“All the more reason to allow my clients a moment together. Right now, she’s not being charged. She came willingly, and she can walk out of this police station right now if she wants to.”
“No, she can’t,” the detective said. “We have every right to hold her for questioning.”
“Then question her. You’re not. You’re standing out here, reviewing your notes.”
“I’d like to know the ins and outs of this case before I question her.”
Mitchell stood his ground. “Then familiarize yourself while you allow my clients five minutes to speak.”
The detective frowned down at his notes.
“Or we can sue this department. You’ve made it more than obvious that you’ve got a problem with my client.”
“Five minutes,” his partner said. “Five. Make it quick.”
“Thanks.” Mitchell nodded as he wrapped a hand around Grant’s shoulder and guided him toward the interrogation room where Julia waited. “Don’t say anything incriminating. They could be watching.”
Grant nodded as his stomach twisted into a knot.
Mitchell pushed the door open and motioned for Grant to head inside. “Five minutes, then they’ll be in to question her again.”
The door closed behind him. His heart clenched as he spotted Julia sitting at the metal table. Her features pinched as she leapt from her seat and threw her arms around his neck. He pulled her into a tight embrace, wanting to whisk her away from this.
He leaned away from her. “Julia, what are you doing?”
She stared up at him, her eyebrows knitting as something unreadable clouded her eyes. “I’m sorry. But they shouldn’t have brought you down here. You didn’t do it.”
“Neither did you,” he insisted as he rubbed her cheek with his thumb.
She refused to meet his gaze.
His brow furrowed as he stared down at her. “Julia, why are you doing this?”
“I told you…I know you didn’t do it because I saw Lydia after you did.”
“How do you know that?” Grant asked. “What is going on?”
She pressed her lips together. “I have to do this.”
He clenched his jaw, frustration coursing through him at her refusal to answer his questions. “Why?”
She finally raised her gaze to him. “Go home. Talk to Alex. You’ll understand.”
“No!” he said, his voice raising. “Julia, I’m not leaving until you’re with me.”
“Grant…” she said, her tone sounding like a warning.
“Julia,” he answered, matching her tone, “that is not an option. You either tell me what’s going on, or I will wait here until I can take you home and ask you there.”
She slid her eyes closed as she licked her lips.
“Julia?”
She lowered her voice, leaning closer to him. “Alex pulled security footage. It shows multiple people going to Lydia’s earlier tonight. Kyle–”
Grant’s nostrils flared with annoyance. “What? Please tell me you are not here protecting Kyle?”
She shook her head. “Kyle was there before you. I was there after, then a few other people followed. The last person there…Grant, I have to protect them.”
