Page 17 of Wrangled and Tangled (Raven Peak Ranch #1)
S taci’s been blowing up my phone since I stepped into the back room at the diner. Her texts are constant, and if I weren’t fucking terrified, I’d laugh. Levi’s dead, and the way Lucy looked at me, she’s damn sure it’s my fault.
“ Where the fuck are you? ” Staci’s voice booms through my speaker once the call connects–loud enough I’m sure the whole diner heard her–as Eddie and I walked out. “You better get your ass to your trailer right the fuck now. Rodeo’s cancelled until further notice.”
“What’s goin’ on?” I try to ask, but the second it’s out of my mouth, she clicks, and the line goes dead.
“Dude,” Eddie says, handing me his phone. There’s a picture of the arena and my picture in a circle up in the corner of the article on the screen.
‘ Heath Macabe, Murderer?’ scrolls under my face. Blood drains from my head, and I think I might pass out.
Pressing the button to turn it off, I let out a breath. What the actual fuck, I’m a suspect in Levi’s supposed murder? I didn’t like the guy, sure, but murder ?
“The police think I did this?” Asking no one in particular as the two of us sit in the truck staring out the window. “I didn’t kill him, Eddie.”
“I never thought you did,” he says, slapping a hand on my back. “Let’s get back to the trailers before there’s a riot lookin’ for you.”
Cranking the engine, I peel out of the parking lot and head for the trailer I call home for months out of the year. If the police are there, I’m not sure what I can do, legally, anyway. I’m an open book, and if they want to search my trailer, they’re more than welcome to.
Lights are flashing, and there’s already a police cruiser here as we roll in. The two deputies close in around the truck as I pull in front of my trailer, gesturing for us to exit the vehicle.
“What the hell?” Eddie says, eyes wide and searching the lot.
Staci’s call rings through the speakers of my truck, and I pause, looking at Eddie with wide eyes before pressing the green accept button.
“When you get out of the truck, they’re going to ask you to go with them to answer some questions, and I swear to God, if you say a word before I get a lawyer there, I will personally skin you alive and make you into a nice new pair of boots. Understand?”
Swallowing down that awful image and clearing my throat, I nod, “Clear.”
“Not. A. Word.” She says once more before hanging up.
Eddie’s mouth is hanging open, and his eyes are practically bugging outta his head. “You’re just… cool with this?”
A humorless laugh escapes me, “What about this makes you think I’m cool with it? People think I murdered a co-worker, and I’m sure stories are spinnin’ as we speak. There ain’t nothin’ okay with how I feel.”
A knock sounds on my window, and I know I’ve got to face the cops on the other side. I’ve never so much as gotten a ticket, and now this?
“Mr. Macabe, I need you to step out of the vehicle.” His thick accent and deep voice don’t make me feel any more calm about the situation. My blood’s pumping, ears ringing, and my palms won’t stop sweating. I feel like I can’t get a swallow down, much less make my limbs work.
“Okay, Heath,” Eddie starts, “You already know what’s gonna happen, and Staci’s on her way here, I’ll follow you down to the station and wait for as long as I need to, okay?”
Nodding my head, I take a deep breath and unlock the doors. The deputy gives me a half-smile and gestures to the cruiser. Without complaint, I head over and watch as the other deputy talks with Eddie.
“I’d like for you to come down to the station and answer some questions, if you don’t mind,” the shiny gold bar on his breast says Follie, and his hair’s clipped close to his scalp.
Staci’s words ring in my ears and I have no doubt she’ll make good on her promise to fix whatever this is, so I nod to the officer and look back at Eddie, who’s looking at me.
“I’ll follow you to the police station,” he says, nodding toward the deputy as he opens the door for me.
The deputies don’t say anything the whole drive, and part of me’s thankful for it. It would be awkward to sit here and not respond. Pulling into the sheriff’s station and scanning the parking lot, my eyes land on Spencer’s.
Shock filters through my system, he’s not my biggest fan at the moment, but he’s here. The officer opens the door, allows me space to step out, and walks me in—past Spencer, who looks like he wants to say something but turns away instead.
So much for thinking he was here for me.
Lucy’s at the desk inside, talking to another officer, sniffling and nodding. “Thank you, Brent.”
“No problem, Miss Lucy,” he gives her a smile that makes me wonder if he’s into her. “We’ll get whoever did this,” Brent says before looking over her shoulder at me.
Her gaze travels across the room, following his, landing on me. “I’m sure you will.” Head held high, she walks through the door to where Spencer’s waiting outside, and my heart sinks a little.
I should have known.
“Come on,” the officer who drove me in pulls me toward a hallway with a few doors. Their sheriff’s station isn’t that big, so I’m assuming wherever he’s bringing me is an interview room.
Taking the key ring from his belt, he unlocks the door. Inside are plain cream-colored walls, a metal table that looks like it’s only been used once before, and a single chair on each side.
Setting me down in one of the chairs, he tells me someone will be in shortly and walks out without a word. The table’s dusty enough I can draw little shapes in it. I’m not sure how long they plan on keeping me here, and I doubt they’d tell me anyway.
A wave of fatigue washes over me, and I’m having a hard time keeping my eyes open. As soon as my eyes close, the lock in the door snicks and in walks a man I’ve only seen a time or two–but I’m assuming he's the lawyer–and Staci.
She’s a spitfire on her best days but tonight she’s a fucking dragon. A dragon on a warpath, it seems. She’s throwing around words that my brain seems to be unwilling to understand or hear.
Warrant…
Under arrest…
Free to go…
I feel like I’m watching everything from underwater, barely able to see, only getting muffled sounds, and damn sure unable to breathe.
“Heath, let’s go,” her words register, as the man that walked in with her places his hand under my armpit and hauls me to my feet.
“What about L–” I start, only to be met with Staci’s evil eye. Zipping my lips, I follow the lawyer out to the front desk where the officer who was talking to Lucy earlier, eyes me with clear disdain.
With papers signed and Staci’s instructions, we walk out to the waiting SUV, where Staci’s assistant, Kenzie, sits at the wheel.
“Get ready, hotshot, you’re about to get your ass reamed.”