“Ava. Call Jack. Please.”
That stopped Ava cold. She turned, nodded once, and stepped out of view to make the call.
I finally exhaled.
What kind of shit show was this?
Remi sat calmly. Collected. She was still cuffed, with blood dried in streaks down her forearm. She hadn’t said much, but she hadn’t resisted either. And the man she’d stabbed? Well, the hospital confirmed a superficial wound. The knife had barely gone in.
The rookie wanted to call it an attempted homicide, saying that is what Voss had suggested.
Twenty minutes later, a man in a pressed shirt and courtroom face stormed into the station.
Jack Callahan.
Lead prosecutor for the county. And from the way Ava hovered at his shoulder, he had a connection to Ms. Carter. This must betheJack Remi asked Ava to call.
Fuck
“You’ve got five minutes to fix this before I take it to the DA,” Jack said, glaring at Erin.
I stepped forward. “I’m Chief Gray. I made the arrest.”
Jack’s jaw tightened. “Was she questioned before being brought in?”
I hesitated. I knew he was talking about Remi, but he was a prosecutor. “We needed to secure the scene.”
Jack didn't hesitate. “So that’s a no. Do we arrest people now on assumptions, Chief? Or is questioning optional these days?”
“The man she stabbed will be brought in shortly,” I said evenly. “He’s with the responding Officer Reid. We’ll take his statement when they get here.”
Jack’s expression didn’t budge. “So, no one’s takenanystatements. You went with the man’s word and cuffed the woman without hearing her side. That about right?”
Erin stepped forward. “Watch your tone when you speak to the Chief.”
I raised a hand to silence her. “It was clear-cut. The scene spoke for itself.”
Jack gave a sharp laugh. “You sure about that?” He stepped in closer, voice quiet but full of edge. “Was Ms. Carter in possession of the weapon when your officers arrived?" He didn't give me a chance toanswer before he plowed on. "Did you know there’s a camera at the front entrance of the clinic? Another in the hallway. Footage that’ll show exactly what happened.”
I frowned because I didn't, and the more I thought about it, I didn't know much about what had happened.Fuck.
“And did you also know,” Jack continued, “that the man who attacked Ava today has a record? That Ms. Sinclair and Ms. Carter were trying to help their patient get a restraining order against him? That she’s filed multiple complaints with this department, and your officers have been giving her the runaround?”
Ava's eyes went wide, and she gasped like she had been struck with something.
Then, without a word, she turned and walked straight out into the hallway, phone already in her hand.
My eyes trailed after her retreating form, trying to figure out what she was up to now.
But Jack wasn't done. “Congratulations, Chief. You just made yourself part of a wrongful arrest. The man she stabbed entered the clinic, which is private property, armed, which leads me to believe his actions were premeditated. There’s a video. Witnesses to previous altercations. And she usedhisknife in self-defence.”
Ava came back in looking pale and stood beside Jack, crossed her arms and glared at me.
“He was going to kill me. And she stopped him.”
Erin bristled. “Maybe don’t provoke people next time.”
What the holy hell was that?
