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“Sunshine, one sec,” he said. “You’re not going to have any privacy in the detention room. People will be listening. Have him request a medical examination. I know the nurse, I’ll give her a little extra motivation to keep out of your hair while you talk to Sam. You should take advantage of your privacy.”
I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. “You’re telling me to tell him my dad is the Viper?”
“I’m telling you that there’s a chance he had a hand in Sam’s arrest,” he replied. “And it might be in your brother’s best interest to know that.”
I swallowed, my head pounding.
“Okay,” I said. “Okay, I guess that makes sense. Thanks, Teo.”
He nodded and smiled reassuringly. Then he stuffed his gun in the glove compartment, and then his knife, and then another knife under the passenger seat. “You’re welcome, Sof.”
Once inside the detention center, we were met with the usual cold atmosphere that was so typical of such places. We passed through the metal detectors and the gates, making our way towards Sam’s cell.
My brother was being held in a small, barely lit room. He looked up as I entered. His once-cheerful dark eyes clouded with worry. My protective instincts kicked in, and I knew I needed to get him out of this situation.
“Hey, Sam,” I said, forcing a smile as I approached him. “You alright?”
“I think I need to stop dating,” he said quietly.
I looked at Teo. He was standing in front of the bars of his cell. He bent down and whispered a few words to Sam before signaling to the guards. The door swung open, and Sam washandcuffed before being led away to the medical examination that Teo had arranged.
“Go be with your brother, Sofia,” Teo said.
I nodded.
I followed the guards down the corridor, my heart pounding in my chest. The fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting eerie shadows on the cold cement walls. As we reached the examination room, I could hear the muffled sound of voices from inside. Teo had done his part, now it was up to me to uncover the truth.
Steeling myself, I pushed open the door and stepped into the small, sterile room. Sam was sitting on the examination table, his face etched with exhaustion and anxiety. The nurse, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, stood nearby. “I’m going to get some forms,” she said, then spoke in a whisper. “Voices carry into the hallway.”
“Hey,” I said softly. The nurse left, closing the door softly behind her. “How are you holding up?”
Sam looked up at me, his haunted eyes meeting mine. “I’ve been better,” he replied with a weary smile. “But I’m glad you’re here.”
“What happened?”
“I wish I knew,” he said. “I found this guy online. He was cute, we went on a date. Everything was fine. Then Officer Wild and Officer McGraw came into my apartment and arrested me. Said that I was the last person he was with.”
“But I thought murder investigations took a lot longer than this.”
“They do,” Sam replied. “I’m being held but I’m not charged yet. They’re saying I’m a person of interest.”
I swallowed. “What have you said?”
“That I need a lawyer,” he replied. “They keep saying that I could just talk to them, that they’re my friends, but I have a feeling it was Captain Monroe who sent them my way. He couldn’t kill me so he’ll get me sent to jail and I’m the law so I don’t think other convicts are going to be very nice to me, even if the screws are.”
I nodded, taking a seat next to him on the cold metal examination table. I squeezed his hand, trying to offer what little comfort I could. “I promise you, Sam,” I said firmly. “I’m not going to let that happen.”
He gave me a weak smile, a slight nod of his head acknowledging my words. But the fear in his eyes didn’t fade.
“Teo has some ideas. And near infinite resources.”
“Yeah, I think my career here is shot anyway,” Sam said, then took a deep breath. “I’m probably done being a cop for good, all thanks to Monroe, so maybe it’s not a horrible idea to take money from a Don.”
“Okay, Sam,” I said, my voice steady despite my escalating panic. “I need you to tell me everything you remember from that night, every detail, no matter how small. I’ll help you figure this out.”
Sam nodded, his eyes scanning the sterile room as he tried to recall the events of that fateful night. “Okay,” he beganhesitantly. “I went to the date, we met at the restaurant and then... a little while later, I felt like I was being followed. It scared me, so I left the guy at the restaurant and I came home.”
“And Kevin wasn’t with you?”
