Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Ruby sat in an interview room, shivering and rubbing her arms. She didn’t even know how long she’d been in here. Hours? It felt like days.
The room was quiet except for the clicking of a pipe or some kind of machinery. Ruby was alone here with her thoughts.
Was Mickey at the hospital right now? Could he have survived his injuries? Could she have done something more to help him?
Before she’d found him on that apartment floor, Ruby had wished him off the face of the earth. But she’d never wanted something like that to happen. Never.
She took a sip of the water bottle they’d left for her, but she didn’t really want it. She only wanted her daughter. Wanted to go home.
Why the heck was this taking so long?
This wasn’t the first time she’d seen a room like this at a police station. Her dad and Kellen had both been LAPD officers.
They would’ve been shocked to find her on this side of the door.
Ruby imagined her brother’s wry grin. I dunno, Kellen would’ve said. You always had a flair for the dramatic. Remember that black lipstick phase you had in high school? Or that flash mob you organized with the other theater kids at lunch?
Ruby snickered at the memories, though they also made her heart hurt.
Finally, the door opened, and she gasped with relief.
A woman in a pantsuit walked in. Her hair was braided into cornrows, some piled into a bun on top of her head, while the rest hung down her back.
“I’m sorry for the delay, Ms. Whitestone. I’m Detective Angela Murphy. Can I get you a drink? Something to eat?”
Ruby sat up straighter. “No. I just want to get this over with and get home to my daughter. Is Mickey at the hospital? Is he alive?”
“We’re waiting on word.” The detective took the seat on the other side of the table. “Keep in mind this interview is being recorded and can be used later.”
“I understand.” Ruby glanced up, not sure of where the camera was located. “What did you want to know?”
“Before we chat, I have to make sure you understand your legal rights.” The detective pulled a piece of paper from her file folder.
“You’re under no obligation to talk to me.
You can have an attorney present, if you want, and if you can’t afford one, we’ll appoint one.
But that would kick this interview until the morning.
Most lawyers aren’t on call this late at night. ”
“What time is it? I don’t even know.”
After passing out in front of the movers, she’d woken up with paramedics around her.
Patrol officers had brought her down to the station, where they’d taken pictures of her.
They’d asked her to remove her clothes and had given her new ones, which she was wearing now.
They’d taken her phone too, though she’d declined to give them her passcode when they’d asked.
Murphy held up her watch. “It’s almost eleven.”
Eleven? Had Chase put Haley to bed? He was probably worried sick. “Is there a way I could call my friend Chase Collins? He’s with my daughter.”
“Chase Collins?” Murphy asked. “The patrol officer?”
“Yes. I need to tell him where I am. And make sure they’re okay.”
“That’ll have to be later. First, could you review your rights on this form and sign to acknowledge you’re aware of them?”
Ruby signed the document. Detective Murphy tucked away the paper, then folded her hands in her lap. “Can you tell me how you know Mr. Waverley?”
Ruby sighed. “That’s a long story.”
“But it’s important. Faster we get through this, the faster you can head home.”
She gripped the skin between her eyes. “Okay. I’ll try. I met him in Los Angeles. He’s a mixed martial arts fighter. MMA.” The first time she’d seen Mickey, he’d been in the practice ring, pummeling another guy in the face.
If the detective was surprised, she didn’t show it. “Professional?”
“Not exactly. He doesn’t fight with any official league.” Though he’d made plenty of money at it. “He’s the father of my daughter. But before today, I hadn’t seen him since I was pregnant. Two years ago at least.”
“Why did you go see him today?”
“I already explained that to the patrol officers who responded to the scene. Is this really necessary?”
Detective Murphy smiled patiently. “The more we go back and forth, the longer this will take.”
She pushed out a breath. “Mickey told me where and when he wanted to meet. I did what he asked, but only because he left me with no other choice.”
“Why didn’t you have a choice?”
“Because he said he’d hire lawyers. Haul me into court over custody. I thought talking it through would be better. I arrived at the address he’d given me. And then, when I got upstairs…” She shook her head, remembering him on the floor. “I tried to help him. I tried to stop the bleeding.”
“Even though he wanted to interfere with your life?”
Ruby’s eyes narrowed. “Of course. I’d have done the same for anyone.”
“But wouldn’t it have been easier for you if Mickey were gone? Didn’t you want him gone? I would’ve, in your place.”
“What?” In some ways, it was true. But a creeping feeling had wound through Ruby’s insides. “Why would you say that?”
Detective Murphy crossed her arms, sitting back in her seat. “No one would blame you for trying to protect your child.”
“Protect her how?”
The other woman just stared back at her.
Ruby pressed her palms flat against the table. She’d thought this night couldn’t get any more surreal, but she’d been wrong. “Do you think I did this? I hurt Mickey? That’s insane.”
The detective just waited.
This couldn’t be real. Couldn’t possibly be happening. Ruby almost laughed at the idea. And then she got really pissed.
“There was someone else in the apartment.” She punctuated each word by tapping the tabletop with her finger. “Someone watching us from the other room. The attacker could’ve gone after me too. That’s why I freaked out and ran.”
“But did you run? The other witnesses said you were calm. They didn’t even hear you scream.”
“I was upset. I was shocked.” One of the movers must’ve seen the killer leave the apartment. Or another tenant had seen. Or a camera.
“You didn’t answer my question from before,” Detective Murphy said. “Wouldn’t it have been easier for you if Mickey Waverley were gone?”
“I…”
“Ruby?” The detective leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Didn’t you want Mickey gone?”
A laugh snuck out of her chest. “This is ridiculous. You’re twisting everything around.”
Ruby’s eye caught on the file folder on the table. The rights Detective Murphy had read to her.
Her eyes sank closed, frustrated by her own naivete. But she just hadn’t been able to believe that they’d see her as a suspect. That she was being interrogated right now.
I could’ve told you that, Kellen’s voice said in her head.
Quiet, big brother. You’re as annoying as Devon.
She had to get out of here. Had to go out and find witnesses or camera footage showing the real culprit. Whatever she needed to do to prove she hadn’t done this.
“I want to talk to a lawyer,” Ruby said.
Detective Murphy stood. “Then this interview is terminated.” She grabbed the folder. Glanced at her watch. Turned to go. “You’ll need to wait.”
“I thought you said a lawyer couldn’t get here tonight.”
“That’s correct.”
“But you can’t just leave me here again.”
Murphy opened the door. It slammed closed behind her.
Ruby cursed.
She’d tried to cooperate like a good girl, and where had that gotten her? This was exactly why she’d told Haley to be wise instead.
At least she’d asked for a lawyer. But that didn’t seem to be working either. Not if they’d make her stay in this room all night.
She got up and paced.
This was bad. Really bad.
She just hoped it wouldn’t get any worse.