Chapter 36
CHAPTER 36
“What is this?” I asked as she urgently ushered Porter and me to a small, windowless brick room with a laptop.
“There were cameras on the street. We caught the whole thing. I want you to watch this and tell me if you remember anything else.”
She hit play. There I was, grainy and grey on the screen, crossing the street. The store clerk came out and called to me. I turned around, and the car pulled out from the curb and began to speed towards me.
Exactly like a deer in the headlights, I wasted valuable seconds trying to decide which way to run. When I started to run, I was agonizingly slow. My fate seemed inevitable.
Out of nowhere, with the speed of a greyhound, Porter raced towards me. He moved so fast, but the car was dangerously close. Like a professional football player, making the tackle of his life, he flew through the air.
He landed on top of me, knocking me forward. The car swerved hard, trying to hit us, before speeding off. Porter made a noise in the back of his throat and turned his back to us.
“You saved her life.” Detective Christensen spoke. “She might be a bit banged up, but if you hadn’t done that, it would’ve been much worse.”
He paused when she spoke, but without looking back, he walked out. Detective Christensen and I shared a look.
I bit my lip. “He feels guilty.”
“That man deserves a medal. He risked his life saving yours.”
“I know.”
“We have a hit on the car. Plates and car were both stolen.”
“So, you can’t find this guy?”
She shut the laptop. “We found him. An hour ago, his body was found in this car, under a bridge, not ten blocks from your place.”
“What?” I put my bandaged hand to my forehead in shock. “What happened?”
“Two bullets to the back of his head.”
Panic laced my voice. “I don’t understand what is happening. This doesn’t make sense.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, but we’ll be doing everything we can to investigate exactly what’s happening and who this guy is.”
“What should I do?”
Her concern was real. “Stay vigilant about your safety until we can get to the bottom of this. And keep that big guy close. He looks like he’s doing a good job keeping you safe so far.”
I pulled my stiff body up from the chair. “Can I go?”
“You’re free to go.”
Shouting sounded from outside of the room.
“What the hot hell?” Detective Christensen flung open the door. “Oh, shit.” She disappeared.
I limped to the door and took in the chaos. Yates stood in the middle of the room, screaming while blood spurted out of his nose. Two officers pinned Porter against the wall as they handcuffed him.
One officer bled from his lip, the other bled from his nose. A table was flipped, three chairs laid on their sides, and another officer leaned against the counter, holding the side of his head .
“What the hell is going on here?” Detective Christensen strode into the middle of the mess.
Porter turned, his eyes finding me. He had no expression on his face.
“This guy jumped that guy over there.” One officer jerked the cuffs on Porter, making him wince. “When we tried to pull him off, he resisted arrest.”
“For fuck’s sake.” Detective Christensen pushed the officer out of the way. She took keys out of her pocket and removed the handcuffs from Porter. “This is my victim’s fiancé.”
Porter turned and eyeballed Yates, reminding me of a predator debating how best to launch his next attack.
The detective pushed her finger up in Porter’s face. “You’re going to calmly walk this shit off, right?”
He rubbed his wrists and, with a dark glance my way, gave a short nod.
She turned to Yates. “Who the fuck are you?”
“Beth is the love of my life,” his bloody hand muffled his voice, “and that barbarian attacked me in cold blood.”
She assessed Porter. “I assume you have a good reason for attacking this man?”
“He’s following Beth. I wanted to know how he knew she was here.”
Her head volleyed back to Yates. “That’s a good question. How did you know Beth was here?”
Yates winced. “I want a lawyer.”
She pointed at Yates. “Put this guy in room three. And let him call his lawyer.”
The officer glared at Porter, but he led Yates out.
Yates yelled over his shoulder. “You’re arresting the wrong man. He’s an animal. Did you see what he did to my face?”
She jutted her chin at the other two officers. “Go clean up.”
They both shot daggers at Porter but obediently left the room .
She crossed her arms and gave Porter a pointed look. “You think this Yates is part of this?”
I relayed my conversation with Yates, told her about our history and how he was now my father’s campaign manager.
“Do you think he’s following you?”
“How did he know she would be here?” Porter butt in.
She shook her head. “No clue, but I plan on finding out.”
Porter gave a sharp nod.
She crossed her arms. “Do me a favor and don’t take out half my team next time?”
He remained expressionless.
She sighed. “Go home. Get some rest. I’ll be in touch.”