Page 64

"Excuse me?" Julian stiffens, his hand dropping to his side.

Uniformed officers climb out of the marked car, the tools of their trade jangling on their belts. Jacobs flicks his gaze to me. "You sure you want me saying anything in front of the lady?” he asks Julian. Jacobs gives me a sly, almost-not-there smile—as if calling me a lady is at once an insult and a lie.I’m no lady—I’m a killer.

My lips tighten, and Julian stands taller. "I think you're confused. I’ve done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide."

"Then come with us and answer some questions, please.”

"What is this about?"

Jacob returns his attention to Julian. ”An incident with a young woman.” He drops his voice, the tone becoming almost sympathetic. “She's accusing you of some pretty serious crimes.”

Julian shakes his head, his curls bouncing. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You should call your lawyer," I say quietly.

Julian glances back at me. His blue eyes are wide, but his expression is confused, unknowing.He doesn’t realize the danger he is in…yet."Right." He returns his attention to Jacobs. "I'll be happy to come down to the station at a more convenient time with my attorney."

"Look—" Jacobs steps closer. "I don't want to have to arrest you.” He says it like he’s doing Julian a favor. “Then it's going to show up in the blotter, and the press will get hold of it."

“Arrest me?!” Julian's voice jumps—hitting the first note of fear.

"Just come with us now so we can get this over with." Julian doesn't move. I put my hand on his back, an attempt at comforting him. "Come on," Jacobs says, tilting his head toward the officers standing behind him.

"Who’s your lawyer?" I ask. "I can call for you."

Julian looks over his shoulder at me again. His eyes are wide…so blue. "Diane March, but she does entertainment."

"Your agent is Lawrence Fishberg, right?"

He nods. "I'll call everyone." I lower my voice, though I'm sure Jacobs can hear me.

Julian's jaw stiffens. "No." His voice has gone cold, and he turns back to the detective. "Let me see the arrest warrant."

Jacobs's mouth tightens. "Look, you've been accused of rape. I can arrest you for that without a warrant."

"Can you?" Julian straightens, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone. He scrolls through, Jacobs watching with a scowl on his face. "Diane," Julian says into the phone. "I've got a detective here who wants me to come in for questioning about a rape accusation. He says he can arrest me."

Julian waits and listens, then holds the phone out to Jacobs. The detective does not take the slim handset, just steps back and waves to the uniformed officers. They move forward, the one in the front, a tall white guy with pockmarked cheeks, pulling out his handcuffs.

"You’re under arrest," he begins. There is squawking from the phone. Julian holds it to his ear.

"They are arresting me." Then he hands the phone to me before offering his wrists.

My heart is hammering.This is my fault.How can I stop it? I put the phone to my ear.

"Which station are they taking him to?” a female voice on the other end asks.

"Where are you taking him?" I ask the officer.

"The Hollywood station on Wilcox Avenue," he answers.

I tell the lawyer on the line. "I'll meet him there." She hangs up, and I am left clenching Julian's phone as they walk him to the back of the cruiser.

Jacobs steps up close to me. "Brave fellow you've got there," he says, humor lacing his voice.

A chill runs down my spine, but I keep my face neutral as I meet Jacobs’s dark gaze. "Screw you." I bring false bravado into my voice.

"You better do what Grand asks…and soon.” Jacobs smiles a toothy grin. “This is just the beginning. We're going after your grandma next."