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“What the hell did you do that for?” Sienna glared at me as she sat beside Lulu, wrapping her arm around her friend. “I asked you to come over, not to take charge and do something foolish.”
“Look at her, Sienna.” I gestured to Lulu. “She’s scared and hurt. She needs to press charges, and if it’s a matter of needing cash to get back on her feet, I’ll cover it.”
Sienna shook her head, the disappointment and irritation written all over her face hitting me like a punch. “You don’t understand. You didn’t bother to find out what she wanted. You just did what you thought was best.”
I felt confused, and a bit irritated. “No, I did what anyone would do if they heard someone had been beaten up. I called the police so they can take a statement and nail the bastard responsible.”
Sienna let out a laugh that was so bitter it was practically a snarl. “That’s not how it works.”
“I know I’m new to the city,” I replied. “And I’m sure there are corrupt cops here like everywhere else, but I think the odds are in our favor. The ones who came when my office was vandalized were extremely professional.”
Sienna and Lulu exchanged glances I couldn’t quite decipher, and when Sienna turned back to me, there was a look that resembled pity in her eyes.
“Trust me, Fury, it’s not the same.”
I was on the verge of asking if there was an issue with this precinct, because I’d have no qualms about trying to pull strings to ensure we got the best they had. But just then, someone knocked on the door.
“I’ll get it,” I said, moving toward the door before she could protest. It was her apartment, but if the cops were here, I was the one who’d called them, and if it was the guy who’d hurt Lulu, I’d plant myself between him and her.
A quick glance through the peephole revealed two officers: a woman in her mid-forties and a man in his mid-thirties. I let them in and introduced myself.
“I’m Officer Perrault,” the woman said as she shook my hand. “This is my partner, Officer Putnam.”
“You told the operator you were reporting an assault, is that correct?” Officer Putnam got straight to the point.
“That’s right,” I said. “Not mine, obviously, but the assault of a friend of a friend.”
Officer Perrault’s gaze flicked to Lulu and Sienna. “So you don’t know anything about what happened?”
I shook my head. “Sienna called me, and on my way here, I called you guys. Hands-free, of course.”
“I’m guessing you are Sienna,” Officer Putnam said, taking a few steps toward the women.
“I am,” she replied, remaining firmly seated next to Lulu. “Sienna Marquez.”
“And how do you know this gentleman?” Perrault inquired, positioning herself next to her partner.
“From work,” I said. “And a mutual friend.”
“Are you the mutual friend?” Putnam asked, pointing his pen at Lulu.
She shook her head, her eyes cast down. “I never met him before.”
“It’s not really important who I am,” I interjected. “I don’t have any information about the assault. I’m just here as moral support.”
The look exchanged between the two cops suggested they found something about my statement amusing.
“What’s your name?” Perrault asked Lulu.
“Lulu Parr.” Her voice trembled as she reached for Sienna’s hand.
“Are the two of you … together?” Putnam gestured toward their clasped hands.
“We’re friends,” Sienna said with a scowl. “Not that it matters.”
“So you’re not a client?” Putnam asked, his tone dripping with disdain. “Yeah, I’ve seen you before, Lulu.”
Even though Perrault didn’t seem to grasp what her partner was implying, she didn’t ask for clarification. Instead, she turned to Lulu and said, “Tell us what happened.”
