Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Chase rushed into the station with Devon right behind him. The place was crackling with energy, personnel murmuring tensely, the scent of coffee bitter in the air.
That was how it always felt when something big had happened. Big, like a homicide investigation.
The officer manning the reception desk stood up. “Collins? What’re you doing?”
“We’re holding someone named Ruby Whitestone. She’s my friend. Who’s questioning her?”
“I’ll see what I can find out. But you know you can’t just—”
Chase pushed past him, heading toward the interview rooms. Half a dozen of his colleagues—his friends—stared as he passed, but no one said a word.
Detective Murphy had just stepped into the hall, closing a door behind her.
“Is Ruby in there?”
“Officer Collins, I didn’t authorize anyone to call you yet. Who was it?”
“Nobody. I had a hunch. Where is Ruby?”
Murphy’s glare moved to Devon, who’d crowded in behind Chase. “Who’s this?”
“I’m Ruby’s brother. Devon Whitestone. We want to know what’s going on. Please.”
Murphy crossed her arms. “I recognize your name. You’re with Bennett Security, right? You were involved in that mess last year with Max Bennett’s younger sister. Multiple fatalities, property damage. Chaos over half the town.”
“That’s right.”
The detective’s upper lip curled. “And if I remember correctly, Officer Collins was involved, too.”
“I was off duty, and I called for backup. I didn’t violate any regulations.”
She let that subject go. “If you’d been slightly more patient, an officer would’ve called you both in. We need to talk to all of Ruby’s friends and family.”
“Why?” Chase barked, though he already knew.
This was standard investigative procedure. Call in all possible witnesses and family members of the victim. Or of the suspect.
Detective Murphy pointed at an interview room. “Collins, inside. Now. Whitestone, you wait in the next room.”
Chase shared a glance with Devon. They had little choice but to do as the detective said. Even though he wanted to shout and demand answers.
Chase went into the interview room, and Murphy shut the door. He realized he was still half in uniform. He had on his blue pants, but he’d taken off his shirt at Ruby’s place. He wore the white tank he’d had on underneath. Despite the thin fabric, he felt himself sweating.
Chase took off his baseball cap and ran a hand through the short bristles of his hair. “If you were going to call me in, why didn’t you notify me sooner?”
“Because I already knew Ms. Whitestone’s connection to Bennett Security, and I guessed her brother was going to be a pain in the ass. But I didn’t expect it from you.” Murphy pointed at a chair. “Sit down.”
“No. Tell me what happened.”
“Collins, sit down.”
He complied, chair legs scraping on the floor.
“Here’s the situation. A man named Michael Waverley was assaulted.”
“Assaulted how? Is he dead?”
The detective continued on without answering his questions. “Ruby Whitestone was at the scene. We’re trying to piece together what happened. I understand you may have some information?”
Murphy was playing games with him. Chase felt it. “I don’t know anything. That’s why I’m upset.”
“Did you know Ruby was going to meet with Mr. Waverley?”
Nausea swirled in Chase’s stomach, thinking that some lowlife had hurt her or tricked her. “I’ve never heard that name until tonight. Who is he?”
Detective Murphy’s mental gears were working. He could see it in her eyes. She was deciding how much to give him.
“Michael Waverley is the father of Ms. Whitestone’s daughter.”
“Haley’s dad?”
“Ruby didn’t tell you she was meeting with her child’s father?”
“No,” Chase sputtered. “I didn’t even know he was in the picture. At all.”
“But she said you’re a friend of hers. Why wouldn’t she have told you?”
“I don’t…I don’t know.”
Honestly, it kinda hurt that Ruby hadn’t told him. She didn’t trust him enough to share that?
“Are you more than a friend? Are you Ms. Whitestone’s boyfriend?”
“Just a friend,” Chase said tightly.
Why would her ex be contacting her at all? Unless…he wanted to make up for abandoning them. That sent another jolt of anxiety through Chase. But Ruby certainly wasn’t the type to forgive. She wouldn’t have wanted that deadbeat to be a part of Haley’s life.
The detective had said the guy had been assaulted.
Had Ruby done it?
Was Ruby going to be arrested?
“Has Ms. Whitestone ever mentioned her child’s father to you?”
“A few times. Not much.”
“Did she dislike him?”
Uh, the loser who left her after she got pregnant? You think?
“I’m not a mind reader.”
“Did she seem nervous about the meeting today?” the detective asked. “Angry?”
Those questions confirmed Chase’s worst fears. Immediately, he shut down his facial expression. “I’m not sure.”
Detective Murphy squinted at him. She leaned over the table, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Officer, I’d advise you to be honest with me. Detective exams are coming up. I know you put in your name.”
Cold fury raced through his insides. “And?”
“If you value your job, and any possible promotions, you’ll tell me whatever you know.”
“I don’t know anything.”
And if he did? No fucking way he’d do anything to hurt Ruby. He wasn’t going to outright lie, but he wasn’t going to say a word of substance until he knew what was really going on.
“Can I talk to her?” he asked, even though he knew what the answer would be.
“Watch yourself, Officer Collins. You impede this investigation? You’ll be out on your ass faster than you can say accessory.”
“We’ll see what the union rep thinks about that.”
The detective left the room, slamming the door on her way out.
Fuuuuck.
She hadn’t told him he could leave, but he got up anyway. Chase pounded on the door until another officer came to let him out. He charged down the hall, catching the eye of Officer Shelborne on the way.
Shelby. The friend who’d called to tell him Ruby was here.
Chase walked into the breakroom, and Shelby followed.
The place was deserted, smelling of burned popcorn. They found a quiet corner to bow their heads together.
“You okay?” Shelby asked. “This is messed up.”
“No kidding. Thank you for calling.”
She nodded. “I met Ruby at your birthday last year. When we all went out for beers? Minute I heard on the radio what was going on, I knew you’d want a heads-up.”
“What can you tell me?” Chase whispered. “Who responded to the scene?”
Her mouth twitched. “Um, Perez and Lansing.”
They were okay. “What about the vic? How bad was he injured?”
“Dead when paramedics arrived. Multiple stab wounds, sounds like. Really bloody. Crime of passion type stuff. Detectives are walking the scene as we speak.”
So they were talking murder. Holy… Ruby couldn’t have. Could she?
“She just asked for her lawyer, right before you got here,” Shelby continued. “They’re doing the arrest warrant and the booking paperwork.”
“Shit. Shit.” He closed his eyes, reeling.
She was going to spend the night in jail. Maybe even longer.
He’d seen Ruby just a few hours ago. Why didn’t she tell me? If I’d been with her when she went to meet her ex…
But it was way too late for thoughts like that.
“Then I’d better find her a lawyer, because she probably doesn’t qualify for a PD.
” The income limits for getting a public defender were very low, and Ruby had done well for herself as a stylist. She worked so hard.
He knew what that job meant to her. “And I need to make sure she gets bail and can pay it. And…”
Shelby grabbed Chase’s arm. “Hey, stop and think for a second. Her brother’s here, right? Maybe you should take a step back. Let her family handle it. There’s a lot at stake right now, not just for her but for you.”
“You think I don’t know?”
She sighed, hands on the hips of her uniform. “I can’t keep feeding you info. You know that, right?”
“I know.” Even talking to him right now would get Shelborne in hot water if Murphy found out. As a possible witness, Chase was supposed to be staying as far from the investigation as possible. It went without saying.
But he refused to believe he couldn’t be a good friend to Ruby and a good cop at the same time.
“I appreciate what you’ve done. And if I can ever pay you back, I will.”
Shelby nodded, backing away. “Good luck, man.” She spun on her boot heel and left the room.