Page 117 of Stolen Daughters (Detective Amanda Steele)

Amanda smiled, so thankful that their paths had crossed, though sad at why they had. But there would be a lot of really bad men and women out there who would be hoping Amanda and Patty never joined forces. They may not know it yet, but their day of reckoning was coming.

Sixty-One

The following day…

Amanda was sitting outside Hill’s office with Malone and her lawyer. What a horrible way to start the week.

Hill’s assistant, Lily, kept smiling awkwardly at her. If needing the lawyer wasn’t enough of a bad sign, this was another one.

The phone beeped on Lily’s desk, and then a voice came over its speaker. “Send them in.”

Hill sounded sour, and Amanda couldn’t help quaking internally. This case had rocked her emotionally, mentally, and physically, and it felt like she still had a long way to go before she healed. But she took a deep breath and stood tall. She had no reason for regrets. And she had saved two people. She went through the doorway first, her lawyer and Malone behind her.

Hill was perched at her desk, her beady eyes fixed on Amanda. The LT didn’t smile, but her eyes brightened. “Close the door, Detective.”

“I’ve got it.” Malone stepped in and did as Hill had requested of Amanda.

Hill got up, rounded her desk, and said to Amanda, “Please, sit.”

Amanda recognized the LT’s intended power play immediately. With her sitting and the lieutenant standing, it was an intimidation tactic. Sadly, it was working.

“I’m not the type to mince words, Detective Steele, and I’m quite sure you know why I’ve called for this meeting.”

Amanda didn’t say a word. On previous advice from her lawyer, she was to limit her responses to “yes” or “no.”

“Do you know why I called this meeting?” Hill leaned against the edge of her desk, sitting but still above Amanda.

“No.”

“Not sure I buy that.”

Amanda shrugged, kept silent.

“I see how this is going to go.” She stood again. “Did you request backup to accompany you to the Logmill Road property?”

“No.” She balled her hand tight but released it before it rigored in a fist.

“Did you enter the property anyway?”

“Yes.” She stared straight ahead.

“Did you put the lives of yourself and others in jeopardy?”

“Yes.”

“Including that of your own partner?”

She hadn’t directly but things could have taken a dark turn. For that she had to answer, “Yes.”

Her lawyer gently nudged her arm, but Amanda didn’t look at her.

“Did you enter the barn while it was on fire?”

“Yes.”

“Did you convince your partner to join you?”

She stumbled with that one too. Self-imposed guilt was a bitch. She certainly hadn’t made him go along with her, but she hadn’t discouraged him either. The only right call she made was telling him to stay out of the barn.