“He’s watching out for himself even as we speak,” the detective affirmed. “You’re a young woman with a future ahead of her. Don’t you want to protect that?”
She had no future at all after this. Her project would be given to someone else, and they would erase her name entirely. If she was lucky she might be a footnote in a journal somewhere, but no one would hire her.
Jessica Layne would ruin her. Even if she managed to get out of jail time, she would spend everything she’d saved on fighting her former boss in a court of law.
Her dad was going to be so upset. He’d sacrificed to help her get here. He and Lila had worked hard to put her through college and grad school, and it had all been a waste.
“I would like to make a phone call.” She didn’t know who she would call. She should call her dad, but god, how was she going to tell him it had all gone wrong? Maybe she could call Cara. Cara was a reporter. She might know people who could help.
The detective huffed. “I can’t help you if you won’t help yourself.”
There was one thing she could do to shut this down. “I want a lawyer. I have the right to an attorney, and you will provide me with one.”
There was a knock on the door and then it came open and a familiar woman walked in, though she looked way different than she had the last time she’d seen her. Mistress Lea strode in wearing a dark business suit, her hair sleek. She carried a brilliant pink bag, and sky-high heels clicked along the floor.
She frowned down at the detective. “I’m Lea Stone, Ms. LaVigne’s attorney. I would like to know why you’re questioning my client without representation present because my client is an incredibly smart woman who knows not to talk to the police without proper representation. So I think you’re the one who’s fucking up right now.”
Detective Grady sighed, a long-suffering sound. “She’s all yours.”
“In my defense, I didn’t realize I was your client, Miss…Miss Stone.” She’d been about to call the woman Mistress. Even out of fet wear Lea Stone kind of scared her. She filled the small room with her presence.
Lea’s dark eyes pinned her. “Yes, you are, and we’re getting out of here now. I believe the detective will find this has all been a mistake. You can apologize now, Detective. It might go a long ways to calming my client down after her false arrest.”
“False arrest?” The detective stood. “Are you fucking with me? Have you read this file?”
“Take it up with the DA.” A shit-eating grin crossed Lea’s face. “My partner and I have been talking to Ms. Brighton all evening, and her office has come to the conclusion that this was all one big mistake.”
“Maia Brighton?” The detective took a step back as though he’d realized the danger he was in.
“The bitch herself. She’s on her way in,” Lea explained. “She will be after she talks to your chief.”
Another knock and an older man was poking his head in. “Grady, cut her loose. We’ve got problems, and I need you in my office in ten to talk to the DA.”
Grady went pale. “Of course, Lieutenant. I’ll be right there.”
He strode out without a backward glance.
“What just happened?” Noelle’s head was reeling.
“Big Tag happened.” Lea turned. “Come along. We’re leaving before they decide if they’re going to fight or not. Right now, they’re dealing with shock and awe.”
“Shock and awe?”
“The district attorney. She’s been informed about the case and she’s taking exception to having DPD do Jessica Layne’s dirty work. I honestly don’t know what’s going on. I was having a nice night at Sanctum disciplining a gorgeous, naughty boy, and then Mitch and I were on our way here. He’s getting Kyle, who managed to be so obnoxious they actually threw him in a cell,” Lea explained. “Let’s go. I want you processed out as soon as possible.”
Noelle was on her feet. “I want to know what’s happening. Where is Hutch?”
“He was at Sanctum the last time I saw him. He was with Big Tag and a couple of civies I didn’t recognize.” Lea’s foot tapped on the floor. “Do you want to stay here?”
There was an easy answer to that. “No. I want to go home.”
“Then it’s sad that I have strict instructions to take you back to Sanctum,” Lea announced.
Noelle shook her head. “I’m going home. I want out of all of this.”
And by home she meant she was packing up her bags and heading back to Papillon.
Lea’s eyes rolled. “I knew you were going to be a pain in my ass the minute I saw you.” She sighed. “All right. I’ll try to avoid stuffing you into my car in front of a police station by giving you the talk. I don’t know exactly what went down. I suspect there are layers upon layers to this thing, but our problem right now is you’re upset with your boyfriend.”