Chapter 21 #2
“She never asked for you,” the chief snaps like a child.
“Did you offer her the use of a pen and paper or a cell phone, knowing that she is nonverbal?” Olivia walks around the table and squeezes my shoulder before she places the case on the table and pops it open.
“This interview is over. Charges have been filed against Tempest County PD and the named officers in particular. You’ll notice your name is right at the top, chief. ”
Olivia tosses a case file on the table for him to see before she grabs something else.
“This is a protection order regarding you and the listed officers against my client. None of you are permitted to come within five hundred yards of my client, which you are violating as we speak. And before you tell me you didn’t know, if you hadn’t denied me access to my client, I could have happily informed you. ”
For once, the chief looks stunned, though I have no idea why. After the harassment I’ve received, none of this should come as a surprise.
“As of right now, the Tempest PD is under investigation, so expect to be contacted by internal affairs and the FBI.”
“The FBI?” the chief stutters.
“Turns out they’re not fans of police corruption any more than the rest of us are. And this—” She throws another file on the table. “New evidence has come to light. We are applying to have my client’s conviction overturned due to falsified evidence and downright shoddy police work.”
I wish I had a microphone for her to drop because, holy hell, that was awesome.
The chief is stunned into silence, but Olivia remains undaunted. “Those copies are for you to keep. Sorrow, you ready?”
I stand on shaky legs and follow her to the door. She holds it open for me to pass through before slamming it closed behind her.
“God, I’m so sorry. I got here as soon as I could.”
I shake my head because she has nothing to apologize for.
“Word of warning: there are a bunch of worried people waiting for you out there.”
I point at myself, surprised.
“Yes, you, silly. Come on.”
I follow her out and hear the noise before I round the corner, pausing when I see a bunch of guys I don’t know, along with Marcus and Blake.
Marcus spots me first, his body relaxing when he takes me in. “Hey, sweetheart.”
Everyone turns at his greeting. Then, before I know it, he’s shoved aside. Banner comes through from behind him, sweeping me into his arms and not giving a single fuck what anyone thinks. He kisses the stuffing right out of me.
The sound of a feral screech has us pulling apart.
Before I can get my bearings, Banner’s mom is in front of me.
She slaps me so hard across the face, I feel my ears ring.
Everyone reaches for her, but Wade gets there first, grabbing her arms and pulling them behind her back before slapping handcuffs on her.
“Don’t forget to read her Miranda rights, honey, as everyone else here seems to.”
Wade rolls his eyes as he starts doing just that. “Leanne Bannerman, I’m arresting you for assault. You have the right to remain silent—”
“Get your hands off my wife,” Banner’s dad roars.
One of the other cops—Chris, who came to my house that night with the rookie—closes in on him. “Take a step back and let Wade do his job, sir.”
Banner strokes my cheek where his mother hit me before placing a chaste kiss on the tender skin.
“Get off of him,” Leanne screams at me, but I ignore her. “You think you can win against me? You have nothing. You are nothing, just like your whore of a mother was. You think you’ve won? You don’t have a fucking clue who I have at my back. You have no one.”
“She has me,” Banner snarls, pulling me closer.
“And me,” Olivia adds before Blake and Marcus step up, declaring the same.
Jesus, what’s happening?
Banner looks at me, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “They’re picking a side, baby. They’re choosing you. I’m choosing you.”
“I’m choosing you, too.”
I whirl at the sound of Katy’s voice and see her tear-stained face. I yank her into my arms and hold her tightly to me.
“I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”
I shake my head vehemently, but she starts sobbing. I rock her in my arms as Banner engulfs us both until she settles a little. Once she’s calmer, she lifts her head and searches out Olivia.
“I wanna get emancipated.”
“You got a dollar?”
I grin, remembering when we did this. Katy pulls one from her pocket with a frown and hands it over.
“Consider me hired.”
“What? You can’t do that,” Banner’s father splutters.
“I’m sorry, sir, but I’m not at liberty to discuss my client with you,” Olivia tells him with a huff, making Katy grin and Banner snort.
Banner’s father turns his hateful glare on me, clearly laying blame at my feet. What a surprise. “How quickly you forget who has the power here.”
Fuck you, Mr. Bannerman.
I suck in a deep breath before letting it out. Then, for the second time in as many days, I take a leap of faith.
“You might have power on your side, but I have the truth on mine.” My voice squeaks like a rusty wheel, but as I look around at the stunned faces, I smile. “And apparently, I have an army, too.”