“Sir,” she said with a slight incline of her head. Though she had never talked to him face to face, she recognized him from his photos. Aarons was a large man, though he had a slight paunch, probably from sitting behind a desk for years. His head was completely bald and his eyes small and beady.
“And of course, you’ve already met Mr. Anderson.”
Though she turned to him, she focused on a spot just above his shoulder. “Mr. Anderson.”
“Detective.”
Her head snapped back to the captain and her stance became rigid. “What can I do for you, sir?”
“Actually—”
“The commissioner himself sent me here,” Aarons interrupted. “He asked that I meet with you, your captain, and Mr. Anderson,” he said, his tone impatient. “So, it seems Mr. Anderson is a person of interest in your case.”
“Yes. Sir,” she added quickly.
“And could you explain how he’s connected to a murder of this ex-con?”
“I followed proper procedure, sir,” she said.
“I didn’t ask if you followed it or not.” Aarons voice was tight.
“It’s an active case.” Her gaze flickered to Lucas. “I can’t just discuss the details.”
“And I’m the deputy police commissioner of New York.”
Bushnell cleared his throat. “Just explain to the commissioner, Detective Selinofoto.”
“As I said, I followed procedure.” She refused to look at Lucas, even though she could feel his gaze on her. “I investigated all the leads. Mr. Anderson just happened to be one of them, and I went to interview him to eliminate him from the suspects list.”
“And did you?” Aarons shot back. She hesitated, and he continued. “Mr. Anderson asked to come here to offer his cooperation on all matters in this case, by the way.”
“He has?” She couldn’t stop herself nor hide the surprise in her voice, and she cursed at herself silently.
“Yes, it seems he also forgot to mention one important detail when you went to interview him—which he reminded me, he did voluntarily at your request.” His beady eyes quickly glanced at Lucas. “He assures me and Commissioner Foster he wasn’t being untruthful, just forgetful.”
“You have to understand,” Lucas began. “I’m in and out of the city and the country all the time. When you asked about that night and I said I was alone, I must have mistaken it for another night.”
Her chest tightened and she knew things were about to go bad for her. But she pressed on. “So, you weren’t alone that night, like you told me?” She had no choice but to look at him now, because she needed to see his face. It was the only way she would be able to tell if he was lying.
“I was.” He met her gaze full-on. “But I have bodyguards on me twenty-four hours ever since we had a security issue during a family event a couple weeks ago. I have at least one bodyguard in the house with me at night. I’m sure I can ask our head of security for the name of the guard and he would be happy to speak with you.”
She swallowed hard, and her entire face felt like a three-alarm fire. It was hard to breathe, but she managed a small gulp. “I see.” Her case against him was crumbling before her very eyes—correction, it had crumbled—and nothing was left but ash.
“What have you got to say for yourself, Detective?” Aarons’s voice was trembling with a quiet rage.
“I was only doing my job, sir.”
“If you had done your job, we wouldn’t be here,” he spat.
The full impact of his words hit her like a jackhammer, and she visibly flinched. Curling her fingernails into her palm, she focused on the pain, because there was no way she would let them see her cry.
“Selinofoto is a good detective, sir,” Bushnell said, but Aarons only huffed. “And she followed protocol every step of the way.”
“I’m sure she did,” Aarons sneered. “I’ve also heard other things about her—”
“You are dismissed, Detective.” Bushnell’s voice thundered with force, but she knew it wasn’t directed toward her. Relief poured through her, and she nodded, then pivoted and went out the door.
The numbness began to spread, but she still felt eyes on her as she left the captain’s office. Everyone knew something was going on, of course. This fucking precinct! Didn’t they have anything to do other than stick their Goddamn noses in everyone else’s business?
She made a beeline for the women’s bathroom, the one place that would be empty this time of day. It was, thankfully, and she threw the door open and headed to the nearest sink. Her eyes were shiny with tears, but none had fallen. Brushing them aside with her knuckles, she took a deep breath.
Before she could even begin trying to make sense of the situation, the door flew open, making her startle. “You!”
He was the last person she wanted to see right this moment, but of course, Mr. High and Mighty Lucas Anderson shows up at the worst possible moment.
“Are—”
“You’re not supposed to be in here.” Did he come here to gloat? Well, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of watching her cry.
“Sofia.” He took a tentative step forward. “I didn’t—”
“Get out.”
“Please—”
Rage boiled in her veins. “I said get out.”
“Let me explain—”
“Explain?” Her head jerked towards him. “Explain what? That you’ve been toying with me all this time, you vindictive bastard?”
“I haven’t—”
“You could have told me about your bodyguard—don’t even try to give me that crap about you forgetting—but instead, you withheld that information for the sole purpose of exerting your power and influence and then humiliating me in front of my superiors!”
The guilt on his face and his silence confirmed her suspicions. But before she could continue her tirade, the door flew open, crashing against the wall.
“Sir, you’re not supposed to be here,” warned the stern voice. “This is strictly for female officers and detectives.”
Winters!
Lucas took a step back. “Pardon me, I got lost.”
Winters raised a brow, obviously smelling his bullshit. “I’m going
