Nathan
You’re under arrest for the attempted murder of Derek Hensley.
The words echoed in my head, my brain not really processing the fucking insanity leaving the officer’s lips. What the fuck was he talking about?
“I haven’t done shit,” I finally hissed when they reached out to touch me. One of them had already stormed past Evie and me with a hand on his weapon.
Evie clung to me. “You can’t take him. He’s done nothing,” she said, her voice breaking.
“Sir, it is in your best interest to cooperate—”
It was the man that had spoken to Evelyn at the gallery. He probably recognized her as his gaze softened when he saw her desperate state.
“Fuck you,” I spat, not giving a damn.
I knew it was a terrible idea. I knew that the last thing I should have done was defy an officer, but I couldn’t think, not when they were accusing me of something I hadn’t done, not when Evelyn held on to my arm as if she’d never see me again.
“Nate, you can’t go,” I heard her say shakily. I turned to face her, all previous happiness gone. “Nate, tell them you didn’t do anything, please.”
I heard one of them, I didn’t know who it was, requesting back up, and immediately I grew anxious.
Think about Evelyn.
Think about your baby.
“Evie, call David. He’ll know who to call,” I said, taking hold of her arm. She was already shaking her head, crying. “Baby, please, please.”
The officer that had gone inside walked up behind her, taking hold of her arm as he tried to pull her away.
I raged.
“Don’t you fucking touch her!” I wrapped my arm around her, protecting her.
“Neither of you are cooperating—”
“She’s pregnant,” I stated. “I’ll go, but don’t you ever fucking touch her.”
The man who she’d talked to before stepped in then. “Let her be. You take care of Mr. Maxwell. I’ll conduct the search.”
Evie whimpered, and for the first time in my life, I felt helpless. Scared. There was nothing I could do or say to stop this from happening, and I didn’t want her to get hurt.
The other officer took advantage of my momentary lapse and pushed me against the wall. I grunted but complied as he placed my hands behind my back and cuffed me.
“You have the right to remain silent.” I closed my eyes, wishing that this would be over or a fucking nightmare. “Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…”
The sound of Evie’s sobs drowned out whatever rights the officer said to me; I didn’t give a damn. All I cared about was her calming down. I wanted to hold her, tell her it was going to be okay, but I couldn’t even do that. At least I had the comfort of knowing that the less asshole officer was staying with Evelyn.
She had her arms wrapped around her body, and she trembled.
This was hell, absolute torture.
I didn’t say anything else and made sure her eyes met mine at least one last time. It didn’t last long enough, and soon the officer forced me to leave her.
***
Evelyn
I stared numbly at the door, trying to figure out how the hell everything had changed in a matter of minutes. I tightened the robe around me, feeling how the baby desperately moved, sensing the chaos surrounding us.
“Are there any weapons in the house? Anything illegal you wish to report?”
My lips parted as I eyed the man in front of me; the same man spoke to me at the gallery. He’d been so kind to me; I never thought anything about it. I shook my head slowly, feeling a bit frightened after the way the other officer had pulled me back and away from Nathan.
“Do you need a medic?” the man asked with genuine concern.
“He didn’t do it,” I replied, my voice breaking with the statement. “He—Nathan wouldn’t do that, he’s a good man, he—”
Lightheaded, I gripped the island and held on to it as firmly as I could. I heard him radioing for paramedic, and though I didn’t think I needed one, I didn’t oppose it.
The other officers who arrived conducted the search while Officer Bennett stayed with me as we waited for the paramedics.
“He didn’t do it,” I repeated.
The nausea that until then had been gone reappeared, and though I wanted to fight it, it was pointless.
“I’m going to be sick,” I breathed, rushing to the nearest trash can. At my sudden movement, one of the officers drew his weapon, but I couldn’t stop myself.
Officer Bennett ordered him to stand down, letting him know I was pregnant, and followed me as I emptied my stomach. I clutched on to the trash can for dear life, afraid that if I let go, I would fall. I needed something to stabilize me, anything to ground me. This was something I never thought I would have to prepare for.
Vaguely, I heard other voices, and it wasn’t until I saw a stretcher and medical supplies that I realized that the paramedics were there.
I rinsed my mouth and soon was having my blood pressure checked. I glared at everyone there as I searched for my phone. The place was a mess, but they looked through every crevice. It wasn’t until they pulled out a shirt, to be more specific the shirt Nathan had worn when he got into the bar fight, that everything started to sink in.
“Derek was attacked?”
“We can’t discuss—”
Officer Bennett silenced the others with a glare. “He was attacked a couple of nights ago in an alley, left for dead. He was severely injured. Everything points to Nathan Maxwell doing it. Do you know anything about how he obtained the stains on his shirt?”
I swallowed. “I do, but I’m sure you do too. You already know he got in a bar fight. You’ve more than likely seen the surveillance videos, but I refuse to say anything else without a lawyer.”
“You could be charged—”
“She’s right,” Officer Bennett said. “Are we done here?”
The officers nodded as they took whatever items they thought could be of use, including Nathan’s cell phone.
“Could you drive me to the station?” I asked with my head still spinning and my heart still racing.
They had taken my fiancé, so they could make sure that I got back to him.
***
“Here.” I stared at the water bottle in Officer Bennett’s hand while I waited for the lawyer that David sent. Hesitantly, I took it in my hands and opened it, grateful when the cool liquid contacted my dry throat.
“He’s not saying anything.”
“Good. He knows his rights.”
It was impossible to focus on anything, impossible to think straight. I could do nothing to help until he spoke to the attorney, who thankfully arrived shortly after.
“Look, I understand you’re upset, but we’re just doing our jobs. Everything points to him—”
“Everything what?” I asked, shaking my head. “He came home to me that night. He told me about the bar fight, didn’t try to hide it.”
“Did he act suspicious?”
“He didn’t act suspicious because he didn’t do anything,” I hissed. “He told me his friend, Thomas Lanthorn, had driven him home and—”
The officer raised his hand, quickly jotting down the professor’s name. I swallowed. What was I getting into?
“The reason I write this down,” he began, “is because there is surveillance video of him walking out of the bar after Derek left, on foot. Never is he seen getting inside of a car. Coincidently, he walks in the direction that Derek was found later that night.”
“I think that’s enough, Officer Bennett. You’ve gotten enough out of my client’s distressed and pregnant girlfriend for tonight, don’t you think?”
My head snapped up to the sound of that voice. It was commanding and intimidating, so much that Officer Bennett stood up with hesitation. “Never thought I’d see you around again.” The officer was genuinely surprised.
The man, who I assumed was the attorney, glanced my way and smiled warmly. “I’m going to need a copy of her statement, and I’m going to need it thrown out if you didn’t let her know that you were interviewing her.” He turned his gaze to the officer, and to my surprise, all warmth was gone. “I was taking a break, but I thought, why the hell not? This is an interesting case. Good time for a comeback.”
To my surprise, Officer Bennett snorted and then laughed. The attorney did too, and to add even another surprise, they shook hands and hugged.
“Good to have you back, man.”
What the hell is this insanity?
After a brief conversation, the officer left us both alone. I shifted on my seat, unsure of what to do or say. Finally, the attorney took pity on me and leaned back against the wall, studying me thoroughly before he spoke up.
“Evelyn Carson, correct?”
I nodded.
“Okay, now I’m going to need you to calm down so that you can tell me everything you know about that night. I know you weren’t there and have already heard Nathan’s version, but I will need yours as well as the friends that were with him, especially that Lanthorn guy. Do not talk to officers without me present, understood?”
Again, I nodded.
“Okay, now brace yourself. It’s going to be a long night,” he said, opening his suitcase.
I cleared my throat. “Your name…” He tilted his head to the side, looking confused. “You haven’t given me your name.”
His eyes widened. “Shit,” he muttered. “I’m all out of practice. My name is Damian Novax.”