Page 29 of Hurting Hunter
"Then we'll just have to make sure we don't misstep, won't we? Let’s go back and regroup. We’ll find a way through this." Her voice, though steady, couldn't fully mask her strain.
It had to be something, on your first case and investigating your own people.
As they neared the formidable structure of the police headquarters, Ethan and Dani walked in silence, each wrapped in their own heavy cloak of thoughts. Ethan’s strides were deliberate, his brow furrowed deeply as frustration and impatience churned within him, rendering him restless and edgy. He kept clenching and unclenching his fists, a silent testament to his growing sense of powerlessness.
Their somber procession was abruptly cut short by the echoing steps of uniformed officers. Ethan’s posture stiffened, his head turning sharply as a captain from Internal Affairs, flanked by two officers, approached with determined strides. “Ethan Stephenson, you are under arrest,” the captain declared, proceeding to recite the Miranda rights with a clinical detachment. “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. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?”
In a motion born of desperation, Ethan reached into his pocket and stealthily passed his phone to Dani. She grappled for the device, and his heart skipped a beat as she almost lost her grip.
Their eyes locked for a fleeting moment, and a torrent of unspoken words passing between them. Dani subtly adjusted her grip, angling the phone to unlock it with his face ID without drawing attention.
Ethan’s shoulders ached when an officer wrenched his arms behind his back, and the cuffs felt hard and cold around his wrists.
Amidst the growing cluster of onlookers, Dani’s composure seemed to shatter. “How could you, Ethan?” she wailed, her voice cracking as she feigned a breakdown. “After all your mentorship, you’re not who I thought you were!”
Ethan watched in stunned silence and awe, as her performance continued. She sobbed loudly, the raw emotion in her act pulling the eyes of the crowd toward her, as she ran away with Ethan's phone clutched tightly in her hand.
Hunter's focus was split as he monitored security feeds on his screen when his phone buzzed with Ethan's number. A flutter of gratitude swept through him, a warm wave that eased the tightness in his muscles. His Dom’s call was a welcome interruption in a stream of stressful tasks.
“Well hello, Sir.” His chair creaked as he leaned back.
However, the voice on the other end wasn't Ethan's. His posture stiffened, and the chair protested again. Surprise flushed through him as a woman's voice chimed in.
"Hi, this is Dani, Ethan’s new partner," she said quickly, her tone laced with urgency.
A chill ran up his spine and Hunter's eyebrows drew together. "Dani? What's going on? Where’s Ethan? Why are you calling from his phone?"
As Dani hurriedly explained the situation, detailing Ethan's arrest and the allegations against him, Hunter's skepticism rapidly transformed into fury. His grip on the phone tightened, the muscles in his jaw clenching as he absorbed the gravity of what Dani was saying.
"Arrested? For what exactly?" he demanded, his voice now sharp, the earlier caution swept away by a growing wave of anger.
Dani's words seemed muffled as they pierced through the rush of blood roaring in his ears like white water.
"I don’t know yet.” Dani explained how she got hold of Ethan’s phone and faked a breakdown to get the phone out unnoticed. “I had to act fast.”
“That was quick thinking on your feet,” Hunter managed despite the anger boiling in his veins. His free hand balled into a fist on his thigh. The injustice of the situation fueled his rage. "This is complete nonsense," he bit out. "Ethan has done nothing but pursue justice."
Dani continued, "I know, Hunter. I should probably go into the precinct now. See what I can find out. I'll keep you posted every step of the way."
"Make sure you do." Helpless to do anything himself, Hunter despaired before a light bulb went up in his head.
I can do something!
His voice took on an edge of steel as his resolve built. "I’m going to call Michael Schaffer. He's the best attorney we could ask for right now. We're going to fight this."
His fury was fully kindled as he ended to call and pulled up the attorney’s contact details.
Hang in there, Ethan. Help is on its way.
Chapter 20
Ethan watched Dani’s performance with awe, as chaos ensued around them. He hoped she’d understood his silent plea and would call Hunter. Until now she’d been a refreshing surprise. Ethan hoped for the best.
As Ethan was briskly ushered toward the interrogation rooms, he managed a fleeting glance to see Dani slipping through the doors outside. His heart hitched with a mix of hope and trepidation.
A jarring collision with the doorframe snapped his focus back as he was pushed through. The muttered "Whoops, sorry" from the officer carried no hint of genuine apology.
He was nudged along the narrow corridors of the precinct, the faint buzz of activity barely piercing his growing unease. As he passed, the hard stares and cold shoulders from colleagues he once trusted spoke volumes—there was no one more despised than a cop accused of crossing the line. Their glares traced icy trails down his spine, each click of his shoes against the linoleum echoing like a gavel, marking him as one of the guilty in their eyes.
