“Yes, we wouldn’t want the ruining of my life to inconvenience you, Mr. Taggart,” Noelle said, a bite to her tone. “How about I call a ride and then you can go home immediately?”
“Ian,” Hutch began because he knew what it took to stir the beast in his boss, and that beast was close to the surface tonight.
“I would love for you to do that, Ms. LaVigne.” Ian’s voice had gone soft—a sure sign that he was about to go volcanic. “I started my day getting arrested in front of the middle school my daughters go to, and all because of a case I took for zero dollars.”
“Well, you did a great job,” Noelle replied. “Your guy cost me my job and my dignity. I’ll be sure to put that in my online review.”
He turned to his boss. “She’s upset. She doesn’t mean any of this.”
“I know, and if I’d had a less shitty day, I would be more patient, but I’m sick of little girls who think they know what they’re doing. I’m sick of children who tear up the people around them because they don’t know how to handle their emotions,” Tag bit out. “Ms. LaVigne, you should understand if you weren’t Armie LaVigne’s daughter, I’d toss your ass out on the street because if you can’t do us the courtesy of listening to a debrief, then I don’t care what happens to you. But you are, and I owe your father. So this is how the evening is going to go. You can sit and listen, or I can have a guard escort you upstairs to one of our safe rooms where you will wait until your father can come pick you up.”
Noelle’s jaw went tight, and a single tear fell on her cheek. “I’m sorry I was rude.”
“Your whole world feels like it fell apart.” Hutch moved to her side. Ian was being too hard on her. “It’s okay.”
She ignored him, choosing to look to Ian. “I would prefer it if you didn’t call my father.”
Tag shook his head. “You can call him or I will. I’m sorry. I can’t be a businessman here. I’m a father, and I know how I would feel if my daughter had been arrested and no one bothered to tell me. You’ve got until tomorrow morning. I’ll be contacting your dad at ten a.m.”
“Ian, maybe we should talk…” Hutch began.
“All right.” Noelle interrupted him. “It doesn’t seem like I’m left with many choices. I will listen to this debrief of yours. Am I going to be able to talk to the people who had me arrested? Is Cara in there? Why didn’t she question me?”
“Because she didn’t have you arrested at all. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.” At least he would have a chance to explain. He would rather do it privately, but he could make her understand any way she would allow it.
“There’s a third party at play.” Tag seemed to relax slightly. “We should talk in the conference room. It looks like Mitch is back with Kyle.”
There was the beep of the front door opening and Kyle walked in. Unlike Noelle, he truly looked worse for the wear. There was a cut on his lip, and his normally controlled hair was unruly. There was a blood stain on the shirt he wore.
Kyle looked Noelle over. “You do okay in there?”
Noelle sniffled, the first sign that she wasn’t completely in control. “They told me you were throwing me under the bus.”
Kyle snorted. “Like I would do that.” He looked to Ian. “I got mouthy and pushy to buy us some time. Also, I hate those interview rooms. They’re cold and I can’t make friends. I think I joined the prison softball team.”
Tag showed his first real smile. “I’m sure you’ll be a hit. You going to take it out on him or me?”
Kyle smiled, but it was a kind of scary thing. “Oh, I’m taking it out on him.”
Were they talking about him? Hutch started to ask but then Kyle reared back and popped him right on the nose. Pain flared, and Hutch felt a momentary nausea as he cradled his nose.
“That’s for getting me arrested, you asshole. And for not trusting me. You lied to me,” Kyle said. “The only reason I’m staying on this assignment is for Noelle. And we’re not friends again.”
Hutch saw the moment Noelle started to reach for him and then pulled back.
“Can we get through this? I’d like to get some rest.” Noelle looked to Kyle like he was going to save her.
“I’ll make sure you get home after this is over,” Kyle promised. “I could use some rest myself.”
She thought Kyle would escort her home and leave him out in the cold? Well, she was wrong. He watched as Kyle led her into the conference room, his mind turning ruthless.