He ignored her. “Anything you say can and will be—”
“You’re making a mistake!” Matty bucked against him, but his grip just tightened. “Ow—you’re hurting me!”
“Used against you in a court of law.”
He dragged her out of the room and down the hall. She caught a glimpse of more officers in the flat. Brandon was on the floor, hands behind his back. Next to him, the man from the kitchen looked like he’d put up a fight, his nose bloodied.
“Brandon? What’s going on?” Matty called out to him.
“Matty, just don’t say anything,” he shouted back.
A policewoman met them at the top of the stairs and took over from the one whose fingers had already bruised Matty’s arm.
“Come on. Don’t make it difficult,” she said to Matty as she guided her down the steps.
“I haven’t done anything!” Matty snapped.
“Yeah, they all say that,” the officer sneered.
“I swear,” Matty said again. “I’ve not done anything.”
The commotion at the top of the stairs killed any chance of explaining. Scuffling, shouting, the ugly sound of someone being manhandled, made Matty do the only thing she could—move, keep her head down, get out of the way.
Outside, people had stopped to gawp. Camera phones lifted in a row, all pointed at her as she was shoved over the threshold, down the step, and out into the street towards a waiting police van.
“Sit still. Be quiet,” the copper warned as she was bundled inside and shoved onto a bench behind a metal grille.
“You’ve got this all wrong.”
The words died on her lips as the van door slammed shut.
Matty stamped her feet, the sound swallowed by steel. “Brandon, I’m going to kill you!” she screamed.
Chapter fifty-four
Sloan came downstairs, fastening the last of her jewellery.
“You look nice,” Gloria said, watching Sloan wrestle with an earring back. “Where are you taking her?”
Sloan’s mouth twitched into a smile. “I thought Joie was the perfect spot, down by the river.” She found the clasp and snapped it shut. “I booked us a table for eight, thought we could grab some cocktails first, and then… Are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself?”
Gloria nodded. “Got the phone if I need you. But I won’t.”
“I worry. That’s all,” Sloan said. “I’m not ready to lose you. Not as well.”
“That’s good, because I’ve no plans to go anywhere just yet. Not when I’ve finally got some freedom back.”
Sloan’s gaze snapped back to her. “You’re not going out on that bloody scooter, are you?”
Gloria chuckled. “Ruining all my fun.” When Sloan looked like she might be taking her seriously, she said. “I’m going to watch some telly, then eat whatever snack I talk you into making, then I’m going to go up to bed, on the lift, with the seatbelt.” She laid it out like a promise.
“Okay, good.” Sloan checked her watch again, a crease forming between her brows. Matty should’ve been back any minute.
“She’s probably fannying about with all that hair,” Gloria said when she saw Sloan’s face change.
“Yes, more than likely.”
***
