Page 20 of Callahan's Haven

“Callahan Simpson.” He pulled his wallet out and handed the man his fake license.

After writing a few notes, Officer Johnson handed it back. “So you just happened to be close by?”

He would have to play this just right to make it all fit. “I was waiting for Haven—my girlfriend,” he said, nodding toward the car and ignoring Declan’s quick, indrawn breath. “It’s her late night to work at the library. I must’ve dozed off.” He hadn’t, of course. He’d already gotten out of the van to shadow her from a distance while cussing a blue streak in his head. “So I didn’t see her come out to pull up and get her. I guess she didn’t see my car in the dark and started walking across the parking lot to her dorm.” He gave the officer what he hoped came off as a sheepish look—one Declan coughed in his hand over. “I didn’t ask, but I’m sure she was mad at me.”

Officer Johnson held up his finger in a “wait a minute” gesture, wrote some more, and then nodded. “Go on.”

“I woke up when Haven screamed.”

Brayden tugged on the officer’s pants. “Wait a min—”

“Son,” Officer Johnson said, holding up his hand. “You’ll get the chance to give a statement soon enough.” He looked back at Cal. “So, she screamed.”

“Yes, sir. I drove across the parking, but I guess he didn’t hear me.” He shuddered at the memory of seeing the knife poised at Haven’s neck—something he didn’t have to fake. His next words had his tone growing more and more fierce. “He had her pressed against a car and was…grindingagainst her with that knife to her neck.” He stopped and took several breaths. If the officer hadn’t been there, he’d have beaten the guy senseless again. “I jumped out of my car and just reacted. I got sliced in the process,” he said, bringing the officer’s attention to his wounded shoulder. “The blood on the knife is mine.”

Officer Johnson took a closer look at Cal’s shoulder. “Do you need medical attention?”

“No, sir. It’s just a nick.”

Declancoughedagain.

The officer nodded and wrote for a few more seconds while Brayden sat fuming and giving Cal a death glare.

“You might also want to know,” Cal said, grabbing the officer’s attention, “he accosted her Friday night—”

“No…” Brayden frowned at Cal and then looked at the officer and attempted a grin. “I didn’t. She… You see, she’s wanted me for a while.”

“Sure,” Cal said, his temper rising again along with his voice, “and that’s way she knocked you on your ass in front of the whole party. It’s why you had yourassout here hoping to catch her alone!”

Declan grabbed ahold of Cal’s arm and pulled him back when he would’ve gone after the coward, saying under his breath, “He’s not worth it, man.”

Brayden glared up at him. “I was drunk.” He gave a pleading look back at Officer Johnson. “You know how it is.”

“Yes, son. I sure do.”

“Here you go,” Doug said, walking up and holding the cuffs out to Officer Johnson. “I’ve got the knife secured in my trunk.”

“Good.” Officer Johnson motioned for the other officer standing close by. “Charlie, come over here and help Doug get this young man up, if you would.” He nodded down at Brayden. “Then get the cuffs on h—”

“What!” Brayden struggled while Doug and Charliehelpedhim up. “You don’t understand. I—”

“You’re right, son, I don’t understand. Now, you have the right to remain silent…”

The next fifteen minutes were spent with the officers securing a struggling Brayden. Cal had actually enjoyed the show, particularly the part where they’d pepper sprayed his wounded face.

Declan had ended up giving a brief statement, saying he’d driven on campus by mistake and stopped to help—pointing to his SUV a good distance away—when he’d seen the guy on the ground. Neither Cal nor Declan acknowledged they knew each other. Cal had also convinced Officer Johnson that Haven was exhausted and too shaken to give a statement, asking if she could come in to their station the next day.

“I imagine she is,” the officer had replied, shaking his head. “You know, I got a daughter about the same age. If anyone…” He’d glanced at Haven who’d looked asleep. “That’ll be fine.”

Not long after, the officers drove away with a cursing Brayden in Officer Johnson’s back seat. Cal glanced at Declan. “How’syourcar here?”

“I called Garrett and Solace on the way. They came in my car and waited in the van.” They both turned and waved over at Solace getting in Declan’s vehicle. “Garrett’ll take over the van.”

“Damn, I didn’t even notice you guys.”

“You werebusywhen we got here.” He glanced at Cal’s SUV. “So, what’re you gonna do?”

“Let’s just say I have a plan, but I have to run it by the Colonel first.”

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