Chapter Sixteen
He snatched the phone up when it rang. “Hammond,” he said.
“Mr. Hammond, there are two police officers here to talk to you.”
He had very little staff, but Charles was the one who took care of the house. His only other one was a guy who took care of the lawn. He was glad he had Charles. He made Cesar’s life so much easier because he never had to worry about the place, and he planned to get more staff as soon as possible
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. While he knew this would happen, he’d hoped they’d wait until she was stronger. Having been a cop before, he knew the drill. “Send them in, please.”
After checking on her, he met the men in the hallway outside his office door and held out his hand. “Hey, guys.”
“We’re sorry to disturb you,” one cop said as he shook his hand. “We have some questions for Miss Warner, if you don’t mind.”
“Let me go and check on her. She was sleeping when I left her.”
He walked back into the office to see Amber wide awake. “Hey, pequeña. How are you doing?”
She struggled to sit up, but he was there instantly to help to make her comfortable.
“I’m better.”
“I’m glad. There are some police officers here to ask a few questions.” The fear in her eyes didn’t sit well with him. He cupped her cheek. “Hey, nothing’s going to happen.”
“You’ll be here?”
“Of course. The whole time.”
She nodded. “All right.”
“I’ll be right back.”
He waved the men into the office, sat on the sofa, and lifted her into his arms. He loved how she immediately relaxed against him.
“Hello, Miss Warner. My name is Officer Sanders, and this other guy is Officer Knight.”
She looked from one to the other and then down at her lap. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Grab the chairs and have a seat, guys,” Cesar said.
The other men turned the chairs toward them and sat. Cesar knew Sanders would be the one who questioned her because he seemed the less threatening of the two. In comparison, he had blond hair and blue eyes and smiled a lot, whereas Knight had a dark persona and was very quiet and watchful.
“Okay, Miss Warner.”
“Please call me Amber.”
Sanders smiled. “All right, Amber. Thank you. Can you tell us what happened the day you were injured?”
Cesar felt her stiffen and then flinch when it hurt her ribs, and he started rubbing her back. “Easy. Everything’s okay.”
She didn’t relax, but she did nod. “I fell.”
Cesar waited for more.
Sanders glanced at him and then asked. “Where did you fall, miss?”
“Down the stairs,” Amber said and kept looking at her hands in her lap.
“How?” Cesar asked.