Page 66 of Indiscreet

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Put the gun down,” the officer yelled out. “A man is down, get an ambulance,” he shouted into his radio

“It’s like I told you,” Vincent said, “this was a private party, and they brought drugs in. That’s my nephew on the ground. You get them out of here now, or my next call will be to your superior.”

“Move away from me Gia,” Elliott told me. He next turned to the police officer. “You’re going to take out the gun and point it at me and I’m going to remove my badge from my jacket pocket.”

The officer took out his gun.

“No,” I said frantically. “I won’t move away. Look at my torn dress. He and his nephew brought me here against my will. This man rescued me.”

“She’s lying, and he has a gun,” Vincent pointed out. “Shoot him.”

“You must, Gia,” Elliott said. “Do it now, slowly.”

I moved to the side, and the officer raised the gun at Elliott, who raised his hands.

Another officer entered the room and announced, “Ambulance is on its way.”

“No ambulances,” Vincent said. “I just want them and all of you out of my home—now.” His voice reverberated off the walls.

“Sorry Mr. Santiago,” the first police officer said. “He identified himself as FBI. We have to check it out.” He turned to the other officer. “Go frisk him.”

The officer took Elliott’s gun then patted him down. “He’s wired.”

“We got you recorded, asshole,” Elliott said. “My team should be nearby or already outside the gate. I’ll give you the number to the head of the operation.”

“That has to be illegal,” Vincent flustered.

The officer continued to search Elliott. He pulled his wallet from his front left pocket and flipped through it.

“He’s telling the truth,” the officer said then handed Elliott his badge.

“I don’t care,” Vincent said to the officer. “He and his women came here under false pretenses. This was a private party on my property.”

Elliott moved over to stand in front of me. “I’ll go when I see you in handcuffs. He kidnapped Gia Walsh.”

“I’m a well-respected member of this community,” Vincent asserted. “Who is she?”

“I’m Gia…Walsh. Governor Walsh’s wife, from Seattle,” I said. “I was drugged and abused by this man and his nephew.”

“I never abused you,” Vincent fumed.

The police officer went over to Vincent. “Mr. Santiago, you’ll have to come down to the station with us.”

“I’m calling my lawyers,” Vincent said then stormed out of the room.

Elliott placed his arm around me. “You okay, baby?”

I bristled. “Don’t call me baby.”

“Sweetheart, I told you I’d turn everything upside down to find you.”

Our eyes lingered and mine filled. He had. He’d saved me. Tears streamed down my face and he gently placed his arm around my shoulder.

I winced in pain but didn’t move out of his embrace.

Elliott took off his jacket and helped me put it on to cover myself, and I appreciated it. “We need an EMT. To take…Ms. Walsh to the hospital.”

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