Page 27

27

Ella

C arlos and I step outside into the heat and humidity. It feels particularly oppressive today. I acted strong with Jack, but inside, I’m a mess. My apprehension is making breathing difficult.

We walk across the parking lot to Carlos’s car. He opens the door for me, and once I’m inside, he slams the door closed, making me startle. Settling next to me, he starts the car, turning the AC on full blast. My skin already feels slick with sweat, so the cool air is a relief.

He shifts to face me. “Ella, I’m unofficially telling you this, okay?

I nod, but stay silent.

“Jack was right. Do not say anything until your attorney gets there. They’re probably going to convince you that you don’t need an attorney, but don’t give in.” His face is filled with sympathy. “I know this is scary. But don’t let fear get to you. Besides waiting for your attorney, the other most important thing you can do is answer their questions, and their questions only. Do you understand?”

“I do, thank you, Carlos,” I whisper, feeling my body tremble with anxiousness.

His smile returns as he backs out of the parking spot. “Good, Jack will be super pissed if his woman goes to jail and, I, frankly, don’t want to deal with him if that happens.”

A strangled laugh slips from me. I appreciate his attempt to ease some of my nerves.

I stare out the window, focusing on breathing and not letting panic take hold. Carlos is right. I need to not let it get the best of me during this interview.

Answer their questions, and their questions only.

Meaning, don’t ramble on and give them information they can use against me.

I blow out a breath through pursed lips.

I got this.

Much sooner than I would have liked, we pull into a parking lot of the police station. As we’re climbing out of the car, Carlos’s phone starts ringing. He indicates that I should hold on.

“Chris. I’m assuming you’re calling for information on Miss Easton at Jack’s request.”

My ears perk up at that.

“Yes, that’s where we’ll be. I don’t know what room yet, but I’ll text you when I know. Or you can ask at the front desk, and they can tell you.” A deep timbre comes through his phone before Carlos chuckles. “I know you already know that. But I wasn’t sure if you were rusty since you have been out of the game for a while.”

Chris’s voice seems to raise with his response as Carlos starts to lead me to the door of the precinct. “Can’t wait to see you either, Chris.” He disconnects and slides his phone back into his pocket. Glancing down at me, he pulls the heavy door open. “Your attorney should be here shortly.”

I swallow heavily. As I step inside, I’m greeted by an unsettling silence. My steps echo in the large open area. Two women sit behind a large reception desk, eyeing me and Carlos.

“Hey ladies, do you know what interview room Thomas and Bronson would like Miss Easton in?”

The older of the two women gives me a look of disdain as she types on the computer. “Number three.”

Carlos thanks her and walks me down the hall to a nondescript door with a small sign indicating it’s number three. He opens the door and gestures for me to take a seat.

“Okay, Ella. Just wait here. Someone should be in shortly. I’ll make sure the front desk knows Chris will be here soon, and he should be sent back immediately.”

All I can say is a weak “Okay.”

He gives me one more reassuring smile and leaves me.

A shiver runs down my spine. The room is cold, but it’s from more than just the temperature. I continue deep breathing to calm myself as I wait.

The door flies open mid deep breath, and I yelp in surprise. Three men stand at the door, all dressed in suits, one significantly more expensive looking than the others. I assume that one is my lawyer.

“Gentlemen, I need a moment with my client,” my attorney, who Carlos called Chris, addresses the two detectives, an air of authority to his tone.

The younger of the two rolls his eyes. “Rivers, she isn’t being arrested. It’s a preliminary investigative interview.”

Chris scoffs. “I may not do this anymore, but I didn’t magically forget how this works. Give me five minutes. ”

The two men glance at each other. The younger one says, “You have two.”

With that, both men walk out and close the door.

Chris turns to me with a smile that doesn’t meet his eyes. It’s not necessarily unfriendly, just very sedated. “Okay, Ella. I would love to say it’s good to meet you, but under the circumstances, I’m sure neither of us feels that way. Now, since Carlos brought you in, I assume he off-the-record told you what you need to do?”

I simply nod.

“Great, just to confirm, answer their questions. Nothing more, nothing less. Understood?”

“Yes,” I croak out. My stomach rolls with how nervous I am.

“Perfect.” He reaches back and knocks on the door, alerting them that we’re done.

He takes the seat next to me as the two men file back into the room and sit across from us.

The older man leans forward and places a large file folder filled with papers on the table. “My name is Detective Thomas, and this is Detective Bronson.”

“Okay.” I don’t bother introducing myself.

Detective Thomas gives me a smile as he flips the folder open. “Gisella Easton, thirty-five, soon to be thirty-six. Accounting degree, MBA, CPA. Impressive.”

He looks up at me, and I raise my eyebrows in question.

“Can you tell us about your job?” Detective Thomas asks.

I give them a brief overview of my duties. I’m impressed I’m able to do so without throwing up or rambling nervously.

“Sounds important.”

I shrug but don’t say anything more .

“You had a lot of responsibilities. Did you ever hope you made more money?” Detective Bronson asks.

“No, I’m compensated fairly for my position.”

Benton nods thoughtfully.

Thomas flips through the papers in the folder and lays a few on the table before us. Both Chris and I lean forward to look at them. My muscles tense when I see what they are. Thomas taps one of them with his finger. “Do these look familiar?”

“Yes, they’re invoices for payments that the company made.”

“Uh-huh. Is that the only reason they look familiar?”

I don’t know how to answer. I’m unsure if I should admit that these are the invoices I was presented when I was fired. I glance over to Chris.

Seeing my hesitation, Chris addresses the two men. “What kind of question is that? She already said they looked familiar and that they’re invoices for payments made by the company she worked for. What other reason does she need for them to look familiar?”

Thomas smiles without humor. “Just wanted to ask.”

Chris shifts in his chair, in obvious impatience. “Well, how about we ask the questions you actually want to ask so we don’t have to spend all Friday night here, waiting for you to get to the goddamn point?”

Benson crosses his arms. “Fair enough. Ella, did the payments for these invoices actually go to you?”

Chris shoots from his chair. “Okay, unless you’re arresting her, we’re done here. Ella, let’s go. Jack is waiting for you in the lobby.” I’m unsure if I can leave as he instructed, so I’m slow to stand. I jump when Chris shouts, “Ella, now.”

I push to shaky legs and follow Chris from the room. I’m scared to look back at the detectives, so I keep my eyes locked on the back of Chris’s suit jacket.

My body is quaking by the time we make it to the lobby. Jack stands from one of the small chairs, his brow furrowed as he looks me over to ensure I’m okay. Quickening my pace, I practically throw myself into his outstretched arms. He squeezes me to him, one of his hands holding my head gently to his chest. The vibrations of him speaking with Chris hit my cheek where it’s pressed against him, putting me at ease. I don’t even bother trying to listen to what they are saying.

I hear the door to the building open and close. Jack adjusts his hold on me. “Let’s get out of here,” he mumbles as he leads me from the building, keeping me tight against his side. He helps me into his vehicle and buckles me in, as usual.

He doesn’t say anything more as he climbs in and leaves the parking lot. Reaching over, he intertwines our fingers, pulling my hand onto the middle console. The warmth from his skin helps calm me a little more.

When he parks outside my building, he keeps a hold on my hand. The sound of his breathing soothes me. I drop my head back on the headrest and roll it to look in his direction.

His eyes are cautious as he watches me.

I force a smile. “I’m fine.”

His expression doesn’t change when he raises our hands and kisses the back of mine. Warmth spreads through my arm and zips right to my heart.

“Let’s go upstairs,” is all he says before popping his door open and stepping into the street.

I sigh as I follow suit. We meet on the sidewalk, Jack guiding me to the inside so he’s closest to the street. My first genuine smile in hours forms as we walk up to my condo in silence, because through all the awfulness of the day, I’m so grateful that I get to be with Jack at the end of it.

After a dinner of burgers and fries, Jack squeezes the inside of my thigh. We’re lounging on my couch, me with a glass of wine and him with a beer, watching bad reality TV. “I think we should watch a movie. Anything you want.”

I throw him a skeptical look, as I doubt we like the same kind of movies. “Anything I want?”

He nods definitively. “That’s what I said.”

I narrow my eyes, but shrug and scroll through the movie options, selecting one. Even though I consider While You Were Sleeping a Christmas movie, and it is only August, it’s one of my favorites.

I point to a throw blanket on the far side of Jack. “Can you hand me that blanket?”

He shifts so he can look behind me. “What’s wrong with that one over there?”

“That one isn’t my favorite.” Instead of waiting for him, I reach over him and grab the edge of the blanket and start to pull it out from under him.

He chuckles as he lifts his butt so I can pull the blanket the rest of the way out. Helping settle it over me, he wraps his arm around my shoulder as we cuddle into the couch.

Turning to kiss my hair softly, he murmurs against me. “You’re bad at this. I’m picking the next movie.”

I pinch his side and roll my eyes as he gives a low, amused grunt in response to my assault.

We watch the movie for a few minutes before he says, “I’m sorry you’re having to go through all of this, Gisella.”

At his soft tone, I turn my head so I can see him.

“I would do anything to make this right for you.”

And I believe him. Nodding, I lay my face back on his chest and slide my hand under his shirt, his skin hot against my palm and his heartbeat steady and strong under my cheek. “You’re doing exactly what I need.”

His grunt of disagreement has me placing a kiss on his chest. He may think what he’s doing isn’t enough, but I hope one day I can give him even an ounce of comfort he gives to me.