Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Wynn
Right before I was pushed into the police car, Mark had shouted at me to say nothing until counsel arrived. I didn’t know what that meant because I had no lawyer coming for me. I could only hope Hannah would get a hold of Julian, and he’d help me get out of this mess.
“Hello, Mr. Carter. I’m Detective Peters of the Thrindell Police Department, and this is Detective Ridgeway of the Crellesia department. Can we get you something to drink—coffee, soda, water?”
Detective Peters was a petite woman with blond hair tied back in a ponytail; her cornflower blue eyes weren’t cruel and weren’t kind—she was here with a purpose. Detective Ridgeway was a tall man, lean, with red hair and piercing green eyes that glared at me as if he wanted me to burst into flames.
“No, nothing to drink. I think there’s been a misunderstanding, though.”
She hummed. “Has there? Well, here’s the thing, Mr. Carter.
Several eyewitnesses said they saw you and the governor arguing at the state dinner, but that she warmed up to you later that evening.
The governor’s babysitter told us she was excited because of a date the night she died, someone she met at the state dinner.
See, Mr. Carter, you’re the only person at the state dinner that isn’t known to us.
Everyone there was married, and with all this information, we believe not only did you see the governor that night, but you were still angry with her and strangled her to death in her own home. ”
I blinked, then blinked again. “What? No, I…” I shook my head, hoping it would clear up this web of a mess she’d word vomited all over the place. “None of that is true.”
“None?” Detective Ridgeway pulled out the chair across from me and sat. “You didn’t have a disagreement with the governor?”
“No, I didn’t. And for the record—one, I’m gay, so I’d never go on a date with her or a woman in general. Two, I was there as Prince Davaros’s date, and three, if you’d tell me the time of death, I’m sure I have an alibi for it.”
Detective Peters sat beside Ridgeway. “We were told you were there as Prince Julian’s guest, but that you and the governor had a tête-à-tête that was heated.”
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “I was never, not once, alone with the governor. She was rude to me publicly. Nothing horrible, and that was it.”
“Where were you the night she was killed?” Detective Ridgeway asked.
They’d yet to give me the time of death, but I knew she was killed the day after the dinner. “Well, let’s see if I can answer that. You’ve yet to tell me the time of death.”
“Around ten thirty in the evening.”
“That’s easy. If it was the night following the state dinner, at that hour I was with my friends Hannah and Mark. We were watching TV and devouring room service.”
“Your friends, that would cover for you?” Peters raised a brow.
“I also answered the door for room service. Perhaps check with the hotel staff,” I snapped.
Ridgeway was about to say something stupid, I was sure, when an officer entered the interrogation room. “Sorry to interrupt, but we have a situation out here.”
Peters and Ridgeway stood and followed the officer out. Once the door closed, I pressed my forehead to the table. “This was not on the vacation itinerary.”
“I don’t care about your rules!” I knew that voice, and my head shot up. “Get out of my way, or face the crown for judgment.” Julian was here. Five seconds later, the door swung open and he was filling the frame.
“Wynn.” He moved swiftly and the second he was beside me, he sat and cupped my face in his hands. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah.” I was breathless, overwhelmed by the protective nature in which he’d stormed into the room.
“I will get this sorted. Lawyers are on the way, and you’ll be out of here shortly.”
“Your Highness, you can’t take a murder suspect out of here.” Detective Ridgeway stood akimbo on the other side of the table.
Julian never let go of my face but turned his to glare at the detectives. I couldn’t see the full brunt of his expression, but I saw enough to know it would freeze magma in its tracks.
“Lamdera law states I absolutely can.”
“Only the king can invoke spousal or partner immunity.” Peters pursed her lips. “You’re not king yet.”
“It’s not about immunity. He didn’t do this,” he growled, released my face, and stood. “He is my partner and therefore treated as if he were part of the royal family.”
“But he’s not, Your Highness,” Ridgeway combatted.
Just then, three people in suits entered the room; it was certainly getting full in here.
“Detectives,” one of the suits said. “We’d like a moment with our client, Mr. Carter.”
The detectives were unhappy—they wore that emotion on their faces easily—but they honored the man’s wishes and left. I watched as the three (I assumed) lawyers sat across from me. Julian took the chair beside me.
“Mr. Carter, I am Louis Henry, and this is Adele Cobalt, and Winston Thyme. We’re here as legal representation for you at the request of Prince Julian.”
I smiled at Julian, whose ice-cold demeanor softened slightly once he looked at me. “Thank you.”
“It’s my fault you’re in this mess.”
I snorted. “That’s ridiculous. You had nothing to do with this—any more than I did.”
“Now, Mr. Carter, if you could tell us what the detectives told you and the responses you’ve given before we arrived,” Louis asked.
I spent the next few minutes explaining everything to them, from their accusations to my alibi and even the clarity I’d tried to give the detectives.
“So, at no time were you alone with the governor, and the evening of her death you were at the Redamancy Hotel with your friends, and staff saw you?”
“Yes.”
“Seems pretty cut and dried.” Louis shrugged.
“Then he can leave?” Julian gripped my hand as if he were about to run us out of here.
“We need to speak with the detectives. I believe we can get him released for now,” Louis answered.
“For now?” Julian’s voice was gnarled. “I want him eliminated from the suspect list.”
“Your Highness, in order to do that, we will need your father, the king, to intervene.”
“Fine, I’ll speak to him.”
“Julian.” I grasped his arm with my other hand when he made to leave. “You can’t ask the king to get me out of jail. I didn’t do this. I’m sure these lovely lawyers can get the charges dropped fairly quickly, right?” I looked at the lawyers expectantly.
“While I believe we can get them dropped, the expeditiousness of such an endeavor is unknown. However, we are fully confident we can have him released within the next hour.” Adele was the one to answer.
“Julian, let’s just get me out of here, and we can figure out next steps.” I rubbed along his arm, relieved as he sighed and relaxed in the chair.
“Very well. I will be speaking to my father after we leave; I’ll hear no argument about that.”
I wasn’t going to be able to stop him, so I just smiled. “Okay, Julian.”