AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“As far as you’re concerned, she is.”
Dexter turned to face the room, raising his voice. “Listen up, guys. Colton Castle is off the market. He’s claimed Remi Lennox.”
“Who’s Remi Lennox?”
“Nobody for you to worry about,” I said through gritted teeth.
Everyone in the station was paying attention to our conversation, and since I was the center of attention, everyone was interested. I’d never dated anyone publicly, much less admitted I was serious about someone.
“Isn’t that the juice shop girl? She’s the one who wears those tight leggings and bright tops.” That was said with a gleam in his eyes.
“Listen up. Remi Lennox is mine. I don’t want to hear any talk about how she dresses or jokes about drinking her juice.”
I winced when I said the last part out loud.
It was met with loud guffaws.
One of the guys held his stomach. “Oh, that’s a good one. Wish I’d thought of it first.”
When the laughter died down, I said evenly, “That’s your last warning.”
Dexter moved closer to me. “Sounds ominous. You know they’re just messing with you, right? They’ve got your back. They’d never step in on your girl. Especially not after you declared her so publicly.”
“Fuck off, Dex.”
“You better work on your bedside manner because Ryan and Corey Kenna are here.”
I turned to see them standing at the front counter next to their attorney, Avery Arrington, one of the founding partners at Gannon, Arrington, and Winters.
“You want to take a couple of deep breaths first?” Dexter teased.
If the guys found out about my meditations with Remi, I’d never hear the end of it.
Lowering his voice, he added, “I hope you can keep your cool better than you just did.”
“I just hope he’s not going to try to weasel his way out of this.”
Dexter showed me his palm. “If he does, stay calm. I’ll step in if things start going sideways.”
“Appreciate that.” I was grateful Dexter would be by my side, even if the added pressure of my promotion and Chief watching on the video feed had my neck stiffening.
“Always, Colt. I always have your back.”
That made me pause. Were these guys my friends? Dexter and I had worked together for years, and I’d never thought of him as more than my coworker. That was unfair. He was far more important than that.
I made a note to make my gratitude known. Maybe I’d take him out for a drink, get to know him better.
Following Dexter to the front counter, I knew getting Corey’s confession would be a nice, neat package to hand off to the state’s attorney. We would have done our job. I’d testify at the hearing and could wash my hands of it.
Remi’s pleas last night for me to see things another way seeped into my consciousness as I studied the way the boy fidgeted next to his father. He should be in school, not answering questions in a police station.
Was he redeemable? Could he learn from this and be a better person? What if I was the guy to show him another way? Could I take him under my wing and guide him to something better? The idea sent a pleasing tingle through my body. It was far more satisfying than imagining him in a juvenile detention center, where he’d learn things he didn’t need to know from kids committing worse crimes than his. Maybe Remi had a point.
I followed Dexter’s lead, introducing myself to Corey and Avery. I’d seen her in the station before, but she’d never been involved in any of my cases.
Shaking Ryan’s hand, Dexter said we’d be in the second conference room. We didn’t call them interrogation rooms, especially when we were dealing with a minor.
We had to be extra careful with a kid. The court could throw out his confession if we didn’t handle him delicately. Any manipulation or pressure wouldn’t be appreciated by the judge.
