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“Absolutely not!” the other detective snaps. “Enough police time has been wasted! Besides, it’s an open and shut case, so let’s just get on with it!” His eagerness to continue rings alarm bells, and I commit his face to memory and add it to my shit list.
“If it’s so simple, then you won’t have a problem waiting another ten minutes,” I reply dryly.
“You can have five. I need a fresh coffee anyway. Payne, let’s go.”
Payne reluctantly leaves with the other detective, and the second the door clicks shut Malia spins to face me. She opens her mouth to speak – probably to ask a thousand questions – and I have to act fast.
Lowering my mental barriers, IwillMalia to be able to hear my thoughts.
“Malia. Don’t react. I know you can hear me. We may be alone but they’re always watching. I am your lawyer and nothing more.”
She blinks to show she understands me.
“Did he hurt you?” I ask aloud, voice tight with barely concealed rage.
“No. He just squeezed my shoulder. His nails were really sharp though.”
Of course they were. My people are built like predators.
“Show me,” I demand through gritted teeth and she lowers the shoulder of her top to bare her skin to me. Five deep crescent moons mar her perfect flesh and I see red.
“Fuck.” Those indents are really deep. It should have drawn blood.
“I’m thick skinned. It’s fine,” she replies with a dismissive shrug. I know she thinks she’s helping by playing her pain down, but the reason why she’s ‘thick skinned’ makes me feel even closer to losing it. She’s ‘fine’ because she’s experienced much, much worse. And I want to kill every person who’s ever hurt her.
“It isnotfine,” I tell her firmly. She winces at my tone, but can’t she see I’m not angryather butforher?
“Did you… Do you know him? From…court?” she asks carefully.
“Our paths have crossed. But you don’t need to worry about him becauseI’mrepresenting you, and I’ll be getting you out of here shortly.” And I’m going to kill him, the first chance I get.
“Okay. Thank you,” she whispers. Fuck. The urge to touch her is so strong. If I could, I’d sweep her into my arms, kiss those hurts on her shoulder and tell her that she never, ever has to thank me for anything.
“Now, have you said anything?” I ask.
“No.” She shakes her head. “Bhodi told me not to.”
Good man, Bhodi. Quick thinking on his part. I probably need to be giving him more credit than I currently do. He’s smarter than he looks, and I doubt many could have reacted so quickly and with such a clear head under those circumstances.
I’m convinced now that the call I got this morning which pulled me away from campus and teaching Malia’s class was no coincidence. Someone wanted me out of the way so that they could get to Malia without intervention.
“Good. Well done. Let’s keep it that way as much as possible. I can answer on your behalf if you’re happy for me to?”
“Yes, please.”
I’m relieved that she agrees. She seems to understand the gravity of the situation, even if she doesn’t entirely understand what’s going on here. What’s at stake.
“Okay. Take a seat. Are you alright? Are you really?”
I can see the fear on her face as plain as prose in a book and I wish, yet again, that I could hold her. Soothe her somehow.
“Don’t be scared. We will not let anything happen to you. I promise.”
“Okay.”
As if on cue, the door opens and the detectives return. They take their seats and then the onslaught begins. Questions are fired non stop at Malia and she lets me rebuff every single one. It feels like it goes on for hours, but in reality, very little time passes. I do note the behaviour of the two detectives though. The man, Payne, becomes increasingly agitated and aggressive, while the woman remains calm and in control. Calculating.
Eventually, she orders him to take five to cool off and they pause the recording. Just as they’re leaving, Malia speaks up, surprising me.
