Sacked (The Coopers #3)

Prologue

Vee

The ending of RUSHED

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.”