Page 58 of Savage Justice

I start to rise, but the inspector fastens his gaze on me.

“Sit down, Ms Lowe. As I said, we’re not done here.”

I sink back into my hard, inhospitable little chair.

Lynne stiffens in her seat. “Ms Lowe came here voluntarily to assist in this enquiry. She has done so to the best of her ability and has nothing further to add. She now wishes to leave and is free to do so. If you will excuse us, Inspector…”

I start to get up for a second time. I just want to be out of here, to breathe fresh air again and go home to my kids.

“Ms Amelia Lowe, I am arresting you…”

“What?” I can only gape in horror as he goes on, reciting the familiar speech.

“…on suspicion of burglary. You do not have to say anything…”

I’m in a daze. My head feels to be full of cotton wool. His words float over me.

“…which you later rely on in court.”

“This is… You can’t do this…” I swing my astonished gaze from one officer to the other, incredulous.

“Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Constable?” He gestures to his colleague who produces handcuffs.

“What? No.” I’m on my feet, backing away. “You can’t. This is mad…”

Nico bars the police officer’s way. “Touch her and you’re dead.”

“Please don’t make things any more complicated,” the inspector intones, as more uniformed police pour through the door. “You need to come with us, Ms Lowe.”

“No way.” Nico floors one of the police officers and is immediately rushed by the rest. He’s overwhelmed by sheer force of numbers, tackled to the floor and held there by three burly coppers while Constable Fletcher snaps his handcuffs around my wrists.

I’m sobbing as I’m led away.

CHAPTER 15

Nico

“Idiot. You know better than to start throwing punches in a fucking police station. What the fuck were you doing there anyway?”

Ethan paces the floor of his office in the castle on Caraksay, glaring at me. I was summoned to the Savage headquarters immediately on my release from custody, but not before I spent two nights in police cells. I don’t know what technical strings Lynne Meadows and her bewigged colleagues managed to tug on to get me released, but here I am. And it’s fair to say my boss is less than delighted with me.

Molly, however, is still in custody and about to be moved to HMP Edinburgh having been refused bail on the grounds she’s a flight risk.

I rake my fingers through my hair. “I wasn’t keen on going in, but Molly was determined to help in the enquiry…”

Ethan emits another derisory curse.

“I know. I should have stopped her.”

“Too fucking right, you should. Or at the very least had the interview conducted on our turf. But, no. You have to walk in there…”

“Fuck. I know that now.”

“It’s not good for business when my inner circle gets banged up. Have you any idea what it cost me to get you out?”

“I’m sorry, boss. But what about Molly? She’s still in there.”

“Is she my problem?”

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