Chapter 29
Chapter twenty-nine
Everly
The documents in Theo’s case file took up most of the conference room table.
Professor Exton had been more than willing to read over them, and I’d skipped lunch to put everything in order before making copies for our meeting tomorrow.
Each document represented hours of work, and seeing them spread across the table made my chest ache.
I didn’t care how many documents I had to add to the pile; I wanted to clear Theo's record more than I wanted to make partner.
I just had to convince him that we had a chance.
“There you are, Everly,” Hattie said, leaning into the conference room. “I got a call from Bryant Wyther’s dad that you’re needed at the police station ASAP. His son was arrested again.”
“What? When?” I asked.
“His father just called, but Bryant’s been there all morning. Go,” she said, reaching for the file folder in my hand. “I’ll take care of the copies.”
“Thanks, Hattie.”
“Here,” she said, handing me another folder. “I pulled his file and grabbed your purse.”
“You’re the best,” I said. “Did Mr. Wythers give any more details?”
“No. Just that ‘he wants your ass there now.’”
“Lovely,” I said, throwing my bag over my shoulder.
I waved goodbye and walked as fast as I could to the police station. Joyce greeted me with a smile.
“Hello, dear,” she said. “You’re here for Bryant Wythers, right?”
“I am,” I said, heading straight for the door to the back.
“Interview room two,” she said, buzzing the lock. “I’ll have Tristan bring him out.”
I headed straight for the second interview room, curious who might be in the first. Peace Falls wasn’t a hotbed of crime, so the second interview room sat empty most of the time. A few minutes after I got settled, Tristan brought Bryant into the room.
“You’ve got a few minutes to speak in private while we finish up the other interview,” Tristan said, guiding Bryant into the chair across from me. “We’ll be in soon.”
“Can you uncuff him?” I asked.
Tristan undid the handcuffs, and Bryant rubbed his wrists, his eyes wide with fear.
“I’d like a copy of any documentation you have for the arrest.”
“I’ll bring it when we come back,” Tristan said, heading for the door.
He kept saying we, which threw me a little. Perhaps one of the other officers had partnered with Tristan since Levi had removed himself from cases involving Bryant.
Unlike interview room one, which had a two-way mirror, interview room two was used for private attorney-client consultations, which gave me the opportunity to find out what I’d walked into.
“Give me the specifics,” I said, my pen poised over my notepad.
“They found oxy on me,” Bryant said, drumming his fingers on the table.
My stomach tightened. “Do you have a prescription?”
“What do you think?” he said.
This was beyond bad. The ADHD defense we’d been working on for his Ritalin possession wouldn’t hold now that he’d been arrested again with completely unrelated pain meds. “How much?”
“A lot,” he said, rubbing his forehead. “They got me right after my pickup. I guess the cops had been watching my guy, and they tailed him to our meeting. They saw the whole thing.”
“Who were the arresting officers?” I asked with a growing sense of unease.
“Same guys as last time,” he said. “They were out of uniform again. The younger one blended in. Older guy hung back a while but then stepped in to arrest my supplier.”
“Officer Stafford removed himself from your case,” I said, more to myself than Bryant.
“Well, he sure as shit was there today,” Bryant said.
“Right,” I said, sitting up straighter. “I should tell you he removed himself because we started dating.” Dating didn’t sound right. In very little time, our relationship had grown into so much more.
“You’re dating a cop?” he asked. “Is that allowed?”
“If you’d prefer, I can call my colleague Preston to step in, but I’m hoping Officer Stafford will just remove himself from this case too.”
“I mean, it might be an advantage if you’re nailing the guy, right?”
“We’re both professionals,” I said, letting my anger bleed into my voice. “I suggest you keep thoughts like that to yourself from now on.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I’m sorry. I’m just so nervous.”
I’d heard that before. I believed it last time. I wouldn’t anymore.
“Look, I won’t sugarcoat this, Bryant. You’re in serious trouble.
I need to know as much as possible about your supplier.
If they’ve taken him into custody, chances are they’re more interested in convicting him than you.
We might be able to arrange a plea deal for a reduced sentence for your testimony. ”
“Reduced? Aren’t you supposed to keep me from getting any kind of sentence?”
It took everything in me not to snap at him. “That’s off the table now,” I said, my voice carefully controlled. “You’re ineligible for the first-time offender program since you’ve committed a second offense while awaiting trial.”
“You think I’ll go to jail?” he asked. The panic in his voice felt real, and there was little I could do to ease it.
“It’s highly likely. I’ll do whatever I can to negotiate for a reduced sentence and house arrest.”
He paled and sweat broke out on his forehead. “I’m going to be sick,” he said before leaning over and losing the contents of his stomach.
“I’ll get something to help you clean that,” I said. Because cleaning up my client’s puke was not in my job description.
I lifted the phone by the doorway and dialed Joyce. She answered on the first ring.
“You need help, honey?” she asked over the clicking of keys.
“Hi, Ms. Joyce. My client just got ill.”
She let out a long sigh. “I’ll send someone in.”
“I’m sorry,” Bryant said, gripping his hair. He banged his fist on the table as tears ran down his face.
Tristan opened the door, took one look, and rolled his eyes. “Evie, you mind going to Chief’s office while we get this cleaned up?”
He didn’t have to ask me twice. A couple officers waved to me as I made my way through the bullpen. The dread I felt earlier came roaring back when I noticed Levi’s desk was empty and Chief Fitzwilliam’s door was closed.
I knocked, hoping I was just interrupting a call with the chief’s wife and not a private meeting with my boyfriend. Instead of shouting for me to come in, Levi opened the door.
The look on his face put my stomach in knots. A flicker of pain blazed in his eyes before he schooled his features into a blank mask.
“Come in, Evie,” Chief said gently. “I was, uh, just going to grab a coffee.”
With that he bolted from his own office like his ass was on fire. Levi closed the door behind him.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Let’s sit,” he said, gesturing to the seats in front of Chief Fitzwilliam’s desk.
When Levi sat beside me, the chairs were so close I could smell his familiar sandalwood shampoo and a touch of the earthy grains in Sherly’s food.
“I need to talk with you about Bryant Wythers,” he said, turning his knees toward me, which only brought his body closer to mine.
“You can’t,” I said as dread pooled in my stomach. “You removed yourself from any cases involving him.”
“I did,” he said carefully. “But given my experience, I’m still the lead on the campus investigation.”
“You are?”
Levi had been careful not to discuss any ongoing cases. We both had.
He nodded, his eyes looking pained. “Bryant Wythers became a key figure in the overall investigation today.”
“Did he?” I asked. Still waiting for him to say what I feared he wanted.
“It’s created a difficult situation.”
“Perhaps for you,” I said, pressing my palms on my legs.
Despite how calm I sounded or even looked, what I had to say terrified me, and the heat leeched from my fingertips at an alarming speed.
“I told Mr. Wythers about our relationship and gave him the option to work with Preston. He declined. As far as I’m concerned, we can proceed with the interview today, and it’s up to Chief Fitzwilliam to decide if you’re included. ”
Levi tensed. “We could dam the flow of drugs into town. I’m an expert in this type of investigation, and I’ve been leading it from the start.”
My spine stiffened. “So, you want me to abandon my client to remove any potential conflict of interest for you?”
“No,” Levi said, his voice monotone, his mask firmly in place.
“Not for me. For all the students who will OD if we don’t shut down the distribution channel.
For all the assaults or worse that are bound to happen the more drugs trickle into town.
Because it will happen. I’ve lived it. You know I have.
Do you want that on your conscience, Everly?
Maybe you help one kid spend a few less years in prison but at what cost? ”
It felt as if he’d slapped me. “This is exactly the scenario the partners worried about. If I drop Bryant now, I’m completely out of the running for partner. So, what will it be, Levi, your career or mine? How badly do you want to make detective?”
Levi reached for my hands. I pulled them closer to my body. My chest tightened at the hurt in his eyes.
“It’s not about the detective spot,” he said gently. “Not today, at least. We’ve been working this case for months, and we may finally have a break.”
“So let Chief Fitzwilliam take over,” I said.
“I’m already too involved,” he said, his eyes pleading. “If I’m removed, it could jeopardize the entire case, and if I stay, our relationship complicates things. We could follow this lead up the chain to something massive. Please, Everly. Let Preston help Bryant.”
“Bryant is already my client, which means you agreed to step back. You gave me your word, Levi.”
“I know,” he said, “but I’m asking you to make an exception this time.”
I stared at him. The man had a crisis of conscience because he didn’t make me an omelet when he said he was going to, and now he wanted to go back on the agreement that we’d based our entire relationship on? “And what about next time? I don’t see how we can make this work.”
As I spoke the words, I knew they were true. It didn’t matter how much we planned or the rules we made for our professional overlap. The fact remained he’d always see his work as benefiting the greater good, while mine helped one individual at a time. Individuals who weren’t always innocent.
“We can,” he said.
“How?”
“We just have to compromise,” he said.
“You mean I have to compromise,” I said, sitting up straighter.
“Everly,” he said with so much emotion my eyes stung. “I don’t want to lose you. I know it’s fast, but I’ve fallen in love with you.”
If he had said the words another time, I’d have believed him without question.
Hearing them immediately after he asked me to sabotage my career for his left a splinter of doubt.
The kind that burrowed deep and infected all the surrounding skin.
Could he really be in love with me so soon, or was he trying to manipulate me into doing what he wanted?
“Convenient of you to tell me now,” I said, my voice sharp.
The shock on his face lasted only a moment before he blanked his expression. “Perhaps you’re right,” he said. “Our relationship isn’t sustainable. I’ll let Chief Fitzwilliam know we no longer have a conflict.”
I felt a moment of panic before reminding myself that I’d suggested we break up.
I couldn’t be with a man who didn’t support my career.
I loved my job, and I believed in the second chances I helped create.
I’d ended relationships for less. Without another word or glance in my direction, Levi stood and left, closing the door behind him.