Page 46 of Fake It True

Within a few minutes, Susie returned to the table. When I introduced her to Rex, she perked up a little bit. Completely ignoring everyone else at the table, she asked, “You’re the police chief here?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Rex said with a nod.

“Well, this man lied to us.” She gestured to Nathaniel. “As a result, we’ve accidentally lied to the court back in North Carolina. I definitely don’t want to get in trouble for that. We would very much appreciate your assistance in this matter.”

“Now, wait just a minute, Susie,” David interjected. “We haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Yes, you have.” Her southern twang carried a strong whiff of don’t-fuck-with-me.

“John and I assured the court that we would be responsible for Nathaniel while he was out of state. Weneverwould’ve agreed to this if we knew he had threatened Casey.”

Nathaniel, being more of an idiot than I thought up to this fucked up point, stood from the table and ran out of the restaurant.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

CASEY

“Mom!” I jumped up, racing behind her when she leapt up from the table and began following Nathaniel.

I felt Leo right behind me. “Casey!” He caught me by the hand. “Hold up. Let me get your mom.”

Fortunately, the restaurant was crowded. That slowed Nathaniel down, along with my mom, who seemed downright determined to catch up to him. As I looked ahead, I saw a group of firefighters clustered beside the bar, including Parker, Cade, Graham, and Hudson. There was also another police officer, Tanner McAdams, who I knew from the café.

I heard Rex call out to Tanner. He moved quickly and cut in front of Nathaniel’s path, stopping him. My mom caught up to the group just as Leo and I reached her. “Mom, let the police handle this,” I said quickly.

She ignored me and promptly kicked Nathaniel in the balls. He cried out in pain and bent over with a groan.

Everyone nearby glanced at her in shock.

“Well, it’s effective.” My mother’s tone was pointed as she rested her hands on her hips.

“You’re not wrong,” Leo offered dryly while Nathaniel continued groaning.

When Nathaniel straightened up, his eyes were watering from the pain. He glanced around, his gaze landing on my mom. “I want to press assault charges,” he choked out.

Calm as you please, Rex glanced from my mom to me and Leo, his brows arching up in question. “How about you fill me in on why you bolted from the table?”

Nathaniel’s gaze went flat and he pressed his lips in a line. “I’m not talking to anybody, not until I have a lawyer.”

“You’re not under arrest at the moment,” Rex said, his tone dry as burnt toast.

“He’s under indictment for felony charges related to dealing drugs in North Carolina,” I said quickly. “I can get the officer handling the case on the phone if you’d like. What my mom said at the table is true. He had to get permission to travel and my parents had to agree to supervise him.”

Rex dipped his chin in acknowledgment. “Okay, then. Let’s go back to the station.” He turned toward Nathaniel, his gaze measuring. “You are currently being detained until we sort this out. Do I need to put you in handcuffs?”

Nathaniel’s parents had reached us, along with my dad, in the circle around Nathaniel and my mom. For a moment, it looked like Nathaniel wanted to argue the point, but he finally let out a heavy sigh. “Let’s go. I’ll ride with my parents.”

Rex shook his head sharply. “Oh no, you won’t. You’re riding with me.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Nathaniel muttered.

We followed Rex and Tanner out in a slow-moving group. My mother wouldn’t even make eye contact with David. As I studied Nathaniel’s mother, I realized that she might be the only one among the three of them who had no idea what had really happened. She looked horrified. Meanwhile, David appeared resigned and guarded.

With Leo driving and my parents riding with us, we went to the police station. By the time we arrived, Rex and Tanner had taken Nathaniel in the back with Nathaniel’s parents. After a few minutes, Maisie Steele came out from the back. “I’m gonna put you in the conference room while we wait.”

After she escorted us into the back and offered us coffee, she pulled Leo and me aside. “I heard the update. They’re going to hold him until they confer with law enforcement in North Carolina. Based on the charges, I don’t think he’s going to be released.”

She gave me a quick hug. “It’s going to be okay. I’d sit with you, but,” she tapped her headset, “I’ve gotta stay on duty up front.”

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