for an answer, he continued to walk Veronica toward the elevators.
Crois moved to his apartment door and closed it, turning the key to look it behind him. He dropped the keys into his right pocket and his handcuffs in the other one.
Before he’d offered her a hand, Harmony reached out for him. “Well,” she grinned, “this was exciting.”
Crois sighed. “Sorry about that. I don’t know how she got my address.”
Harmony opened the stairwell door and he followed her in.
