AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Macen Daniel Hammerman?” the taller detective asked with a cordial smile.
“Yes?”
“I’m Detective Winslow. This is Detective Cameron. Thank you for coming in so promptly.”
“I wasn’t aware I had a choice,” Hammer drawled.
The balding man, Cameron, smirked.
“As a formality, I need to read you your rights,” Winslow advised. “And inform you that this interview will be recorded.”
While they Mirandized him, everything suddenly became terribly real. But Hammer mentally drew up his armor, refusing to let fear claw into him.
“Do you understand these rights I have just read to you?” Winslow asked.
“I do.”
“With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak with us, Mr. Hammerman?”
“Sure. Why not?” He shrugged nonchalantly.
After the detectives recorded the usual preliminary jargon on tape, Winslow pulled out a stack of notes from a satchel.
“Let’s cut to the chase, gentlemen. What is it you want to know?” Hammer prompted.
“I understand you own a private sex club called Shadows. Is that correct?”
“Not precisely, Detective Winslow. It’s not a sex club, but a private BDSM club. There’s a big difference.”
“But members do have sex at your establishment, correct?” Cameron asked with a lewd gleam in his eyes.
“If all participants are consenting and no one is at risk, it’s allowed. Come by sometime and see for yourself.”
“No, thanks. I don’t need to beat my wife so she’ll sleep with me,” Cameron patronized.
“Let’s move on,” Winslow directed. “Do you know a woman by the name of Raine Elise Kendall?”
His gut tightened. “Yes.”
“And what exactly is your relationship with her?”
“Why?”
“Because your last six years with her are pertinent to our investigation,” Winslow answered. “Some rather disturbing information has been brought to our attention that could result in your arrest.”
Thanks so much, River, you fucking asswipe.
“Such as?” Hammer slowly clenched his jaw.
“Don’t play dumb,” Cameron sneered. “The officers who brought you in already advised you of some of the possible charges. You know, those pesky kidnapping, human trafficking, statutory rape, extortion allegations… There’s more if that’s not ringing a bell for you.”
God, even more charges than they’d first mentioned.
Hammer steeled himself. Six years ago, he’d taken Raine in from the alley behind his club, fully aware how his gesture would look to the outside world and that he could be prosecuted as a sex offender for doing nothing more than helping an abused girl find safety. But as the years had gone on, that possibility had grown distant. It certainly had been the furthest thing from his mind two hours ago when he’d been in the kitchen with Liam, balls deep inside Raine. He’d been sure of his future then, in command of his destiny, wrapped in love, believing that his biggest problems were all in his head.
In a matter of seconds, all his bliss and hope for the future had been ripped away.
Terror pulsed in his veins. Denial screamed in his head. He began to sweat. But Hammer forced himself to gird the walls concealing his fear.
Sucking in a steadying breath, he arched a brow pointedly at Winslow. “Those are some serious allegations. Obviously, someone has made erroneous assumptions about my relationship with Ms. Kendall.” Hammer waved his hand dismissively. “What evidence do you have to substantiate such absurdity?”
“Plenty,” Cameron sneered. “You wanted to cut to the chase, Mr. Hammerman. Let’s do that. We know that when Ms. Kendall was a minor, you bought and paid for her, like some pet you had bred for your pleasure. After her shit-sack father sold her to you, you moved her in to that club with you and raped her. You like having sex with little girls?”
“I’ve never had any sexual contact with a minor.” Hammer didn’t elaborate. Anything could be twisted to incriminate him.
Winslow continued. “According to our investigation, you also kept her prisoner at Shadows, pimping her out to guests and friends. Was Mr. O’Neill one of them? You all live together now. Isn’t that right?”
Cameron leaned close and pinned Hammer with a lecherous gaze. “Then again, this wouldn’t be the first time you two shared pussy.”
Hammer itched to reach across the table and rip the detective’s head off. Instead, he gave the man a brittle smile. “Sounds like you’ve already made your mind up. I’m through answering questions until my lawyer arrives.”
“Yeah. You should definitely lawyer up, pal,” Cameron spat.
The pair left. After an interminable twenty minutes, Sterling Barnes walked through the door. The detectives were right behind him.
“Gentlemen, I’d like some time to confer with my client,” Sterling announced.
After the dipshidiot duo left the room again, Hammer turned to his lawyer, dying to speak.
Sterling shook his head. “We’re still being recorded.”
“I know.” Hammer reeled off the litany of charges LA’s finest wanted to level against him. “I’ve never committed any of those crimes.”
“If they had anything concrete, they would have already arrested, booked, and processed you. Let them finish their questioning, but don’t answer unless I nod. Maybe we can skate through this shit without getting our socks dirty.”
