Page 89 of Innocent Intent

“Cassidy’s there.”

“What the . . . You know what? Never mind. I’ll take care of it, and you better be sure about this because if I pull the resources, we cannot keep this quiet. Someone’s getting arrested before the night’s up.”

“I know. Send a couple of uniforms over to Murphy’s house as well. I’m about to pick her up, but I can’t be sure I can take her quietly. If she was the one who killed Williams—”

“Got it. Send the address. I’ll make sure our guys meet you there. But what makes you so sure it’s her?”

“She’s Arnold’s daughter. I went to see him, and he confirmed it. He also mentioned she was holding a grudge against not just him but Cassidy as well for tearing up her family.”

“Cass? Why the fuck would she hold anything against Cassidy and not Trent, or hell, even the prosecution?”

“Long story, which I don’t have time to explain right now. You’ll just have to trust me.”

“You get one, Davis. You better damn sure make good use of it, or you won’t get another.”

“I’m sure.”

As soon as he pulled up to Tia’s townhouse, Davis removed his radio from the charger inside his vehicle, got out, and rounded to the rear to get his vest. Once he had the radio affixed, he walked to the cruiser sitting on the Tia’s place, and both uniforms stepped out of the vehicle. Davis greeted them both with a nod and got to business.

“One of you move to the back, one at the side of the building. I’m heading inside. What frequency you on?”

“Two,” the officer closest to him answered. Davis adjusted his radio, and both the uniforms were en route to their designated areas.

Davis unholstered his gun, removed the safety, and looked around before cautiously going to Tia’s door. There was one window with closed blinds, and he didn’t notice anyone peeking through them, so he pressed one shoulder into the door, his fist landing hard against it.

“Tia Murphy. Detective Davis, APD. I’m coming in.”

He waited, and there was nothing, so he banged again as an added precaution. “Tia, if you’re in there, this is my last warning. I’m coming in.”

When there still wasn’t a response, Davis moved in one fluid motion from the side of the door, lifted his foot, and allowed it to land against the wooden surface just beside the doorknob and the lock. One solid kick was enough force to get him inside, where he quickly scanned the place.

The space was damn near spotless, with nothing out of the ordinary aside from the two rolling suitcases a few feet away from the door. A purse sat on top of one with a passport tucked in the side pocket.

Looks like I’m just in time.

Davis didn’t have a chance to get his hands on it because Tia appeared in the hallway. “I guess I should have decided on that earlier flight.”

Her voice held a smugness that had Davis’s finger easing back on the trigger as he aimed the gun at her head. When she continued advancing on him, he made it clear that wasn’t a good idea.

“Stop right there. Hands up where I can see them, or this ends badly, Tia.”

She paused and lifted her hands but smiled arrogantly. “You gonna shoot me, Detective? Without cause?”

“With everything I now know about you, I’m considering it, and I have a feeling my captain would back me if I did.”

With his gun still aimed at her head, he used his free hand to remove his cuffs. Once they were detached, he moved slowly toward Tia, never lowering his gun until he grabbed her wrist, yanking it behind her back and spinning her in the process. He holstered his gun and repeated the motion until both arms were locked behind her back.

“Tia Murphy, you’re under the arrest for the murder of the victim identified as Jerrod Williams. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense.”

“You sure that’s the name you want to use, Detective. Don’t want to risk throwing the case away on a technicality.”

“It’s the name you legally changed yours to. I’m more than covered.”

She shrugged lightly as Davis spoke through his radio. “Suspect apprehended. I’m coming out.”

“Ten-four, Detective.”

He jerked Tia toward the door and motioned to the suitcases. “Cass didn’t mention you were leaving. Considering you killed her husband and tried to frame her for it, the least you could have done is said goodbye.”

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