Chapter 43 DANGEROUSLY CLOSE
Chapter forty-three
DANGEROUSLY CLOSE
Optimistic Drew is left behind in the lobby as Frantic Drew enters the chat.
We follow Detective Harvey to a room for questioning, and I run my mind through boot camp-like drills to remember everything Jalen told me.
When Detective Harvey begins the interview, I dutifully pause to defer to Jalen for every question, even for the simple things like what my occupation is and some basic details about my home life.
But an hour in, I find myself relaxing a fraction.
Jalen’s demeanor has been calm and collected since the second we walked into the interview room.
He really is good at this and presents himself like he truly wants us to help Detective Harvey solve the case, even though I know his only interest is to protect me.
Detective Harvey and I settle into a rhythm by the time my retelling concludes, and I half expect him to stand and shake my hand to tell me that I am free to go, but apparently, he was just getting started.
He gets up to fill a Styrofoam cup with hot water and rips open a tea bag to steep inside of it.
“I learned my lesson last time, Drew,” he says, referring to how he almost spat out the coffee he made during our first round of questioning.
Jalen shifts in his seat at the smile of familiarity that Detective Harvey throws in my direction after his statement, and I put my guard all the way back up, then straighten my back to signal to Jalen not to worry.
“So, listen, Drew. I’m going to let you in on some secret information about the case, but you have to promise to keep it between us,” Detective Harvey says, dunking the tea bag in and out of the hot water.
Jalen’s eyes slide to mine, and then back to the detective before he has a chance to notice.
“We got the security footage back, and we can’t tell for certain who did this to Delaney, but we were able to determine that whoever did it is clearly a woman. ”
He pauses to allow me time to process this information, not knowing that I was already privy to it. I do my best acting and widen my eyes to look shocked but leave it at that so I don’t risk overplaying it.
“Which means that it was one of the women at the retreat who did this, yet none of you saw anything out of the ordinary. I find that hard to believe.”
Even though I don’t like the veiled accusation, I do feel an overwhelming sense of relief at his statement.
If no one else saw anything, either, that means there probably isn’t any concrete evidence against me.
I still have a chance to let Monika work her magic to find something in Judith’s background that can tie her to the murder.
It’s always the deep dive that cracks these kinds of cases.
I turn to Jalen with a shrug but stiffen when he uncrosses his legs and leans forward to speak.
“Now, Detective Harvey. You and I both know that borders on the line between Miss Bailey answering routine questions and an official interrogation. My client is more than willing to answer any questions you may have, but if they continue to move in that direction, then I am going to request that you read her her Miranda rights first.”
Detective Harvey’s eyebrows shoot up into his hairline. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. That is not what I was implying at all, Jalen. I just wanted to make sure that she understood that every detail is important, and that there has to be something that points to who may have done this.”
I look back and forth between them but have the good sense to keep my mouth shut, even though I technically agree with what Detective Harvey is saying more than I agree with Jalen.
He addresses the detective again, coolly. “Miss Bailey knows that and is just as committed as we all are to finding the guilty party. But that doesn’t change the fact that she has rights, and that includes being Mirandized if this is going to shift into an interrogation.”
Before Detective Harvey can defend himself again, there is a knock at the door. Officer Pettit peeks her head inside. “Hey, sorry to interrupt. I am taking a group down to be fingerprinted. Is Miss Bailey coming?”
“I’d be happy to,” I offer, relieved to have an opportunity to clear myself before this goes any further.
“Fantastic. It will only take a second,” Detective Harvey says, but when I remember that I need to look to Jalen for approval on everything first, I notice too late that he is fuming beneath his cool exterior.
“Actually, Miss Bailey will not be giving her fingerprints today. And if there are no other questions, then we really need to get going for another appointment.”
Detective Harvey stiffens. I know from watching enough cop shows with Monika that he either has to agree to let us go or be forced to read me my Miranda rights so that he can detain me. While it’s not the same as placing me under arrest, we are getting dangerously close.
Officer Pettit watches from the doorway as Jalen and Detective Harvey engage in a silent stare-down that is so tense the only sound in the room is the clock hand ticking on the wall.
“Of course, you are free to go,” Detective Harvey finally concedes, snapping back into his friendly demeanor so fast that it makes my stomach twist. “I guess we will just have to hope that one of the other women provides us with new information to help us find out who did it.”
Jalen stands, buttons his suit jacket, and gestures for me to walk out ahead of him. We exit silently through the lobby to the front doors.
“Hold it until we get to the car, Drew,” Jalen whispers harshly. “Remember, there are cameras everywhere.”
I manage to hold in my panicked sob until we make it to the parking lot. Val has her back to us, talking to someone through the passenger-side window of a familiar-looking black sports car.
Cameron spots us through the windshield and jumps out the second he sees me. “What happened? Are you all right?”
“Jesus, Cameron. Get back in the car, she’s fine. You should have waited for us at the hotel like we agreed.”
Cameron ignores his brother and jogs to me, worry etching every inch of his face. I push my hands against his chest to put some distance between us to follow Jalen’s instructions. “I’m fine. I’ll see you back there.”
“Ride with me,” he begs, but reluctantly takes a few steps back, his concerned brown eyes darting to where cameras might be watching.
I open my mouth to argue, but Jalen cuts in. “Go ahead and ride back with him. I’m sure they are watching us as we speak. The damage has already been done.”
My legs grow weak beneath me as things continue to go from bad to worse. Val steps forward to help Cameron steady me, and they both murmur soothing words as they help me into the passenger side of the R8.
“Should I just follow you?” Val asks.
“Go get Ollie first. I’m worried about him driving based on what you’ve told me. I’ll text him the address.”
“Sounds good,” she says and gives me a sad smile before leaving. Cameron jogs around the front to slide into the driver’s side and starts the engine.
“Val and Ollie are coming to our hotel?” I ask, confused.
Cameron presses his lips together. “Ollie isn’t doing well. I know Jalen won’t be happy about it, but you don’t need to worry about that. I’ll deal with him.”
He reaches his hand over to hold mine across the seat and creeps out of the parking lot then speeds up to well over the limit as soon as the station is out of sight.