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He steps back, and his hand drops to the pistol at his hip. “Please get out of the vehicle. We’ll give you a ride.”
Pen and I exchange glances, but there’s nothing we can do, blocked in as we are, and there’s no way Meredith left a trace of Pen, Sharpe, and Darius at the crime scene. This is just more harassment from Bailey, which is annoying, but something we can deal with.
I leave the window cracked and climb out, locking the doors. I wait for Pen to walk around to my side of the vehicle before opening the back of the squad car for her to slide in first.
She scoots across the seat, and I settle in beside her.
The officer shuts the door and gets in up front. His partner flicks on his sirens, and thrusts his way back into traffic, forcing the cars ahead to part or be pushed out of the way.
At least the trip won’t take long.
Pen pulls out her phone to text the others and let them know we won’t be making it to breakfast.
The three-story Clearhelm Police Station takes up most of a city block, with underground parking to protect the officers.
Once the patrolmen park, they lead us to an elevator and up one level to the ground floor, where we walk down a corridor to a conference room. It holds an oval table and four padded chairs. Drawn blinds cover the window next to the door, giving us the illusion of privacy.
Pen and I exchange a glance. This isn’t the interrogation room we expected, and they don’t try to separate us, either. So, we’re not being brought in to be threatened, or for them to pin Vicki’s murder on us. This is about something else. Something that requires them to put a good foot forward, no matter how we arrived here.
Which means we have the power in this situation.
The officers offer us water, which we decline, and they leave us in the air-conditioned room. After the scorching heat outside, the chill makes Pen shiver, and I reach out to take her hand beneath the table, sending fire to her to keep her warm.
She smiles in thanks, her fingers squeezing mine.
The conference room door opens a few minutes later, Chief Lynch and Captain Bailey stepping into the room. Bailey carries two slender folders under one arm, and his beady eyes sweep over us with an unfriendly stare.
Did he hope to catch someone else when he pulled us over? Someone easier to manipulate? Sharpe, perhaps? While the two men have a tumultuous relationship, Sharpe might be swayed if Bailey pushed the right buttons.
“Thank you for coming in.” Lynch leans across the table, his hand extended toward us.
After a brief hesitation, Pen and I shake his hand. Bailey tightens his grip on his folders, making it clear we’re not welcome in his book.
“What’s this all about?” I settle back in my chair. “Why did you find it necessary to bring us here in the back of a patrol car?”
Lynch’s lips tighten at the corners, and he casts Bailey an irritated glance.
Uh-oh, there’s trouble in paradise. It appears Lynch is regretting backing Bailey instead of Sharpe after the whole Bone Man incident fell through. Too bad for him that Sharpe never wants to work with him again.
And neither do we.
Bailey settles into the seat across from me. “After the animosity between our departments, we worried that you wouldn’t come in if we simply asked.”
“There’s only hostility because you continue to harass us.” I clench my teeth, my jaw aching.
Out of view, Pen’s hand touches my tense thigh while her cool gaze remains on Bailey. “You’re lucky we haven’t filed a restraining order.”
He smirks. “Against the Mayor of Clearhelm?”
“Interim-mayor. And I assure you we have better lawyers than you do.” Pen crosses her arms under her breasts. “Say your piece. You’re wearing out what little patience we have left.”
Bailey’s face turns red with anger.
“Let’s make this easy,” Lynch cuts in before he can launch into a tirade. “You were at Hopper’s three nights ago.”
Comprehension hits. So they hoped to net Sharpe with this little scheme.
When they informed me and Flint about Vicki’s death, Sharpe looked so guilty and frustrated for abandoning the crime scene. Were he here, he might leap at the opportunity to assist in the case in any way possible.
