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“What’s going on, Slade?” asked Jessica.
He turned his attention to Jessica, but Fiona could see he was keeping an eye on her as well. “This doesn’t concern you, Jessica.”
“The hell it doesn’t, Slade. Fiona is one of my closest friends.”
Slade barely muffled a groan before turning back to Fiona. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist. You can come with me voluntarily, or I can put you in handcuffs.”
Handcuffs, was he kidding? Looking at his face she knew he wasn’t. With everyone watching, the only thing to do was act as if this was all perfectly normal and go with him.
“As much fun as that might be in a different scenario, I think I’ll pass on the bracelets. Jessica, can you take over? I’ll be back as quick as I can.”
Slade led her out the door where Christie confronted him. “I’m Christie Crofton, Baltimore Homicide, retired.”
“Even if you weren’t retired, Ms. Crofton, you would be out of your jurisdiction. I need for you to stand aside.”
Christie stood still for a moment and then looked at Fiona. “Don’t say a word. Not one damn word until we know what this is about and get you a lawyer.”
“I haven’t arrested Ms. Fowler…”
“Yet,” challenged Christie. “But we both know you’re taking her into involuntary custody…”
“He is?” asked Fiona, beginning to believe there was something sinister going on.
“I’m trying to do this with as little fanfare as possible. Now, please, Ms. Fowler, if you’ll come with me.”
Fiona balked. There was a time, not very long ago, when she would have meekly complied. That time was gone.
“I don’t want to go with you.”
Slade sighed. “Your choice. In that case, Fiona Fowler, I’m placing you under arrest on suspicion of aggravated murder.”
“Aggravated? Murder?” squeaked Fiona, her confidence and courage flagging a bit in light of Slade’s charges. A kind of numbness began to creep over her, much like someone was covering her with a shroud.
He reached under his expensive and tailored suit jacket and pulled out a pair of handcuffs.
Christie put her hand on the cuffs. “That won’t be necessary. Fiona will go with you.”
“And I’m the one who makes those decisions, Ms. Crofton, not you.”
Fiona thought her knees might buckle and he’d have to carry her when she heard the handcuffs lock into place around her wrists.
Christie gave him a stink-eye, but otherwise ignored him. “Fi, I’ll be right behind you, and remember, keep your mouth shut. You can confirm your name, address, and phone number, but that’s it. And the minute they sit you down, you affirm your right to legal counsel. Got it? Everything will be fine.”
“Yes. I understand. I’m ready to go with you, Detective Rafferty,” Fiona said. She wasn’t; and she doubted that anything would be fine—maybe somewhere in the future, but she had a feeling that things would get a whole lot darker before she would see light breaking on the horizon.
CHAPTER5
SLADE
Slade entered the bookstore to get a cup of coffee. His favorite coffee bar was closed for the afternoon, but one of the townsfolk, seeing his disappointment, reminded him that there was free coffee to be had at Between the Lines. He’d been in there once or twice—well maybe more often than that. It was a charming place that offered something a little more special than the large brick and mortar bookstore chains that still existed, although it wasn’t the books he’d gone to admire.
Besides, he’d reacquainted himself to the owner, who was now a successful author named Fiona Fowler, at Jessica and Thorn’s party. Slade had been attracted to her at the party, but Jessica had warned him off as Thorn had shared stories of Slade’s rather rowdy ways. He’d thought about the gathering at her bookstore might be an opportune time to ignore Jessica’s warning, especially as he’d had Thorn singing his praises and talking about how Slade had changed his wild and woolly ways.
Being back here, especially as Daniel had been murdered left Slade with feelings of guilt he didn’t need if he was going to apprehend his killer. He should have done something more to help Daniel. Slade had felt things were coming to a head with Daniel. Slade couldn’t help but think he should have acted on his plan to start trying to talk Daniel into voluntarily committing himself to some kind of in-house therapy. His delusions and paranoia had been increasing instead of lessening, and if Daniel’s life really was in jeopardy, a psychiatric hospital might be the best place for him. But now Daniel was dead, killed in a horrific manner.
Slade hoped that going to the bookstore, getting a cup of coffee, and mingling with nice people not involved in criminal activities might help lighten his mood. Not only had Daniel been viciously tortured and murdered, but there was a part of Slade that felt responsible. Maybe if he’d come last weekend when Daniel had asked him, his friend might still be alive. But Slade had been wrapping up a case and hadn’t wanted to give him the time.
I’m so sorry, Daniel. I’ll find whoever did this to you and make them pay.Slade made that vow as he entered Between the Lines. He’d hailed Jessica as she left the podium, and she’d made her way through the crowd and joined him. Thorn was a lucky man; Jessica Murdoch was wildly successful, incredibly beautiful, and madly in love with his best friend.
