Chapter 35
Vee
I followed Fin’s line of sight. My jaw clenched at the sight of Trooper Daniels and Detective Oldson standing near the wall, looking over the crowd. “The fuck?” I asked softly. “Are they security?”
No. Uncle Darin said the Coopers provided security.
“Who?” Leigh asked.
“Those two men.” I jutted my chin in their direction. Whatever they wanted wasn’t happening at my father’s wake. “I know one thing. They were not invited.” I stood. “I’m going to tell them to leave. If they don’t, I’ll have the Coopers’ security show them the way.”
Fin stood with me and walked by my side. “Gentlemen,” Fin said, his timbre growling an octave lower than usual. “This is an invitation-only celebration of life.”
“Mr. Graham. Ms. Hubbard,” Detective Oldson said with a nod. “We’re deeply sorry to interrupt. There’s been a development in your father’s case.”
“What case? It was an accident.” I inhaled. “Whatever it is, I’m sure it can wait until tomorrow.”
“Ma’am,” Trooper Daniels said, “is there a Ms. Bre Stanton here?”
I did a double take. “My father’s assistant. Yes, she’s here” —I looked around— "somewhere.”
“Could you point her out?” the detective asked.
“Why?” Fin asked.
“Mr. Graham, this is official business.”
“Again,” I said, “this could and should wait for tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am. It could have waited until it came to our attention that Ms. Stanton booked a one-way flight to California, leaving tonight at 9:08 p.m. It’s imperative we see her before she leaves town.”
A flight?
Bre hadn’t said anything about leaving.
“Ms. Hubbard,” the detective said, “this is very important.”
I turned toward the room and scanned from table to table. “There she is,” I said, nodding my chin forward. “The woman with short brown hair at table seven. She’s wearing the black dress with cap sleeves.”
“Thank you,” Trooper Daniels said before turning and walking toward her.
We watched stunned as the trooper approached Bre and spoke to her. She paled as her expression morphed from grief to shock.
I turned to Fin. “I don’t want a scene.” Inhaling, I walked to the table. “Bre, please go with these gentlemen. They just want to speak to you.” I slowed my timbre. “We don’t want a scene.”
She was now standing, looking at me with tears in her eyes. “Tell them I wouldn’t hurt Reid.”
What?
“Ms. Stanton” —the trooper had taken ahold of her arm— “please come with us.”
“Not here.” I growled. “Everyone come with me,” I turned, leading this spectacle away from the spotlight. Bre, Detective Oldson, Trooper Daniels, and Fin followed me to the other side of the curtain. A 5-man rush, hoping to stop whatever play was going down.
Spinning, I faced them all. “Tell me what this is about?”
Detective Oldson stepped forward. “Ms. Hubbard, this is an active investigation.”
“Dad’s death was an accident.”
“No longer. His case is officially a homicide.”
I reached for Fin’s arm. “You think someone killed my father?”
“We can’t discuss particulars with you. I can only tell you we have enough evidence to arrest Ms. Stanton.”
“What? No,” Bre cried. “I’d never hurt Reid.”
Trooper Daniels began reading Bre her Miranda rights, “Bre Stanton, you have the right to remain silent…”
Daphne, Grant, and Leigh came around the curtain. Grant was the one to speak. “What the hell is happening?”
“Don’t let them take me to jail,” Bre pleaded. She reached for my arm, her lips near my ear. “Vee, help me.”
I turned to Leigh. “You’re a public defender; can you represent Bre?”
She nodded. “I can, but what about Cammy? Bre is a Coopers employee.”
“Please,” I said to my cousin. “Go get Cammy.”
Leigh nodded and hurried away.
Grant reached for my arm. “What the hell—?”
Fin gripped Grant’s wrist.
Shocked, Grant released me and turned to Fin. “Don’t fucking touch me.”
Fin let go of Grant’s wrist, clenching his square jaw. “Vee doesn’t know any more than you do. Let the detective tell us what he can.”
“What’s happening?” Cammy said as she and Leigh breathlessly came around the curtain. Sizing up the situation, Cammy stepped forward. “Ms. Stanton is an employee of the Coopers. I’m the president of Coopers’ legal. What crime is she being accused of committing?”
“Ms. Stanton,” the trooper said, “you are under arrest for the murder of Reid Hubbard.”
There was an audible gasp amongst those of us watching.
Bre looked at me with wide eyes. “Please, Vee. I would never hurt Reid.”
“I-I don’t know…” I looked helplessly around at my family. Everyone was stunned to silence. I looked from Daphne to Bre. The rest of my family didn’t know what I knew—they didn’t know about the affair. My thoughts were filled with questions and uncertainty. I turned to look into Bre’s eyes.
She lowered her voice, “I can’t go to jail, Vee. I’m pregnant.”
Thank you for reading RUSHED .