“There has been an incident tonight. I don’t have all the details as I’ve only just arrived on the scene. I’m hoping I can get what I need now from Calliope.”
“This is very unorthodox, Sheriff, when I haven’t been given the opportunity to confer with my client myself.”
“It’s okay, Jen. Despite what they think, I haven’t done anything wrong. I have nothing to hide.”
She looks at me, searching my expression. “Okay, if you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.”
“Good,” Shepard says. “Can you talk me through what happened tonight, Miss Hart?” he asks softly.
I nod, wrapping my arms around my legs. “I woke up. I don’t know what woke me, or I didn’t at first, but it made me jump.”
“You were in bed?” Shepard prompts.
I shake my head. “I fell asleep reading in the living room. I’m not sure if I heard a noise or if they spoke, but I just knew I wasn’t alone. I flipped on the lamp and jumped up and came face to face with Dale.”
“What? That insidious man isn’t supposed to be anywhere near you,” Jen hisses.
I stare at Shepard as I answer, seeing how pissed he is. He knows, as well as I do, there is no way Dale was there for anything good.
“I was shocked. I think I screamed. Then the next thing I know, he’s clutching his chest, his eyes are rolling into the back of his head, and he’s on the floor. I’ll admit, I just froze staring at him. I thought I was having a nightmare. It was all so surreal. By the time I snapped out of it, he wasn’t breathing.”
“Did you try to resuscitate him?” Shepard asks.
“No,” I whisper. “I don’t know how. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. And that’s when I noticed his jacket had slipped open and I could see the bulge of his gun. I didn’t want to get any closer in case he woke up and shot me. I couldn’t take the gun away because I’m not allowed near them. And given how things have played out, I’m so glad I didn’t touch it.”
“What do you mean by ‘how things played out?’” Jen snaps.
“I called the police and an ambulance. I was arrested as soon as they got here and put in the back of a squad car until Shepard just got here.”
Jen looks like she’s about to lose her ever-loving mind. “So just to clarify, a man broke into my client’s home, armed, so it seems likely he came with the intent to hurt Calliope or worse. And when karma kicks his ass, the victim in all this is the one who is arrested. Do I have that correct?”
Shepard sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yes, ma’am. It’s also worth noting she wasn’t read her Miranda rights and denied her phone call to you earlier when she requested it.”
“I see.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you do. I can promise you both officers in question will be dealt with. They’ve had warnings. They won’t be getting another.”
“Good, because you’d better believe I’m going to be following up on this.” She looks at me, worry in her eyes. “How you holding up, kiddo?”
“I’m okay. Tired.”
“I bet. Alright, let me get to work on this from my end. Sheriff, I trust you’ll take care of it because if I have to come down there and fix it, it will be your badge I add to my collection.” She hangs up before he can answer.
“Wow, she’s intense.”
“She’s protective of me,” I say gently.
“Sheriff?” a voice calls out, causing us both to look over.
“Keith.”
“The scene’s been processed.”
“Good. And?”
“No signs of foul play.”
