Charlie sucked in a breath.“What?
“What are the charges?” Derek asked calmly.
With a smug look, the woman said, “You’re being placed under arrest for the murder of Caleb Porter.”
The room spun, and Charlie’s knees gave out. She would’ve gone down had she not grabbed on to Derek’s arm.
“Murder? Caleb’s...” She could hardly speak for the shock running through her system. “Caleb’sdead?”
“His body was found in his car late last night by a New York police officer on routine patrol.”
She nodded to one of the officers who reached behind his back and approached Derek.
“New York,” Derek drawled. “That’s a little ways out of your jurisdiction, isn’t it, Detective?”
She smiled up at him. “The homicide detective working the case contacted our office, and my Captain agreed to have us hold you until they get into Dallas. After that, you’ll be extradited back to New York where you’ll be formally charged with murder in the first degree.”
This can’t be happening.
“Based on what evidence?”
The woman’s gaze slid to Charlie’s then back to Derek’s. “We’ll go over all that when we get to the station.”
With a pair of shiny, silver handcuffs the one officer said, “Sir, please turn around nice and slowly and put your hands on the back of your head.”
Adding to her shock, Derek didn’t argue. He simply did what he was told.
Charlie practically shouted at York. “Derek wasn’t in New York last night. He was working. Tell them,” she pleaded with Derek. “Tell them where you were last night, and they’ll have to let you go.”
When he looked back down at her, Charlie finally recognized the expression she’d caught a glimpse of earlier... guilt.
Derek wasn’t fighting the arrest because hehadgone to New York last night.
Oh, God.
Charlie thought she was going to be sick. “Y-you lied to me,” she whispered. The feeling of betrayal was overwhelming.
“I did, but only because I didn’t want you to worry. Call Mac. She and Coop can explain everything.”
“They knew?”
He shook his head vehemently. “I swear to God I never laid a hand on Caleb. I didn’t even see the guy. I’m being set up.”
She wanted to believe him. More than anything in the world, she wanted to believe he hadn’t done this awful thing on her behalf.
“Let’s go,” Detective York spoke to the two officers.
“Charlie, please,” Derek begged. “Look at me.”
She did.
With his eyes staring deep into her soul, he said, “I. Did. Not. Kill. Caleb.”
She looked for any signs he was lying, but couldn’t find any. Of course, he’d lied to her last night, and she’d had no clue, either.
“Please, darlin’,” he begged as they walked him out into the hall. “Tell me you believe me.”
As she followed them, she thought about the man she knew and loved. He was a warrior. A fighter. A protector and a lover.
