“Keep him here.” Pearson looks pointedly at Noah.
As the door closes, I charge forward. I need to see this son of a bitch. Noah slams me into the wood from behind. “Let me go!” I try pushing him off, but he’s not as irrational as I’m being, so he has the leverage.
“No!” he barks. “Thea needs you here, not in lockup for shooting this motherfucker. Get your shit together, Daniels, and think of her.” My chest heaves with exertion as he backs off, and I know he’s right. It doesn’t make it any easier, though.
“I fucking hate this.” Slamming my fist into the door, I ignore the pain as I walk out and into the interview room.
Barging in, Thea’s tears don’t help my rage. “Daniels!” Dawes yells. “What the hell?”
“Cynthia, a word?” My jaw is clenched so tight, I’m surprised I don’t crack my molars.
She glares at me but comes over. “Her mother and Dane
are here,” I inform her.
“What!” I’m shocked at the heat behind the single word. “Detectives, with me, please. Noah!” she calls, looking at the glass. When he comes out, she requests, “Stay with Lauren and Thea, please. Kol, can you leash yourself?” I shrug. “Good enough for me.”
I allow her to take the lead as I explain what’s going on to Lance and Tom. They’re good cops, some of the best in their division, so I trust them not to let this go.
“If you don’t allow me to see my daughter right now, I’ll bring this whole precinct down!” Richard Dane bellows. He’s not what I was expecting.
Pot belly, barely five foot nine, balding grey hair. Wrinkles line every inch of his face. I can see why he was intimidating to Thea, though. Why she was so scared of him.
“Mr. Dane!” Cynthia shouts over his demands.
“Who the hell are you?” My gaze strays to the woman standing beside him. She’s strung out on something as she sways back and forth.
Waving a uniform officer over, I command, “Take Mrs. Dane to an interview room. Do not leave her side until the captain and Mrs. Knight come to speak to her.”
“Yes, sir.”
Richard is so angered he doesn’t even see her leave.
“My name is Cynthia Knight, Mr. Dane—”
“Judge Dane,” he interrupts.
“Not here you’re not.” I like this woman’s attitude. “If you would quit the theatrics, perhaps we can have a word. If not, these two detectives will be happy to show you to a cell.” Hand on her cocked hip, Cynthia taps her shoe, making like she’s impatient and busy when I can tell she’s seething with rage.
“Who the hell do you think you are? I want my daughter. She has some things she needs to answer for!”
“As do you, Mr. Dane.” Pearson stands behind him with two officers.
“Like what?”
“The rape and assault of a minor.” I finally speak, barely able to control my anger any longer.
“Is she spouting that shit again? I never touched her.” He laughs, but in his eyes, I can see he knows he’s caught. He not only touched her, but he stole her childhood from her.
“That’s for a court to decide here, Mr. Dane. For now, though…” Cynthia waves Tom and Lance forward, making good on her threat, no longer caring if the man wants to cooperate.
Pulling the cuffs from his pocket, Tom moves forward as Lance states, “Richard Dane, you are under arrest for the rape and assault of Thea Andrews in Joplin, Missouri.” Richard blusters his way through the reading of his Miranda Rights and tries to push everyone off of him. In the end, he’s a sad old man who deserves everything he’s about to get.
“Detective Daniels, I think it’s time we rejoin Miss Matthews, don’t you?” Cynthia pushes me toward the interview rooms where Thea is waiting, likely more terrified and confused than when we came in this morning.
“Thea.” I call her name before I’ve gotten the door open, and she’s in my arms within seconds. “I got you, blue eyes,” I mumble into her hair. She’s shaking like a leaf, and her tears are already soaking through my shirt.
“He’s here, isn’t he?” she whimpers into my chest.